So do to the fact that my HTPC died, and I didn’t want to restore the OS from a backup, I opted instead to install a fresh (and reasonably modern) version of Kubuntu. Once installed I quickly ran into problems with the binary video driver installation. Yes, yes, I realize that I could simply instruct Kubuntu (or Ubuntu) to utilize the Canonical tracked binary drivers, however they’re always generally behind quiet a few versions, and for this system I like running the bleeding edge.

So my adventure in Nvidia driver installation begins yet again, a road I’ve been down many times…

Assuming you’ve downloaded the latest binary driver from Nvidia and try to install it you’ll immediately run into problems with the binary installer complaining that:

• X windows is still running
• The Nouveau module is loaded
• The compiler can’t be found
• 32bit libraries are missing (assuming you’re running 64bit OS like I am)

By far the most frustrating of these is Nouveau. Listen I’m all for open software, however the reality is that Nouveau is a poor substitute for the real deal from Nvidia. Would it be great if Nvidia open sourced their driver? Hell yes, however since they’re not willing to I’m stick using it in a binary format… Anyways, below are the steps I’ve used (recently) to achieve success in installing this driver:

• Obtain the latest driver from Nvidia
• Remove the packages xserver-xorg-video-nouveau and xserver-xorg-video-all

sudo dpkg -r xserver-xorg-video-nouveau xserver-xorg-video-all

• Install the linux-headers package matching your kernel and the dkms package

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` dkms

• Install GCC and make packages

sudo apt-get install gcc make

• Install 32bit OpenGL libraries (if you’re running 64bit OS)

apt-get install libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386

• Modify your GRUB configuration to set nomodeset on boot

• edit: /etc/default/grub and find the line starting with: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT. This usually this looks like:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

• Add nomodeset to it:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"

• Save the file and run update-grub

sudo update-grub

• Reboot

Once rebooted make sure that X windows is shutdown. Usually if X is running on boot in Kubuntu or Ubuntu environments, it’s due to kdm, gdm, or lightdm

sudo stop lightdm

After that, try and run the nvidia binary driver installer and allow it to install the drivers. Hopefully all will go smoothly and your system will be ready to go. Once complete you can simply restart X windows:

sudo start lightdm

Good luck, and if you have problems feel free to let me know in the comments section!