installer for nVIDA drivers?

**kcredden** · 08-13-2011

Folks: I just heard that there was a new nvidia driver installer for debian. The way they talked, it sound like it worked somewhat like Synaptic or apt-get. It would deinstall the noveau driver, download the correct driver from nvidia's own site, and install it in one command. Does such exist?

I've been forced to use Noveau, because I found it impossible to deinstall noveau, and install the correct nvidia driver. Noveau works basically (It supports dual monitors at least) but I cannot get the full power I wish.

Help?

**gruven** · 08-13-2011

Blacklist Nouveau:
Open /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
Add

Code:

blacklist nouveau

to the bottom of the file.

Type this in as root:

Code:

apt-get install build-essential linux-headers module-assistant
m-a a-i nvidia
apt-get install nvidia-glx

Then reboot.

That will work on unstable (sid) I know, and for stable I believe that they package the binary drivers for the current kernel version. For the linux-headers package, you may actually have to have a version number for it, because I have no clue what kernel you are running or what version (stable, testing, unstable) you are running.

You don't have to "uninstall" nouveau, just prevent it from loading when booting.

**TheBigPhish** · 08-16-2011

You can download the latest drivers that nVidia offers, directly from their website, for the architecture you desire.

I wholeheartedly agree with gruven, you have to get Nouveau out of the way...and the blacklist is the number one way to accomplish that fact.

The site, as found here , will give you direct access to the drivers you need. The file it will download will be something akin to "NVIDIA-Linux-(your chosen architecture)_(driver version).run" which can be run from a shell-prompt, and will give you straight access to the newest drivers.

There are some issues that this will have, it will barf if you have a fully (or even botched partially) installed driver on your system that it cannot remove nicely, and you may have to do some fooking around with your compiler, should you have a home-rolled kernel or a specific anomaly. Give it a shot, if it works, it works...if it doesn't, the error messages are rather helpful.

**kcredden** · 08-16-2011

Gentlemen:

Thanks for your responses. I didn't get an e-mail this was updated, and only thought of it when I saw a note I left about it.

I'm getting a new HD to replace this aging one, and taking advantage of it, by trying a new distro as well. It'll be using novueau so I'll still have ot install the nvidia driver.

Also want to say, I spent 2 weeks trying various ways to install the nvidia driver, without success. If it wasn't for PARTIMAGE I'd be reinstalling linux nearly every time too. I hope your suggestions bear fruit. I'll post news, as soon as I have some.

- Kc

**quartermass** · 08-16-2011

This has worked for me, squeeze 6.02 32 bit.
1.synaptic search, remove/uninstall all references to nouveau
2.add contrib and non-free repos to /etc/apt/sources.list
3.apt-get update
4.apt-get install nvidia-glx nvidia-settings nvidia-kernel-dkms
5.apt-get install nvidia-xconfig
6.run nvidia-xconfig
7.restart
This installs the nvidia driver version which is in synaptic 195.36.31, which may not be the new nvidia driver from their site but it's rock solid stable and I do not suggest updating it.
I've had no problems with this nvidia install and I'm running compiz also.

**cynwulf** · 08-17-2011

Originally Posted by kcredden

Folks: I just heard that there was a new nvidia driver installer for debian. The way they talked, it sound like it worked somewhat like Synaptic or apt-get. It would deinstall the noveau driver, download the correct driver from nvidia's own site, and install it in one command. Does such exist?

You're probably referring to smxi/sgfxi (*google it)

Personally I don't use it, but it may be ok for some.

The Debian wiki covers this very comprehensively for those that can be bothered to read it:

NvidiaGraphicsDrivers - Debian Wiki (*google it)

e.g. if you have the stock debian squeeze kernel (2.6.32-5-) then it's only a matter of:

First enabling the contrib and non-free repos.

Then

Code:

aptitude install linux-headers-$(uname -r) nvidia-kernel-dkms nvidia-glx nvidia-settings

DKMS will then build the kernel module.

You may not need to manually blacklist nouveau so after installing have a look through the .conf files in /etc/modprobe.d/ as it may be blacklisted there in a separate file.

Create an xorg.conf (copied from the debian wiki) otherwise the x driver won't load at all.

Code:

Section "Module"
    Load        "glx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Video Card"
    Driver              "nvidia"
EndSection

Reboot - necessary to unload kernel mode setting driver (nouveau).

(*I don't have enough posts to post urls)

**BoDiddley** · 08-20-2011

For me this was very simple, once I got the right process, and before any other attempts. I did not do anything regarding Nouveau. Here are my notes (make sure you find the specific glx package that will list your driver):

apt-get install nvidia-glx-legacy-96xx
apt-get install nvidia-settings

*** create /etc/x11/org.conf

Section “Device”
Identifier “My Gpu”
Driver “nvidia”
EndSection

For multiple screens (not desktops)

Section “Screen”
Identifier “My Screens”
Option “TwinView” “1“
EndSection

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