Install Nvidia and ATI Video Drivers on Ubuntu Edgy

So you've just installed Ubuntu Linux and now you need to install your video card's driver, be it either Nvidia or ATI. This guide will teach you the easiest ways to achieve that.

Nvidia installation

First of all, you need to add some repositories to the /etc/apt/sources.list file.

Go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources and click on the "Third Party" tab, then on the "Add" button and enter the following code:

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deb http://nvidia.limitless.lupine.me.uk/ubuntu edgy stable

After you've added the code above, click "Close" button. It will ask you to reload the information about available software, so click on the "Reload" button and wait until the window disappears.

Now open up a terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) and type the following code:

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wget -O- --quiet http://nvidia.limitless.lupine.me.uk/ubuntu/[email protected] | sudo apt-key add -

In Terminal, type the following commands, one by one, in order to install the Nvidia driver:

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sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx
sudo apt-get upgrade

All you need to do now is type the code below in the Terminal, so you can activate your Compositing options in the xorg.conf file:

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sudo nvidia-xconfig -add-argb-glx-visuals

Now reboot your computer and your new Nvidia drivers should be installed.

ATI installation

First of all, make sure all the repositories are active, so go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources and check all the 5 repositories in the first tab (Ubuntu 6.10). Click the "Close" button and you'll be asked if you want to reload the information about available software; click on the "Reload" button and wait until the window disappears.

Open a terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) and type the following command:

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sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Now scroll down till the end of the file and modify the last Section (Extensions) to look like this:

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Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection

In Terminal, type now the following commands, one by one, in order to install the ATI driver:

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sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx
sudo depmod -a

Now you need to activate and configure the driver you've just installed; please type the following command in a terminal:

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sudo aticonfig -initial

and then type:

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sudo aticonfig -overlay-type=Xv

Now reboot your computer and your new ATI drivers should be installed.

Install Nvidia and ATI Video Drivers on Ubuntu Edgy

ATI/Nvidia installation guide for Ubuntu Edgy