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Difficulty Loading NVIDIA drivers in Zorin 12.1 Ultimate

Finston Pickle

Tue Mar 21, 2017 4:57:19 pm

I ran:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-367 to install NVIDIA drivers, as suggested by my Kratos laptop vendor.

After having what looked like a good install, I found in the terminal the following message (I got no response from clicking on OK at the bottom of the message):


“Configuring lightdm:

A display manager is a program that provides graphical login capabilities for the X Window System.

Only one display manager can manage a given X server, but multiple display manager packages are installed. Please select which display manager should run by default.

Multiple display managers can run simultaneously if they are configured to manage different servers; to achieve this, configure the display managers accordingly, edit each of their init scripts in /etc/init.d and disable the check for a default display manager.”


Looking in /etc/init.d I can find no obvious display manager files to modify or indication of which are fighting to be default.

As I am using either NVIDIA or X-org drivers for my laptop, what would the display managers be called?


P.S. I had previously successfully loaded the NVIDIA drivers in Zorin 12 (and used the NVIDIA GUI to change between NVIDIA or X-org drivers for my laptop) and have now had this problem with Zorin 12.1 and I am the latest Linux Kernel and updates.

HELP!! F.P.

Swarfendor437

Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:25:14 pm

Basically the only difference is that when you install any Proprietary Driver it wants to replace GDM (Gnome Desktop Manager) with LDM (Light Desktop Manager) - the only difference from what I can tell from personal experience is that when you install nVidia drivers it drops to LDM and you get an Ubuntu type boot screen with 4 dots that light up during boot - you no longer get the glowing Z - that's why I much prefer to use Nouveau drivers and leave nVidia clear of my rig! ;) :D

Finston Pickle

Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:37:16 pm

There is no sign of the NVIDIA GUI, when using the Zorin search box and searching NVIDIA - perhaps it did not do the full install.

I think that I used ideas at https://zorinos.com/help/activate-graphics-card/ last time or perhaps Synaptic Package Manager to install the NVIDIA 367 driver.

As you say, the NVIDIA 367 Driver seems to be bad news.

At least before, I could swap between the two, using the NVIDIA GUI.

Now I don't really know which driver is being used - I will wait to see four dots or pulsing Z on start up - it is that random.

What happens to a failed install, I wonder - is it there somewhere or never changed anything?

Xarius

Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:29:46 pm

I've had terrible luck with the 367 driver. I added the Graphics Drivers PPA and installed the 378 driver. It works significantly better.

If you'd like to give that a try:
Code:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa


You should then be able to select the 378 driver from "Additional Drivers"

Finston Pickle

Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:03:40 am

Xarius, you said "You should then be able to select the 378 driver from "Additional Drivers"".

Where would I find "Additional Drivers", please? I have not found this feature yet - or, if I have found it (it sounds familiar) - I can't remember where it is.

Thanks F.P.

Swarfendor437

Thu Mar 30, 2017 12:20:35 pm

Open Software Updater, click on 'Settings' then last tab - but need to double check when I get back from work. ;) :D

Finston Pickle

Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:59:59 pm

Thanks, Swarf - I found it again last night, by accident.

I Will give NVIDIA 378 a try (378.13 seems to be the latest one) - At least the NVIDIA GUI allows me to swap between divers - although I guess "Additional Drivers" lets you do that as well!