Hi
New ubuntu-mate 16.04 install and have installed the latest nVidia driver via Software7Updates using this ppa http://ppa.launchpad.net/graphics-drivers/ppa/ubuntu

Under Software & Updates > Other Drivers I see
But under System > Preferences > Hardware > Displays my monitor is unknown and at a low resolution which can't be changed

A quick google brings me to this page which recommends installing the nVidia driver thru the command line
https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-insta...4-xenial-xerus

But I am reluctant, since almost ALL my linux problems have been related to nVidia drivers.

Any driver experts able to offer some help here?

If I run
I get

"Restricted Drivers" on the Ubuntu Menu is the recommended method.
Try defaults before "latest" is my advice and that before asking for help, in the future.

You sir, need to use https://help.ubuntu.com/
http://askubuntu.com/questions/76093...vidia-graphics

and have you installed the RIGHT driver for your nvidia card? it probably isn't the NEWEST.
checking with this method gives 100% results:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php...a#Installation (points 1. and 2.)

Thanks Habitual and ondoho. I know you are both quite active here and I respect your opinions!

I am confident I have
http://www.nvidia.com/download/drive...x/112992/en-us

375.26 working fine now and NO installs were done directly in the command line

I think it was simply a matter of running nvidia-xconfig and rebooting

Glad it worked out!