[SOLVED] NVidia Driver and Settings Problems

Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Locked
Bekk

[SOLVED] NVidia Driver and Settings Problems

Post by Bekk »

This all started with a game that wouldn't run correctly on my laptop. I wanted to see if it would run any better if I wasn't using the NVidia driver. I used the NVidia X Server Settings tool to switch and rebooted. The game ran on the Nouveau driver and I should have stopped right there, but I wanted to go back to using the NVidia driver. When I opened the NVidia X Server Settings again, there was no way to switch back. In fact, almost all of the options were gone. Between uninstalling and reinstalling drivers and tools all day long, I've managed to screw myself all the way into the ground with this. I can only start in Recovery Mode. Every other path leads to lockups or never ending errors. I don't even know where to look or what to look for to fix this and I'm starting to get a little freaked out.

Laptop: MSI GP72 Leopard Pro-401
Video: NVIDIA GeForce® GTX1050TI

Recommended NVidia Driver: nvidia-384

Kernel: 4.10.0-37-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.4.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
Distro: Linux Mint 18.2 Sonya
Machine: Mobo: Micro-Star model: MS-1799 v: REV:1.0
Bios: American Megatrends v: E1799IMS.316 date: 05/11/2017
CPU: Quad core Intel Core i7-7700HQ (-HT-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 22464
clock speeds: max: 3800 MHz 1: 3372 MHz 2: 981 MHz 3: 3249 MHz
4: 903 MHz 5: 968 MHz 6: 899 MHz 7: 3400 MHz 8: 3399 MHz
Graphics: Card-1: Intel Device 591b bus-ID: 00:02.0
Card-2: NVIDIA Device 1c8c bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: fbdev (unloaded: vesa) FAILED: intel,nouveau
Resolution: 1920x1080@77.00hz
GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 4.0, 256 bits)
GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card Intel Device a171 driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1f.3
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-37-generic
Network: Card-1: Intel Device 24fb driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 02:00.0
IF: wlp2s0 state: up speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter>
Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros Device e0b1
driver: alx port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 1256.3GB (18.2% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: KINGSTON_RBU size: 256.1GB
ID-2: /dev/sdb model: HGST_HTS721010A9 size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 99G used: 23G (25%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
ID-2: swap-1 size: 16.40GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda7
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 49.0C mobo: 27.8C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 273 Uptime: 37 min Memory: 1723.6/15960.9MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

Help me, please?
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
User avatar
trytip
Level 14
Level 14
Posts: 5371
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:20 pm

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by trytip »

start by deleting or better yet renaming your etc/X11/xorg.conf to something like xorg.confOLD and reboot and then if able to boot purge nvidia sudo apt-get purge nvidia-*
after purge reboot again and test dkms status to see what is loaded drivers
Image
Bekk

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by Bekk »

Thank you for taking time to help me. I did what you said. It's still Recovery Mode only, but dkms status said:

bbswitch, 0.8, 4.10.0-37-generic, x86_64: installed
ndiswrapper, 1.60, 4.10.0-35-generic, x86_64: installed
ndiswrapper, 1.60, 4.10.0-37-generic, x86_64: installed
virtualbox, 5.0.40, 4.10.0-37-generic, x86_64: installed
virtualbox-guest, 5.0.40, 4.10.0-35-generic, x86_64: installed (WARNING! Diff between built and installed module!) (WARNING! Diff between built and installed module!) (WARNING! Diff between built and installed module!)
virtualbox-guest, 5.0.40, 4.10.0-37-generic, x86_64: installed (WARNING! Diff between built and installed module!) (WARNING! Diff between built and installed module!) (WARNING! Diff between built and installed module!)
User avatar
trytip
Level 14
Level 14
Posts: 5371
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:20 pm

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by trytip »

get rid of virtualbox

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get purge virtualbox*
then restart do dkms status hopefully you will have no virtualbox and install nvidia again
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

i use nvidia-340 so not sure which is the newer. you also have two instances of ndiswrapper which is to connect wireless wifi with windows drivers. remove them if you don't need
Image
Bekk

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by Bekk »

I'm still stuck in recovery mode to get to my desktop, but we seem to be making some progress. I can get to a tty now and can even log in before the errors start rolling, if I type fast.

Now dkms status says:
bbswitch, 0.8, 4.10.0-37-generic, x86_64: installed
ndiswrapper, 1.60, 4.10.0-35-generic, x86_64: installed
ndiswrapper, 1.60, 4.10.0-37-generic, x86_64: installed
nvidia-384, 384.90, 4.10.0-37-generic, x86_64: installed

I think I need the ndiswrapper for the Killer Gaming Network E2500 that's on this laptop. I had to install Mint 18.2 in beta to get online. None of the previous versions were working for it.

The main thing I'm noticing as it tries to start up is:
[FAILED] Failed to start NVIDIA Persistence Daemon.
See 'systemctl status nvidia-percistenced.service' for details

If I type systemctl status nvidia-percistenced.service into the Terminal, I get:
● nvidia-percistenced.service
Loaded: not-found (Reason: No such file or directory)
Active: inactive (dead)
User avatar
trytip
Level 14
Level 14
Posts: 5371
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:20 pm

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by trytip »

try
sudo nvidia-xconfig
then reboot again
Image
Bekk

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by Bekk »

It didn't like that one. Terminal says:

sudo: nvidia-xconfig: command not found
Bekk

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by Bekk »

Update:
When I started the laptop today, I tried a regular start and even though the NVidia Persistence Daemon still failed to start, I got to my desktop. I had the warning in the corner that said it was in Software Rendering Mode, but at least I was in. I tried the "sudo nvidia-xconfig" command again and this time it worked. I rebooted and the NVidia Persistence Daemon started this time. All the options have returned to the NVidia X Server Settings too.

The new problem is that I'm stuck at 640 x 480 resolution. It's the only resolution option in Display and in the NVidia X Server Settings.
User avatar
trytip
Level 14
Level 14
Posts: 5371
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:20 pm

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by trytip »

rename etc/X11/xorg.conf to xorg.confOLD but delete any renamed old files then reboot
after reboot hopefully you get a desktop. check your resolutions and if you get nothing, do again sudo nvidia-xconfig and another reboot

in the end open driver manager and check what's installed
Last edited by trytip on Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
Bekk

Re: NVidia Driver and Setings Problems

Post by Bekk »

It started up just like none of this mess ever happened! Everything is working correctly again. All the NVidia settings are back. All my resolution choices are there...awesome! The Driver Manager says it's using the NVidia driver (384.90) like it was before.

As a precaution, I rebooted a few more times to be sure everything is good again. I also made a duplicate of the new xorg.conf, renamed it "perfect.xorg.config" and copied it to my emergency backup folder.

Thank you a billion times! I would buy you the drink of your choice if I could :D
User avatar
trytip
Level 14
Level 14
Posts: 5371
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:20 pm

Re: [SOLVED] NVidia Driver and Settings Problems

Post by trytip »

what i usually do when i want to backup is right click on the file and compress this way i can backup many files quickly in the same folder. but as long as you remember that your file is xorg.conf and not xorg.config you can restore

enjoy the linux mint, no drinks need just pass the help around ;D
Image
Locked

Return to “Graphics Cards & Monitors”