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Cover image for Ubuntu with kernel 5.8 and nVidia legacy drivers
Adam Mateusz Brożyński
Adam Mateusz Brożyński

Posted on • Edited on

Ubuntu with kernel 5.8 and nVidia legacy drivers

Problem:

  • Cannot install drivers from nVidia website on Ubuntu with kernel >= 5.8 (nVidia has dropped support for legacy drivers!)

Solution: 

$ sudo apt install build-esssential gcc make libc6-dev
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  • Create /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nvidia.conf with following content: 
blacklist rivafb
blacklist rivatv
blacklist nvidiafb
blacklist nouveau
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  • Update initramfs 
$ update-initramfs -u
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  • Reboot and log in to console (ALT+F3) 
$ sudo reboot
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  • Stop X server 
$ sudo service gdm stop # replace gdm with your manager if different
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  • Run installer 
$ chmod +x ./*.run
$ sudo https://nvidia.if-not-true-then-false.com/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-XXX.XXX-patched-kernel-5.8.run
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  • Install additional packages 
$ sudo apt install vdpauinfo libva-glx2 libva-drm2
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  • Reboot and enjoy
  • Remember that you need to install nvidia module after every kernel update

For newer kernels (up to 5.11) see If-not-true-then-false website.

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