Linux Problem with the nvidia driver in ubuntu

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gforce

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I just installed the latest nvidia graphics drivers and there's a problem right out of the bat.

Upon restart, the xlogin prompt appears with massive black bars. Upon logging in, the mouse and keyboard usually hang and there are weird stripes/lines and stuff (like a video gone bad). The only way to access the system is via console recovery mode. Here's my current xorg.conf file:
Code: 
***
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder57)  Mon Oct 27 14:37:20 PST 2008

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Unknown"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 110.0
    VertRefresh     50.0 - 150.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection
***

I did manage to log in under xfce DE once and clicked on nvidia xserver settings to find out that the monitor was running at a resolution of 1600x1200 which probably hangs the entire system.

Using xfix in recovery mode only gets me this xorg.conf and the screen goes back to 800x600 which I'm using right now to create this thread. :@
Code: 
***
Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Monitor		"Configured Monitor"
	Device		"Configured Video Device"
EndSection
***
I even tried manually editing this file to use the nvidia driver but to no avail. sudo nvidia-xconfig recreates the first xorg conf file above.

Could anyone please help me out? I'm trying to get the damn monitor to use any XGA resolution without letting the mouse and keyboard f*ck up.
 
you did not mention which card you are using.

also,..did u try installing older stable drivers?
 
ya you need to mention what versions of ubuntu and nvidia drivers you are using and what card you got... try the latest stable 180.29 drivers?
 
This is on a backup PC with a GeForce4 card so 96.xx is the latest drivers I can use. 180 is for GeForce6 and above if I'm not mistaken.

Running on Ubuntu Intrepid with gnome and xfce DEs on a 2.6.27-11 kernel.
 
oh i see.

in this case, newer driver may not be better, try to stick to the default that is offered by ubuntu's built-in "jockey" or "restricted manager" called "hardware drivers" in the system/admin menu... does the standard one work? if so, no need to get the latest...
 
^^LOL :P Install the drivers from nvidia website and then navigate to System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers :P

A piece of advice.. Try installing drivers after creating deb.. That would be easy to remove once new drivers are available .. There should be options to create deb in the installer :) and stay away from those old drivers in the repos.
 
Actually, the trick here is to remove all the nvidia drivers first. There are nvidia drivers that come with Ubuntu that can confuse the issue.

Try this:

Download nvidia driver from nvidia's website.

Remove all old nvidia drivers

Code: 
sudo apt-get remove nvidia*

then stop x

Code: 
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

install new nvidia driver

Code: 
sudo sh (Name of Nvidia Driver)

restart x

Code: 
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
 
Solved the problem by writing a custom conf file and running on the 2.6.27-7 kernel. I had to remove the extra modes and disable compiz. nVidia's web site has the same driver version that I have on my system (96.43) and it seems that the -11 kernel is slightly incompatible with the restricted drivers. Anyhow, my monitor happily displays 1280x1024 now.

Thanks to all who responded.
 
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