1) Download the installer from this page according to your architecture (32bit or 64bit)
http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html
2) Open Terminal and type:
Code:
sudo apt-get install build-essential gcc linux-headers-`uname -r`
NOTE: if APT complains because it can't find any package to remove in steps 5-6 it's not a problem at all and you can go ahead with the next steps. If there were other errors you should report to me.
3) Then open Terminal and type:
Code:
sudo apt-get --purge remove linux-restricted-modules-`uname -r` linux-restricted-modules-common nvidia-glx nvidia-settings nvidia-kernel-common
It will ask you to remove also several files (among which linux-386, etc.): answer Yes.
4) remove the file manually:
Code:
sudo rm /etc/init.d/nvidia-*
5) Press CTRL-ALT-F1 (so as to get to the command line, not a windowed terminal, but out of the graphical interface GUI)
login with your username and password (if required)
Code:
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
cd [I]“directory_where_you_have_the_nvidia_installer”[/I]
NOTE: If and ONLY IF you use a Breezy kernel or a recompiled kernel lower than 2.6.15x have a look at point 14) in the PROBLEMS SECTION and DO NOT
Code:
sudo apt-get --purge remove linux-restricted-modules-`uname -r` linux-restricted-modules-common nvidia-glx nvidia-settings nvidia-kernel-common
patch the nvidia installer, just extract it and run it as described below.
6) Extract the content of the installer:
Code:
sh /path_to_the_installer/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8756-pkg1.run --extract-only
NOTE: of course you will have to replace "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8756-pkg1.run" with the name of the installer you want to use (e.g. NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-8756-pkg2.run, etc.)
A new folder will be created
Code:
cd NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8756-pkg1
Make a backup of your xorg.conf
Code:
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup
[In this way if anything goes wrong and you have problems with the xserver (i.e. if it doesn't start) you can type:
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf ]
Install the driver:
Code:
sudo ./nvidia-installer -n --x-prefix=/usr/lib/xorg/
Copy the following files:
Code:
sudo cp --no-dereference /usr/lib/xorg/lib/libX* /usr/lib/xorg/modules/
sudo cp /usr/lib/xorg/lib/modules/drivers/* /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/
sudo cp --no-dereference /usr/lib/xorg/lib/modules/extensions/* /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/
NOTE: If you have Ubuntu 64bit you can't install OpenGL32bit compatibility libraries, so when the installer asks whether to install it just answer no OR you may want to try 2 workarounds which Draugen and Stormbringer found but which I haven't tried myself (look at the PROBLEMS SECTION at the end of the guide: point 5).
7) Make a backup of your xorg.conf
Code:
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup
[In this way if anything goes wrong and you have problems with the xserver (i.e. if it doesn't start) you can type:
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf ]
NOTE: if you own a GeForce4 420 Go or a GeForce4 440 Go you should follow also point 8 of the PROBLEMS SECTION.
NOTE: If you use the nvidia installer version 8174 or higher you can go straight to the next point.
Install the xorg configurer by Nvidia
Code:
sudo apt-get install nvidia-xconfig
Enable the driver in your xorg:
8 )
Code:
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start (or "kdm start" if you use KDE)
Congratulations, you have installed the new nvidia driver!
9)
NOTE: the following step is NOT needed for driver 8174 or higher (therefore you can go to step 10). If you want a "control panel" which shows the settings of your card you might want to install "nvidia-settings" although they driver works fine also without it (the choice it's up to you).
Open Terminal or Konsole and type
sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings
Then
Code:
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop
OR (if you use any other Desktop Environment)
nano /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop
Insert the following lines into the new file:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=NVIDIA Settings
Comment=NVIDIA X Server Settings
Exec=nvidia-settings
Icon=
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;
Save the file and exit.
10) Log out and restart the xserver by pressing CTRL+ALT+Backspace
You will be able to see "Nvidia settings" in the menu (the one from which you launch all the applications)
REMEMBER: every time your kernel is upgraded or changed with another one you have to reinstall the drivers.
I fumbled with it for hours and a step-by-step would take hours also. I did, however, google 'ubuntu+nvidia+howto' and found the following guide. 
