NVIDIA drivers work fine... til reboot

[c0mp13371331337]

Having a bit of driver problem, wondering if anyone else has been getting this. I've got an nVidia 8800GTS (512MB) card, I currently have the 173.08beta drivers from nVidia installed (although the problem arises with the 169.12 version, as well), and I'm running an up-to-date, fresh install of Hardy.

To install the drivers, I stopped gdm using the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

Then executed the driver installer. Once that finished, I started gdm again:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

And after tweaking a few settings with nvidia-settings, I had my dual-screens running at 3200x1200, Compiz working flawlessly, 3D games (such as doom3) look fantastic, the works.

However, I was in for a rude awakening when I rebooted, as it killed whatever life my system had and X started in safe graphics mode using the vesa drivers. I've spent a fair bit of time tinkering with it and the best I can chizel the process down to is simply stopping gdm again, reinstalling the nVidia drivers (either version works), and firing gdm back up.

All my nVidia settings are exactly as I left them, so I don't have to reconfigure that at least, but I do still need to.... um.... reinstall the driver after each reboot. And maybe it's just me, but it seems a little ludicrous that I would even entertain the idea of writing a script that executes before gdm starts to reinstall my nVidia drivers. Please help me here, I'd feel dirty if I had to resort to that.

[PmDematagoda]

Do this:-
1) Open a modules file for editing with:-

sudo nano /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

2) Edit the DISABLED_MODULES line to make it look like this:-

DISABLED_MODULES="nv nvidia_new"

and save the file.

Then reboot the PC and see if the Nvidia driver now works.

[c0mp13371331337]

I challenge anyone to try and get this same level of support from M$. Not gonna happen.

PmDematagoda, many thanks friend. That worked like a charm. I can now shut down my system without having to wonder if I'm going to have an extra 5 minutes of spare time to install the drivers when I reboot, or if I'll have to suffer 800x600 for whatever I'm doing!

Thanks again!

[dchurch]

Hmmm...I just edited that file, and now I have a very low res, and the screens are just duplicated on each.

Any idea how I can get back to where I was?

The file now seems to be empty upon reboot.

[dchurch]

Bizarre!

Not sure what I did, but I got back in ok, but the left screen was on the right and vice versa.

The option for swapping them is now missing.

I did the easiest thing and just swapped the cables.

[WunSick]

PmDematagoda, After searching the great and powerful Google, i searched here, found this thread, and you made my day! THanks!

[Zer0Nin3r]

Do this:-
1) Open a modules file for editing with:-

sudo nano /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

2) Edit the DISABLED_MODULES line to make it look like this:-

DISABLED_MODULES="nv nvidia_new"

and save the file.

Then reboot the PC and see if the Nvidia driver now works.

How does it work and why?

[PmDematagoda]

How does it work and why?

The problem may be with modules conflicting with each other, in this case the nvidia and nvidia_new modules, this can cause the X-Server to crash and go to Fail-Safe. I am not sure of the explanation, but with my current knowledge, that is what I think is happening.

[ChameleonDave]

The problem may be with modules conflicting with each other, in this case the nvidia and nvidia_new modules

Hmm, interesting.

So, there are three Nvidia modules: nv, nvidia and nvidia_new. This raises the question of why we aren't using nvidia_new. Surely it's the most up-to-date one.

[llama320]

PmDematagoda, After searching the great and powerful Google, i searched here, found this thread, and you made my day! THanks!

I second that
Thanks!