Install graphics card on Ubuntu - how it works

You can manually install your graphics card on Ubuntu if it is not automatically recognized or if the driver causes problems. And if you have locked yourself out and can no longer see your desktop: no problem. Find the solution here.

First steps to install the graphics card on Ubuntu

Whether you have a graphics card from AMD or NVIDIA, the first steps are the same. The installation is regulated via the console, where you have to log in as root. If you do not want this, add a "sudo" to the commands below. If possible, you should also have the Linux driver for your graphics card at hand.

1. Restart your computer and press the Shift key when booting. Select recovery or recovery mode in the following menu.
2. In the recovery menu below you can choose how you want to use the console. Select the "netroot" option here. Ubuntu now starts as a console with network access. You should be logged in as " ".
3. Now first make a copy of xorg.conf, in which the settings for the graphics card are saved. Type (without quotes) "mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /ect/X11/xorg.conf.backup". Your current xorg configuration file is now called xorg.conf.backup.
4. If you do not yet know which graphics card you have installed, you can find out with lspci: "lspci -nnk | grep" VGA \ | 'Kern' \ | 3D \ | Display "-A2". Lspci reads out your PCI devices and grep searches them for the keywords mentioned.
5. If you don't have the right driver yet, you should download it from another manufacturer's computer - for example, to a USB stick.
6. Now you have to change the runlevel, otherwise you will have problems with the installation: Type "telinit 2".
7. Now change to the folder with the driver file - for example with the command "cd". It looks something like this: cd username / Downloads / treiberername.run. With the command "cd .." you go back one folder.

From here it goes on differently. Read the appropriate section for your graphics card.

Install NVIDIA driver for the graphics card on Ubuntu

As a NVIDIA user, you are almost there:

1. Now run your driver file. That works with "sh treiberername.run".
2. Confirm all inquiries and then restart with "reboot". The next time you start normally, your graphics card should work.

Install the AMD driver for the graphics card on Ubuntu

For the AMD driver, you first need a few new packages that you install with apt-get:

1. Install "apt-get install dh-make dh-modaliases execstack dkms linux-headers-generic". If you are not logged in as root, add a "sudo".
2. In a 64bit environment you also need a package: "apt-get install lib32gcc1".
3. Now build a new package from the previously downloaded AMD driver file: "sh amd-treibername.run -buildpkg". Replace "amd driver name" in the command with the exact name of the driver you downloaded. Three packages should come out with the name "fglrx".
4. Install two of these packages: "dpkg -i fglrx _ *. Deb fglrx-amdcccle _ *. Deb". Replace the stars with your version numbers. You can use the Tab key to automatically complete the file names if it is unique to Ubuntu.
5. Now only a reboot with "reboot" is missing and the installation is complete.