Get Your Nvidia Graphics Card Working on Linux

NVidia is an industry leader in the gaming industry. Their graphics cards increase the ability for computers to render thousands of triangles on a screen that translate into 3D graphics. This is how to get these devices working on Linux.

Steps

  1. Buy an NVidia graphics card, if you do not already have one.
  2. Go to this website * http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html and download the file appropriate for your computer.

    • if you have a computer with a processor such as a Pentium 1-4, select Linux IA32.
    • if you have a computer with a processor such as the AMD 64, select AMD64/EM64T.
  3. Note that once the driver is downloaded, save it to a spot on your computer you will remember.
  4. Kill the existing XServer before we continue. Follow these steps.

    • press ctrl-alt-f1 to enter a virtual terminal. Log in as root and use the command "killall 5"
    • press ctrl-alt-f2 and log back in as root.
  5. You should now backup your X configuration in case it is corrupted.
    • Type cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup
  6. Now that the XServer is down we can install the driver.
    • in the terminal, go to the directory where you downloaded the driver.
    • run the command "chmod a+x *.run"
    • run the command "sh *.run"
  7. Note that you will now be taken into an installation screen. Follow the steps on the screen.
    • Remember, when it asks you if you want it to configure your XServer to say yes.
    • Remember, allow it to download/compile from the Internet if needed.
  8. Once the driver is installed, run the command "reboot" . You have successfully installed the driver!
  9. If X fails to load up, press ctrl+alt+F1, log in as root and type cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    • Type /sbin/init 5
    • Your problem should now be solved, although your NVidia driver will not be configured.

Tips

  • If you want to see what files are in the directory you are in, use "ls" .
  • To move between directories in a terminal, use "cd directory" replacing directory with the place you want to go.
  • These drivers are proprietary and will 'taint' your kernel. If you have any problems then make sure to reproduce it without the drivers installed.

Warnings

  • In a worst case scenario, this may corrupt your XServer configuration and prevent it from starting. This has only happened to me twice and I have installed this driver countless times.

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