Nvidia Driver install

Question

I have been searching for days on getting started with Linux and still can't get started.

I am running the following

CAELinux xunbuntu 12.04 I7 16 GB ram SSD 500 gb Nvidia GT 540M and an integrated graphics card.

I tried to follow the information from this link

sudo apt-get purge nvidia

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers

sudo apt-get update

the following shows up. I don't know if this matters.

Note the .com was removed because I can 

W: A error occurred during the signature verification. The repository is not updated and the previous index files will be used. GPG error: http://download.opensuse.org ./ Release: The following signatures were invalid: KEYEXPIRED 1396321314

then when I try to download the driver....

sudo apt-get install nvidia-352

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree 

Reading state information... Done

E: Unable to locate package nvidia-352

At this point I tried the manual method from the same site.

but when I typed in

sudo service lightdm stop

I got a

"starting the virtual box Guest additions Fail!"
"modprode vboxguest failed"

and if I tried to type in my user name and hit enter what I typed just showed up in white text and enter did nothing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have already reinstalled CAELinux xubuntu 12.04 four times to start fresh.

UPDATE

When I tried to allow the root user access to the X server:

xhost local:root

And point the command to the right DISPLAY:

sudo DISPLAY=$DISPLAY gedit /etc/profile

this was diplayed

gedit: command not found

I tried

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-352

and after all the update info it displayed

Unable to locate package nvidia-352

Solution

First, lets get Ubuntu to a 'clean' state, without any nvidia drivers installed:

sudo apt-get purge $(dpkg -l | awk '$2~/nvidia/ {print $2}')

Next, let's remove the x-server error - follow this answer.

You can install the latest NVIDIA drivers by adding their new PPA to your system.

To do so:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-355

And as OMG! Ubuntu! say:
Remember: if the PPA breaks your system you are allowed to keep both halves. ;)

NOTE: The ppa works with versions 12.04.1 through to 15.10, so make sure you upgrade your version to the .1 release if you haven't already.

EDIT:Turns out you can't get the GT540M nvidia drivers to work on Linux.

Check out this answer.

Comments

[Fabby]

We're sorry, but this site is all about Ubuntu and its official derivatives as posted on wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases so CAELinux is off-topic here as well. However, on Unix & Linux, a sister site to Ask Ubuntu, they're very good at all varieties of Linux and Unix, so you might be better off there. ;-)

[BaisJohn]

Looks like I am using Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS On the nvidia website 355 supported products is says "Quadro SDI: Quadro SDI" Should I be using 352 since I have a GT540M graphics card?

[TellMeWhy]

OMG! Ubuntu! mentions about nvidia-355 "To upgrade to or install the latest Nvidia drivers" - after that, it's up to you

[BaisJohn]

this is was happened when I tried allow root user access to x-server. sudo: gedit: command not found. I will add the whole thing in a reply

[BaisJohn]

@DecRobot please see updates to the questions. I am still having issues.

[TellMeWhy]

@BaisJohn Okay, use "nano" instead - terminal text editor

[TellMeWhy]

@BaisJohn I would try using 355, since you can always un-install if it doesn't work...

[BaisJohn]

I installed gedit and now the terminal opens gedit when I type > sudo DISPLAY=$DISPLAY gedit /etc/profile but what do I do once it opens? also if I try > sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-355 I still get > Unable to locate package nvidia-355. Sorry I am very new to Linux. I appreciate your help a lot. I am struggling.

[TellMeWhy]

@BaisJohn have you added the pa sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa? `

[BaisJohn]

Yes, this is was displays after hitting enter the second time .......gpg: keyring /tmp/tmp6jUaqI/secring.gpg' created gpg: keyring /tmp/tmp6jUaqI/pubring.gpg' created gpg: requesting key 1118213C from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com gpg: /tmp/tmp6jUaqI/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created gpg: key 1118213C: public key "Launchpad PPA for Graphics Drivers Team" imported gpg: Total number processed: 1 gpg: imported: 1 (RSA: 1) OK

[TellMeWhy]

@BaisJohn see my edit

[Mark A]

running this purge command above uninstalls cuda too.. does the install command reinstall it ?

[TellMeWhy]

@Siddharth no...