Nvidia GT218 repository drivers don't work
- by user1042840
I upgraded all packages with sudo apt-get upgrade command on my Ubuntu 10.04 box and I have Ubuntu 12.04 3.2.0-29-generic-pae now. I have two monitors and the following GPU:
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GT218 [NVS 300] (rev a2)
After upgrading to 12.04, I somehow lost my previous setup with one common workspace stretched across two monitors. When Ubuntu starts only one monitor is on. I can see the message on the active monitor:
Not optimum mode. Recommended mode: 1680x1050 60Hz
I used Nvidia proprietary drivers on 10.04 but now jockey-text --list shows:
xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
xorg:nvidia_current_updates - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Enabled, Not in use)
When I run sudo nvidia-settings it says
You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run `nvidia-xconfig` as root), and restart the X server.'
I typed nvidia-xconfig and rebooted, but jockey-text --list says the same after the reboot: Not in use. The same with nvidia-current - Enabled but Not in use. I also tried nvidia-173 but I ended up in tty immediately at startup so I removed it.
I used to have some problems with Nvidia proprietary drivers on 10.04, I had to put paths to EDID files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf explicitly, but the resolution was as recommended and both monitors were working.
If I understand correctly, nouveau drivers are used now by default because the resolution is still quite high, definitely not 800x600, xrandr showed:
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 400, current 1600 x 1200, maximum 1600 x 1200
default connected 1600x1200+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1600x1200 66.0*
1280x1024 76.0
1024x768 76.0
800x600 73.0
640x480 73.0
640x400 0.0
320x400 0.0
1680x1050_60.00 (0x4f) 146.2MHz
h: width 1680 start 1784 end 1960 total 2240 skew 0 clock 65.3KHz
v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1059 total 1089 clock 60.0Hz
However, colors seem a bit faded and blurry with nouveau drivers. Mouse cursor is invisible if it's placed inside Firefox window, and only one monitor is working. I like open source and if it's possible I'd prefer to use nouveau drivers but a few things should be fixed. I'm curious why nvidia-current drivers from the repository don't work now. I read it has something to do with the new X11 server in Ubuntu 12.04, is it true? How can I get it back to work?
