Solved NVIDIA Drivers disappearance and installation errors

[rorakus]

Hi, I have this problem with NVIDIA driver on my Mint 21.

Some time ago I've downloaded and successfully installed NVIDIA drivers. I have 2 graphic cards, so I used the nvidia-prime-applet switcher. I had the NVIDIA graphics card active, until some day the applet just disappeared. I've noticed, that all the drivers were just gone. (apt list --installed | grep nvidia). The only packages left are these:

libnvidia-cfg1-535/jammy-updates,jammy-security,now 535.183.01-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 amd64 [installed]
libnvidia-common-470/jammy-updates,jammy-updates,jammy-security,jammy-security,now 470.256.02-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 all [installed,automatic]
libnvidia-compute-535/jammy-updates,jammy-security,now 535.183.01-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
libnvidia-compute-535/jammy-updates,jammy-security,now 535.183.01-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 i386 [installed,automatic]
libnvidia-gl-470/jammy-updates,jammy-security,now 470.256.02-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 i386 [installed]
nvidia-prime-applet/virginia,virginia,now 1.3.9 all [installed]

Now, I have tried:
1. Reinstall the drivers through ubuntu-drivers autoinstall (it used the 550 version) --> my PC was stuck in the initramfs screen
2. Purge remaining packages and install nvidia-prime, select intel through prime-select intel and then install the drivers --> black screen with a cursor after boot (only when nvidia graphics card selected)
3. Purge remaining packages and install drivers from the official website using the .run installer --> black screen with a cursor after some time after login (only when nvidia graphics card selected)
4. Updating my kernel version to 6.x, then step 2. --> same black screen
5. Adding the GRUB parameter nvidia-drm.modeset=1, then step 2. --> same black screen
6. Blacklisting nouveau manually, then step 2. --> same black screen
(I have also tried updating basically everything)

I do have secure boot disabled.
After each attempt to fix this, I reverted it using Timeshift. Now my machine is in the state described at the start.
Can you please help me correctly install the drivers without any problems?

Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050
Kernel version: 5.15.0-136-generic
Linux: Mint 21.3
PC: Acer Aspire A715-76G

Thanks!

 

[f33dm3bits]

5. Adding the GRUB parameter nvidia-drm.modeset=1, then step 2. --> same black screen

That shouldn't be needed anymore with newer Nvidia drivers.

I have no experience with hybrids graphics, but

1. Booting into intel mode again.
2. Try purging all the nvidia packages again.
3. Then install the headers.

sudo apt install --reinstall linux-headers-$(uname -r)

4. Then try installing the 550 driver again.

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-550

5. Before rebooting try rebuilding the initramfs of your running kernel.

sudo sudo update-initramfs -u

6. Reboot and see what happens?

I did just install Linux Mint 22 in a vm and nvidia-prima-applet is still available there. Try reinstalling it?

sudo apt install nvidia-prime-applet

 

[rorakus]

That shouldn't be needed anymore with newer Nvidia drivers.

I have no experience with hybrids graphics, but

1. Booting into intel mode again.
2. Try purging all the nvidia packages again.
3. Then install the headers.

sudo apt install --reinstall linux-headers-$(uname -r)

4. Then try installing the 550 driver again.

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-550

5. Before rebooting try rebuilding the initramfs of your running kernel.

sudo sudo update-initramfs -u

6. Reboot and see what happens?

I did just install Linux Mint 22 in a vm and nvidia-prima-applet is still available there. Try reinstalling it?

sudo apt install nvidia-prime-applet

Hi, I did that, and got the black screen after switching to the nvidia driver...

 

[f33dm3bits]

Hi, I did that, and got the black screen after switching to the nvidia driver...

1. Switch to another tty1 by pressing "ctrl+alt+f5".
2. Login
3. Run "dmesg | egrep -i "error|nvidia"
4. Under /var/log you will have an Xorg.0.log file some where, search that. I think it would be something like thits.

grep EE /var/log/Xorg.0.log

You can also just try adding the Nvidia ppa, and installing the drivers from there.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update

Then try running the autoinstall command again, to see if you get any newer recommended drivers.

ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

 

[bob466]

I'm running Mint Cinnamon 21.1 on one SSD and Cinnamon 22.1 on my spare SSD both have a Graphic Card with nvidia drivers and no problems.

In Mint Cinnamon...did you run the Driver Manager ?

If you did the Drivers will be found...downloaded and installed for you...

Then when new Drivers are available...the Software Manager will install them...can't get any easier then that.