Can't boot 14.04

[Jim Byrnes]

On 11/07/2016 08:05 AM, Liam Proven wrote:
> On 6 November 2016 at 18:03, Jim Byrnes <jf_byrnes at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>> OK, did this but it did not fix the problem.
>
> Shame.
>
>>> If you have an internet connection, you can also do:
>>>
>>> sudo apt update
>>> sudo apt full-upgrade
>>
>>
>> I am always unsure of the results of this command. Does this do the same
>> thing as letting the software-updater do an update?
>
> Yes.
>
>> So if I do that I assume I will re-boot to some low res driver and the try
>> to install the nvidia driver. But which one .131 or .132 or will the
>> installer pick the right one.
>
> It should fall back to the built-in open-source Nouveau driver. This
> works fine and is good enough for most uses.
>

I my case with 2 monitors one is running at 1920 x 1080 and the other at 
1024 x 768. With the Nvidia 304-131 driver they both ran at 1920 x 1080. 
My memory is getting so bad about things like this but I think when I 
did a fresh install of 14.04 I had the same or similar problem. As I 
recall the solution was to copy over some config files from 12.04. I 
tried using the 12.04 versions of xorg.conf and monitors.xml and 
rebooting but there was not change.

> Then I'd suggest waiting until nVidia release a new version of their
> proprietary driver, as it sounds like this one is broken!
>

Until then what do you think of these solutions I found on launchpad.


Downgrade from 304.132 to 304.131:
- CTRL+ALT+F1 to console
- login
- sudo apt-get remove nvidia*
- sudo apt-get autoremove
- sudo apt-get install nvidia-304=304.131-0ubuntu3
- reboot

And prevent updates of the driver like shown in comment 18.

comment 18:

In my case I have a GeForce 6150SE so I really need this 304.131 and 
can't higher version like 340.xx.

For people needing to downgrade, this is one (among others) correct way 
to do so with Ubuntu 16.04:

- first create a file named /etc/apt/preferences.d/local-nvidia-quirks 
with the following content:

Explanation: block this specifique update because of OpenGL problem with 
304.132
Package: nvidia-304
Pin: version 304.132-0ubuntu0.16.04.2
Pin-Priority: -10

Explanation: block this specifique update because of OpenGL problem with 
304.132
Package: nvidia-opencl-icd-304
Pin: version 304.132-0ubuntu0.16.04.2
Pin-Priority: -10

- then reinstall the working old packages (they are still available in 
the repository):

sudo apt install nvidia-304=304.131-0ubuntu3 
nvidia-opencl-icd-304=304.131-0ubuntu3

- finally, reboot your computer (because it also affects the initrd boot 
image)

The previous way only blocks the currently known not working version, 
without blocking future updates.

If you want a way to stay at the known working version without further 
updates, here is the content you should use for your 
/etc/apt/preferences.d/local-nvidia-quirks:

Explanation: do not use any other version than this one, ever (priority 
1001 will ensure that)
Package: nvidia-304
Pin: version 304.131-0ubuntu3
Pin-Priority: 1001

Explanation: do not use any other version than this one, ever (priority 
1001 will ensure that)
Package: nvidia-opencl-icd-304
Pin: version 304.131-0ubuntu3
Pin-Priority: 1001

what do you guys think, does look like a workable solution?

Regards,  Jim