Can't run X on new nVidia card and computer

[Thomas Beckett]

On 3/22/06, Dave M G <martin at autotelic.com> wrote:
> Ubuntu Users,
>
> I have just bought a brand new computer, a dual core Pentium with a dual
> DVI graphics card that has an nVidia Geforce 7600 GT chip on it. I also
> got two monitors to go with it.
>
> My intention is to run this computer entirely with Ubuntu, at least for now.
>
> I downloaded the install DVD for version 5.10 on my old computer, burned
> the disc, and installed on the new computer. The install went without
> hiccups.
>
> But, when Ubuntu ran for the first time, it would not load the GUI. It
> tried refreshing the screen a few times, and then said there was an
> error in the Xorg setup.
>
> I'm now stuck on two points:
>
> One, I'm not sure how to edit or do anything about my xorg.conf file,
> if, indeed, that is the problem.
>
> Two, although I got the latest Linux drivers from the nvidia web site, I
> don't know how to get them on my new computer. If I put them on an SD
> card (the new computer has an internal SD reader), or on a CD rom, when
> I insert them, I can't find any reference to them in the /media/
> directory. Do I have to mount them or something? If so, how?
>
> I'm a little lost here. Any help would be much appreciated.
>

The problem is that the new drivers that support your shiny new 7600gt
have been delayed. From what ive read they will be released in the
next few weeks.

In the meantime, when you boot your computer and it kicks you back to
a terminal with the error, if you do the following then you can run X
with the open source nv driver.

#make a backup of your xorg.conf
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.BACKUP

#edit the xorg.conf
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

about half way down the file you will see a section that begins

Section "Device"

change the part that says Driver from nvidia to nv

press Ctrl&X saying yes when it asks to save.

Thats it, you will now use the nv driver. You will not be able to run
any 3D stuff now until the drivers are released, but you will be able
to use your system.
When the drivers are released and put out as updates - keep an eye out
for updates to nvidia-glx and other nvidia stuff - you should apply
the updates to get the driver then replace the old xorg.conf with:

#copy back the old conf
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf.BACKUP /etc/X11/xorg.conf

then restart X or your computer and you will have the full juicy 3D
drivers again



Hope it helps.
Tom