First, I assume "apitude" in your post is a typo, since the correct command is aptitude.
Second, are you sure you installed the nvidia-current driver from the Ubuntu repos, and not the driver from nvidia.com? When I run "aptitude search nvidia" I get an output like this. Note: I left out some of the output for brevity:
I think you may have to run it like this:
Sorry if I typed it wrong in my last post.

Hi i also had the same problem:
From the log file Xorg.0.log from the last line it says:

(EE) No devices detected.
Fatal server error:
no screens found

Some Info:
* Ubuntu 10.10 with nvidia cuda
* After install Nvidia Driver from ubuntu repo i cant load the GUI, and booted on terminal
* Alt+f7 display some loading but stop for some reason, also i observe the bootup screen for ubuntu and sounds works but can't proceed
i sure nvidia problem
* Im pretty sure nvidia driver problem because i booted up rescue mood and i guess dont use nvidia driver right.And boot me up to my desktop. I already encounter this one on my linux 10.04 installed on my USB and after in installed the nvidia driver this problem happens on the same system but when i used it on HP system i forget the nvidia card its ok but on my system nvidia cuda got this problem. What i did on my USB linux is boot to rescue mood and remove the nvidia driver from the aditional driver menu and reboot ok.
* now im encounter it in my dual boot windows 7 and ubuntu 10.10 and trying to find some solution and end up here like yours.

I will try all possible solution discussed here and get back what would be the results hope we will root out this one.

By the way this is my Xorg.0.log files hope someone can point me to the problems causing it or i need some configuration files to edit or add. Also i would like to ask as of the day is post for the current nvidia driver on the ubuntu repo is says is the log that current driver is compile for Linux 2.6.24-27-server i686 Ubuntu and the my system is Linux 2.6.35-23-generic is causing something

[ 53.823]
X.Org X Server 1.9.0
Release Date: 2010-08-20
[ 53.823] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 53.823] Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-27-server i686 Ubuntu
[ 53.823] Current Operating System: Linux 2.6.35-23-generic #40-Ubuntu SMP Wed Nov 17 22:15:35 UTC 2010 i686
[ 53.823] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic ro quiet splash
[ 53.823] Build Date: 16 September 2010 05:39:22PM
[ 53.823] xorg-server 2:1.9.0-0ubuntu7 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
[ 53.823] Current version of pixman: 0.18.4
[ 53.823] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 53.824] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 53.824] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Nov 26 17:25:15 2010
[ 53.824] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
[ 53.824] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 53.825] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
[ 53.825] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen" (0)
[ 53.825] (**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[ 53.825] (==) No device specified for screen "Default Screen".
Using the first device section listed.
[ 53.825] (**) | |-->Device "Default Device"
[ 53.825] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen".
Using a default monitor configuration.
[ 53.825] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 53.825] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 53.825] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 53.825] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 53.825] (==) FontPath set to:
/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,
built-ins
[ 53.825] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 53.825] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[ 53.825] (II) Loader magic: 0x81f8e00
[ 53.825] (II) Module ABI versions:
[ 53.825] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[ 53.825] X.Org Video Driver: 8.0
[ 53.825] X.Org XInput driver : 11.0
[ 53.825] X.Org Server Extension : 4.0
[ 53.827] (--) PCI:*(0:0:2:0) 8086:2a42:1043:1af2 rev 7, Mem @ 0xfcc00000/4194304, 0xd0000000/268435456, I/O @ 0x0000cc00/8
[ 53.827] (--) PCI: (0:1:0:0) 10de:0a74:1043:1af2 rev 162, Mem @ 0xfd000000/16777216, 0xe0000000/268435456, 0xfa000000/33554432, I/O @ 0x0000dc00/128, BIOS @ 0x????????/524288
[ 53.827] (II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)
[ 53.827] (II) "extmod" will be loaded by default.
[ 53.827] (II) "dbe" will be loaded by default.
[ 53.827] (II) "glx" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
[ 53.827] (II) "record" will be loaded by default.
[ 53.827] (II) "dri" will be loaded by default.
[ 53.827] (II) "dri2" will be loaded by default.
[ 53.827] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[ 53.827] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/libglx.so
[ 53.852] (II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 53.852] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[ 53.852] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 53.852] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module 260.19.06 Mon Sep 13 07:01:31 PDT 2010
[ 53.852] (II) Loading extension GLX
[ 53.852] (II) LoadModule: "extmod"
[ 53.852] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so
[ 53.853] (II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 53.853] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.0.0
[ 53.853] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 53.853] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension DPMS
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension XVideo
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension X-Resource
[ 53.853] (II) LoadModule: "dbe"
[ 53.853] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so
[ 53.853] (II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 53.853] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.0.0
[ 53.853] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 53.853] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 53.853] (II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
[ 53.853] (II) LoadModule: "record"
[ 53.854] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so
[ 53.854] (II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 53.854] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.13.0
[ 53.854] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 53.854] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 53.854] (II) Loading extension RECORD
[ 53.854] (II) LoadModule: "dri"
[ 53.855] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
[ 53.855] (II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 53.855] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.0.0
[ 53.855] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 53.855] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
[ 53.855] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
[ 53.855] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
[ 53.856] (II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 53.856] compiled for 1.9.0, module version = 1.2.0
[ 53.856] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 4.0
[ 53.856] (II) Loading extension DRI2
[ 53.856] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
[ 53.856] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so
[ 53.856] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 53.856] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[ 53.856] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 53.856] (II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 260.19.06 Mon Sep 13 06:37:13 PDT 2010
[ 53.856] (II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
[ 53.856] (--) using VT number 8

[ 53.861] (EE) No devices detected.
[ 53.861]
Fatal server error:
[ 53.861] no screens found
[ 53.861]
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
[ 53.861] Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[ 53.861]

Which nvidia card do you have? And which driver did you install? Did you install the nvidia driver from the Ubuntu repos? Or did you install the driver from nvidia.com?
If you are sure you have installed the correct nvidia driver from the Ubuntu repos, try running: Then reboot and see if you can get to the desktop.

I have an Asus U30L Campany laptop in my home with a nvidia Geforce 210M Cuda 512Mb card that the one i installed with ubuntu 10.10 an update detect additional hardware a proprietary driver from the ubuntu repo detailing about the driver for 3d and 2d acceleration i installed it and have problem booting my Gnome Desktop.
@TOMMCD: I already try nvidia-xconfig and reboot and still the same problem, Question:does nvidia-xconfig will write a new /etc/X11/xorg.conf and backup an old one right?I been observing it the backup and the new one created by nvidia-xconfig but i dont know how to fix it or is there something to add to fix the problem manually.Ive been searching for a solution by right know im still in no luck.

This morning i try to download a driver in the nvidia.com for my nvidia card and try to install it manually but first i remove the nvidia driver from ubuntu repo in the additional driver GUI and run the nvidia.com driver manually maybe this one can fix it but still the same problem.
Here the way i installed manually and also it compile the nvidia kernel and install complete:
run nvidia.com driver NVIDIA_linux-x86-260.19.21.run ( nvidia.com driver 260.19.21)
In the installation process it greated me this mouvean driver install and need to dis-able so i continue and the installation itself dis-able the nouvean by setting a configuration /etc/modprob.d/nvidia-installer-disable-nouvean.conf and furtther says that if i want to enable it again just delete the /etc/modprob.d/nvidia-installer-disable-nouvean.conf and the installation complete and run a nvidia-config that will create and new /etc/X11/xorg.conf and backup the old one. and reboot.

But the problem after reboot is still the same i need to go to rescue mood and set the x-server setting to default generic something i guess not the nvidia driver. and boot my gnome desktop. this is so far ive been. now im planning whats next step hope u can help me.
As i remember and stated in my first post i used to install it on my usb linux with the nvidia driver installed through the adittionnal driver GUI and after installed and reboot the laptop U30L with nvidia gefore 210M cuda 512 has a booting problem and now i remember it i try it on my friend compaq cq45 i forget the nvidia card he has its because now he leaves in other place i dont have the oppurtunity to know what card he has.the compaq laptop bootup my usb linux with nvidia driver installed and when i try to open in the administration > Nvidia X setting GUI i saw the two menu the generic first and the second nvidia gforce card of the compaq laptop.
So i guess there is a problem of the driver and my Nvidia card its because now when i booted up on desktop with low graphics and open the menu in the administration > NVIDIA x setting GUI it will great you with a msg telling that you must configure the x server or something like nvidia-xconfig and reboot but still it will do you no good for solving the problem.

Right now im still hoping someone will figure out a this problem.
Please forgive me with my english..

If you want to use the nvidia driver from the Ubuntu repos, the correct driver to install from the repos for your card is nvidia-current.
Yes, this is what running nvidia-xconfig is supposed to do. However, these days when you boot with the default open source drivers that Ubuntu installs (for nvidia, it is the nouveau driver) you may not have an original xorg.conf file to back up.
See these tutorials for installing the driver from nvidia.com:
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/howto-inst...ucid-lynx.html
Make sure you have completely reomved the nvidia driver(s) from the Ubuntu repos. Also make sure you blacklist all the stuff it says there in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf.
As far as I know, to install the nvidia driver from nvidia.com, you still need to install the build-essential package, and the linux headers for your kernel as it says here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NvidiaManual
Post your xorg.conf file here.
Also, as a test, try backing up your current xorg.conf. Then replace it with my xorg.conf from my desktop ubuntu install
You can always put your xorg.conf back in place of mine if it does not help.

@tommcd: By the way in installed the nvidia driver from nvidia.com using this command "sudo sh NVIDIAdriverFROMnvidia.com -k $(uname -r)" i found it in the furom somewhere i succesfully installed it but the same problem.By the way i will try your msg above and ill post back the results. Hope it works and thanks for the efforts of replying.

Many thanks to all who helped. But after a couple weeks of trying different things to get my Ubuntu 10.10 working again, I just reinstalled from an iso I put on CD. During the reinstall, I completely deleted the previous 10.10 and did a new install including setting up new partitions. Let's hope that I don't re-create the problem again.

Thanks all.

Duane

Dis you run: "sudo nvidia-xconfig" after installing the nvidia driver?
Post your: /etc/X11/xorg.conf file so we can see if anything is amiss.

So you are still not able to boot to the graphical desktop after installing the nvidia driver? Is that correct?
Also, and most importantly, did you purge the nvidia driver from the Ubuntu repos before installing the driver from nvidia.com??