Update Nvidia Driver Help
 

:newbie: I am using Ubuntu 9.10 with a GeForce 7300SE/7200GS video card. The current driver installed is 185.18.36 - installed via Ubuntu when the OS was initially installed. It appears that Ubuntu is not automatically updating, or at least not informing me, when a new release is available. The latest version Nvidia driver is 190.53 released on Dec 16, 2009. I have manually downloaded the driver (NVIDIA-Linux-x86-190.53-pkg1.run). Since I'm still "wet behind the ears" to Linux-Ubuntu, I really do know that much, if anything, about using the "Terminal" and all those "command line" entries. So first, can I set-up Ubuntu to check for Nvidia driver updates? Next, how do I manually install this new driver? Many thanks ahead of time. :hattip:

The reason Ubuntu has not alerted you to the new version is because the newest version is NOT in the Ubuntu repos yet. It's best, especially if you're not very skilled in GNU/Linux just yet, to wait a while till Ubuntu adds the newer version to the repositories. There are a few reasons why I say this:

1. Installing the proprietary Nvidia drivers via the installation script provided by Nvidia is fine (it's how I do it on all my distributions). However, it requires some advanced skills to run/install.

2. You'll have to download and rerun the script manually from now on when an update becomes available from Nvidia because you will no longer be using the Ubuntu repo version.

3. Each time your kernel gets updated in Ubuntu, you'll have to rerun the Nvidia installation script. It only works with the kernel that it is installed on at the time of installation.

My advice... be patient with Ubuntu. When the new Nvidia drivers are well-tested and accepted by the repo maintainers, they will show up in the repos and be available for updating.

Luck! :)

The 185 and many previous versions work no differently than the 190+ drivers with that card, the latest and greatest from Nvidia site has more features and bug fixes, but usually only apply to the latest and greatest like the 9 series + Nvidia cards, not your 7 series.

There's probably no difference between the two when used for your card. You're best to install the one from Ubuntu repo so it gets updated automatically and always works without any extra effort.

:scratch: Thanks for responding. I guess the next question is (and no response expected) .... why is it taking so long for Linux - Ubuntu (whatever) updating this? I mean, the driver was released two weeks or so ago. Sheeeeeeesh! Thanks anyway.

Linux repository maintainers use a certain process before approving new versions of apps or other files to their repositories. You may have heard about the different repositories available in Ubuntu... current, community, volatile, testing, etc. An application goes through a testing process and is made available at different repository levels for use and extensive testing for stability and bug issues before it makes it to the standard release version repos.

This is especially true of Ubuntu, being Debian Linux based. It's one of the good things about Linux. This method of testing and admitting apps into the repos is what makes most GNU/Linux distributions ROCK SOLID in their performance and stability. You can always choose to destabilize your installation by installing from non-repo sources or by using the more volatile repos (less tested), but that's not something I would recommend on an installation that you use for you every day computer needs.

Experimentation is best done on experimental installations of GNU/Linux on your system. If you have space on your drives, it's a good way to learn Linux... install other distributions and play/tweak/trash/reinstall them. :)

Have FUN!

:hattip: Thanks (to all) for replying. Guess I will just wait for the official release from Ubuntu. I'm so use to downloading new updates and installing them also as soon as they are released when using
Windows XP Home. And, fortunately, all went well for the most part. I'm not accustom to the lag-time involved using Ubuntu. Guess I'll just have to "BE PATIENT". (sheeeeeeeesh) Many thanks. :):doh: