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How to Get Your Nvidia Graphics Card Working on Linux
Edited by Happygoat, Elyne, Sondra C, Flickety and 4 others
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.
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EditSteps
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1Buy an NVidia graphics card, if you do not already have one.Ad -
2Go 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.
- if you have a computer with a processor such as a Pentium 1-4, select Linux IA32.
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3Note that once the driver is downloaded, save it to a spot on your computer you will remember. -
4Kill 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.
- press ctrl-alt-f1 to enter a virtual terminal. Log in as root and use the command "killall 5"
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5You should now backup your X configuration in case it is corrupted.
- Type cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup
- Type cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup
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6Now 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"
- in the terminal, go to the directory where you downloaded the driver.
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7Note 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.
- Remember, when it asks you if you want it to configure your XServer to say yes.
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8Once the driver is installed, run the command "reboot" . You have successfully installed the driver! -
9If 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.
Ad - Type /sbin/init 5
EditTips
- 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.
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EditWarnings
- 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.
