How to install Nvidia drivers in Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy)

You’ve got yourself a nice Ubuntu 7.10 install on a computer that has a similarly nice Nvidia based graphics card and you’re wondering - how do I use it?

Wonder no more, here’s a fairly simple, fairly quick way to install and enable your new driver to take advantage of your kick-butt card.

First, you need to find out what kernel you’re running. There’s a very good chance you’re running the generic kernel, so I’ll reference that throughout this how to. Open up a terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) and type in the following:

uname -a

You should see something that looks like this:

Linux yikes 2.6.22-14-generic #1 SMP Tue Dec 18 08:02:57 UTC 2007 i686 GNU/Linux

It shows the name of the OS, the name of the machine, and then the kernel. Generic it is.

Now, go to System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager. You’ll be prompted for your password to launch this. Once it’s up and running, click the search button and search for:

Linux-restricted-modules-generic

If you’re not running the generic kernel, substitute what you are running there. Once you find this package, check it off to be installed and click the Apply button.

Linux-restricted-modules-generic contains madwifi, fglrx, nvidia drivers, and a bunch of other stuff.

Once this is installed, go to System -> Administration -> Restricted Drivers Management. Check off the Nvidia driver and away you go! If you do get an error concerning software or sources, you’ll have to take one more step.

Go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources. Once there, on the Ubuntu Software tab (it should pop up on that tab by default) check off everything but “Source code”. Close it and then click the “Reload” button when prompted to reload your sources. Then go back to the previous paragraph and try again.