Installing nvidia drivers

Smithy

Smithy

Smithy

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To start off I should say I am completely new to Linux. I installed Ubuntu shortly after I formatted my hard drive, which means I don't have windows anymore (mainly because I got fed up with it), so I'm completely dedicated to learning how Linux works, and making it work for me.

Down to business; I downloaded the latest nvidia drivers for my 6600GT. They came downloaded as "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-100.14.11-pkg1.run". Now normaly I would double click and an installation program would take care of the rest. However double-clicking this brought up Archive Manager, and left me faced with an error message "Archive type not supported". So after some research I discovered that Archive Manager was not the program I should be using to install packages, apparently I need a package manager, so I found and installed KPackage.

I right-clicked on the downloaded drivers and chose to open with KPackage, then I was faced with the message "Unknown Package". Why is it an unknown package? How do I make it a known package? What is needed to be able to install these drivers?

Any help is much appreciated, even if it is in the form of a link to an article I should read. I really don't want to lose faith with Linux and have to resort back to Windows.
 
as you're using ubuntu, try running the restricted drivers manager off the system>administration menu. this should install/configure the nvidia drivers for you. :)
 
Many thanks, that worked. :)

Next question (:p): The only driver in the list was the nvidia driver. Was this because this is the only driver I have downloaded so far and it found the file in the folder where I downloaded it to? If so then when I download the Creative drivers will they then appear in that list?
 
Smithy said:
Many thanks, that worked. :)

Next question (:p): The only driver in the list was the nvidia driver. Was this because this is the only driver I have downloaded so far and it found the file in the folder where I downloaded it to? If so then when I download the Creative drivers will they then appear in that list?
Click to expand...

The drivers are classified as "restricted" because the source code isn't available (unsurprisingly) and in that respect kind of goes against the Linux-ethos grain that allows end-users to pretty much do what they want with the software (including modification and redistribution).

They appear in the restricted list because Ubuntu has detected you've a nVidia card so makes them available for you to use on the understanding that you accept the source code isn't available for you to look at/recompile/whatever if things go "wrong".

I'm not sure about the Creative drivers. The Ubuntu forums would be a good place to start...

--
Richard
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Last edited:
edit: too slow... :p

no, it has nothing to do with what you have downloaded. it checks ubuntus servers for drivers and downloads them. now i'm a complete noob myself but i *think* that utility only detects nvidia and ati cards.

i have an audigy2 card and ubuntu automatically installed basic alsa drivers so i at least get some basic functionality. if you have an x-fi card, i haven't a clue.... i guess ubuntuforums.org would be your best bet. :)
 
Thanks for the responses. The more I learn about Linux, the more I realise it is so different to windows in almost every aspect. Can only be good. :)
 
Heh, that's right... learning Linux (or Unix) isn't really that hard at all. It's unlearning the Microsoft way of doing things that's the tricky part.

Just remember that Unix has been around for longer than Windows has, so the Unix way is the right way ;)
 
GarethDW said:
It's unlearning the Microsoft way of doing things that's the tricky part.
Click to expand...
This is it. I have been using windows for so many years, I expect Linux to react in the same way. No doubt it's going to be difficult, but I think worth it's in the long run. :)
 
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