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Attempt #2 on installing Ubuntu Edgy on a 8800 GTS

Mon, 03/19/2007 - 12:59am — Nick

Let's see if this works...

Step 1

Install the x86_64 version of Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy using the Alternate CD.

Done!

Step 2

The first boot after install will fail! Set the driver to use the "vesa" driver (per this thread in the Ubuntu forums):

Open /etc/X11/xorg.conf using your favorite editor. Look for the line that says: Driver "nv" (in the "Device" section) and change it to say: Driver "vesa". Start gnome by running: sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

Done! Gnome has successfully started up for me!

Step 3

Now to install the nvidia driver, with help from this post in the Ubuntu forums. I should be able to follow those directions from here. Let's see if it works...

Oh, I'm installing the newest 64-bit drivers from the nvidia site.

UPDATE:I've had to shut down GDM to install the NVIDIA drivers. The problem? When I try to switch to a Text mode screen, the screen goes blank. Probably a problem between the "vesa" driver and the Nvidia 8800 GTS card. My solution? Restart the system, undo the change to /etc/X11/xorg.conf that I did above (Change the line to: Driver "nv"), and reboot. Now, starting up GDM fails and I can continue on in text mode... Smiling

Alternately, you can install openssh-server and do the install of the nvidia driver from a remote machine. That would probably be the easier option...

UPDATE 2: Successfully Installed the 64-Bit drivers for the Nvidia 8800 GTS in Ubuntu! And as an additional benefit, the Nvidia driver automatically set my screen resolution to the LCD panel's native 1680x1050! Now to see if Beryl will work on it, but that's to reveal on another post!