Completely over my head - Nvidia ION on Ubuntu

[fredphoesh]

Hello guys,

I have an Asrock ION 330HT with an Nvidia ION display on Ubuntu 10.10 and have downloaded the latest drivers, NVIDIA-Linux-x86-270.41.03.run, but the instructions assume a high level of understanding.

I can copy and paste commands into Terminal, but the instructions I have found ask you to do things which are not self explanatory.

Is there a comprehensive A-Z on commands to paste into Terminal to be able to install the drivers? I'd much appreciated if there is!

Thanks,
Mark, UK.

[artem]

I'd suggest using this PPA: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat/+archive/ppa

Installing NVIDIA drivers manually is not recommended for novice users.

[fredphoesh]

Originally Posted by artem

I'd suggest using this PPA: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat/+archive/ppa
Installing NVIDIA drivers manually is not recommended for novice users.

Hi Artem, I would LOVE to avoid installing anything manually, but it seems there is no choice!
If there is a way to install the Nvidia drivers automatically, please tell me how to do it, this is very difficult, even the link you sent me is very difficult to understand, it asks me to look at some Launchpad PPA overview page etc... to install some thing to then be able to install something else... aaaauuuuggghhhh....

If I install that ppa thing, will I then be able to install the driver I downloaded from invidia without all the other stuff I would have to do? (NVIDIA-Linux-x86-270.41.03.run)

Thanks again,
Mark.

[P.Kosunen]

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings

[fredphoesh]

Originally Posted by P.Kosunen

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings

YOU STAR!!!!!!!
That worked!
I am very happy about that, thanks!

I wonder why Nvidia have made it so difficult, I mean, surely they can produce an installation file that the user just has to double click on?

Anyhow, very chuffed, thanks again.

Mark.

[artem]

NVIDIA didn't make anything difficult, they just don't have enough manpower to create a driver for 200 different Linux distros and note that each of them have several versions and every release have hundreds of kernel versions. If you multiply all previous numbers you'll get a staggering ~100 000 number. Creating an installer for a hundred thousand different configurations is just insane.

Linux is a diversity, right?

[artem]

Originally Posted by P.Kosunen

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings

This thread/post must be pinned.

[tadawson]

The issue is that the .run file works on pretty much *ANY* Linux system. The "apt-get" stuff is distribution-centric . . . .

Myself, I praise the portability. I tend to *NOT* use the stuff that comes with a distro, since it tends to be old and outdated, but that's just me . . .

- Tim

[Deanjo]

Originally Posted by fredphoesh

I wonder why Nvidia have made it so difficult, I mean, surely they can produce an installation file that the user just has to double click on?

Blame the distro, not the driver installer. Many other distros have a much simpler mechanism to install them.

[artem]

Originally Posted by tadawson

The issue is that the .run file works on pretty much *ANY* Linux system. The "apt-get" stuff is distribution-centric . . . .

Myself, I praise the portability. I tend to *NOT* use the stuff that comes with a distro, since it tends to be old and outdated, but that's just me . . .

- Tim

For that you should know how to use the console, how to install kernel development headers, invoke sudo, etc. Normal people shouldn't be bothered with these tricks - it just shows that Linux is still unusable on the desktop.

[mlord]

Originally Posted by Deanjo

Blame the distro, not the driver installer. Many other distros have a much simpler mechanism to install them.

No, that's pretty simple: three apt-get lines.

The reason there is no "point and click" installer for Ubuntu (the original question), is because the NVIDIA installer refuses to run when X (the GUI) is running.

Otherwise, the original poster could have just downloaded the normal NVIDIA installer, and clicked on it to run it.

Cheers

[tadawson]

Originally Posted by artem

For that you should know how to use the console, how to install kernel development headers, invoke sudo, etc. Normal people shouldn't be bothered with these tricks - it just shows that Linux is still unusable on the desktop.

Bull! If you can't run simple CLI commands, then you shouldn't be allowed to use *ANY* computer . . . . The CLI is slightly more sophisticated than banging two rocks together . . . . Kernel dev should be part of the distro, and sudo is optional at best . . .

Typing "nvidia-installer" and answering a few questions is about as simple as anything gets. If the prereqs aren't on the system, as others have said, blame the bad distro, or an incorrect install thereof, not NVidia . . .

I am occasionally forced to downgrade myself to WinDuhs, and without the CLI, there is a lot that can't be done there either . . .

- Tim