Well first and foremost I am a linux ultra newb. I know practically nothing about linux but I am attempting to switch to it. However, my first few attempts have been fruitless.

My first attempt was with mandriva 2005. I intalled it 3 seperate times and could not get it to function properly. So I tried Ubuntu.

I have got Ubuntu installed but when it comes up all I see are lines on my screen. It seems that the video driver is messed up. I have an Nvidia GeForce 6800 on this pc and I have seen the driver on the nvidia website but how can I install it on my non-working linux install.

All Help is greatly appreciated.

From the http://ubuntuguide.org/#installnvidiadriver

It's for hoary but i think it will work for breezy too.

Q: How to install Graphics Driver (NVIDIA)?

1. Read General Notes
2. Read How to add extra repositories
3.

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx
sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup
sudo nvidia-glx-config enable
sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/NVIDIA-Settings.desktop

4. Insert the following lines into the new file

[Desktop Entry]
Name=NVIDIA Settings
Comment=NVIDIA Settings
Exec=nvidia-settings
Icon=
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;

5. Save the edited file
6. Read How to restart GNOME without rebooting computer?
7. Applications -> System Tools -> NVIDIA Settings

Alright How would I originally download the update from Nvidia? Or do I need to burn it to a CD?

One other thing is that I thought Ubuntu disabled Superusers by default. Am I wrong?

I have the same NVIDIA but i didn't have any problems.
That's strange.You sould ask the ubuntuforums.org too.

Anyway...

If you have Internet connection:

For Intel/AMD 32 bit try :

wget http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-7676-pkg1.run

For AMD64 try :

wget http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/L...-7676-pkg2.run

Download the README :

wget ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Li...676/README.txt

I you don't have Internet connection, you have to download from another computer.

Yes, if you want to run something as root you have to write :
sudo command and enter the password of your user when asked.

So all I have to do is type wget <location of file> at the command prompt and it will download the file for me?

Yes, wget is a usefull program to download from command line.

Thank you for your help thus far! I may not be out of the woods yet so I may be back to ask more questions but I will attempt to download and install the driver tonight.

Thanks again!