How do i install the damn drivers?
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_d...32_180.51.html
I have nvidia 8600 GT...

Please make a detailed step by step explanation as i am Linux newbie.
assume i know nothing...

Many distros have repos for their respective package manager that will contain the nVidia drivers. That should be your first choice. Of course you don't tell us what distro you're using. Otherwise, follow the link you posted and look for the section titled "To download and install the drivers, follow the steps below:" and then follow the steps.

ubuntu
i don't get those steps...
will try using package manager

Before we can help some more information would be useful.

-what distro are you using.
-Do you have kernel source.
-Do you have net access to the box

On bigger distros often propriety firmwar/drivers are available in the package manager

When I installed my 9600GT on a Ubuntu 9.04 (and 8.10) system I had to enable the restricted repository and then went to synaptic and installed hardware driver and nvidia x server settings.

Then I had to reboot but i think restarting X would have done it.

When I installed a 5200GTX (I think was definitely a 5* series) on slack ware I had to drop to run level 3 (#init 3) and as root run the install script (#./nvidiainstaller....bin) then back to run level 5 and all worked not even a reboot required.
I did however need kernal source and headers - I also believe my monitor was not recognised properly but was easy enough to fix. This was about 2 years ago.

First you have to check for binary packages using the package manager, as already mentioned. This is the straightforward method.

If you want to install the proprietary drivers, the step are simple:
1) Do a backup of the current /etc/X11/xorg.conf file
2) Download the installer: NVIDIA-Linux-<version>-pkg1.run
3) Stop the graphic environment using the command:
4) Press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to switch to a virtual console and login
5) Run the installer:
and answer yes to all questions.
6) Restart the graphic environment issuing
That's it.

wow....
i just did it from the add or remove....
then ran
"sudo nvidia-xconfig"
logged out...
logged in...
and it was fine!

Very good!