How can I remove nvidia drivers?

Question

Recently I installed Ubuntu 11.04 (32 bit) on my Core i5 750 with a GeForce 210 graphics card.

Unfortunately, it installs the nVidia drivers automatically, without any prompt (unlike in earlier versions).
This of causes a reboot to a command line shell.
I can't even "reinstall", as the install mechanism itself brings the driver on-board my system.

How could I fix this?

Solution

• When booting the system, press and hold the Shift key to make the GRUB menu appear.
• In the GRUB menu select the (recovery mode) entry and let the system boot.
• You will be presented with another menu, scroll down and select Drop to root shell prompt.
• Recovery Console must first be made Read/Write.

• Run the following commands:

  mount -n -o remount,rw /
  apt-get purge nvidia-current
  rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf
  reboot now
  

Comments

[Admin]

so, how about uninstalling the nvidia drivers and removing your xorg.conf file? there are also notes on blacklist'ing nouveau out there -- is that what you are really looking for?

[Admin]

Which drivers are installed? Proprietary or free? I can't imagine it would automatically install proprietary drivers.

[Admin]

why 32-bit? why not 64?

[Admin]

@nik: I'm looking for the system to work - as to how, I couldn't care less.

[Admin]

@dv3500ea: So I understand.

[Admin]

@Alvar: Why not 32? I'm a bit shy as to the usage of 64, as it is not the recommended version...

[Admin]

@dv3500ea IIRC the Nvidia drivers are installed when ticking that proprietary software checkbox thingy in the installer.

[Admin]

possible duplicate of Remove nVidia driver and go back to Nouveau