Ok, I've got Ubuntu 64-bit installed on my laptop, and I'm trying to install the Nvidia drivers for my 8700M GT, downloaded from http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/linux...180.44_uk.html, however I'm having a problem.

I'm opening the terminal and going to my desktop, and typing in the following,

"sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.44.pkg2.run" to install the drivers, and the package seems to run ok, then I get an error message saying,

"ERROR: You appear to be running an X server: please exit X before installing"

Now I've tried a method someone suggested of pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1 to enter a virtual console, however when I run it from there I still get the exact same error message, that I appear to be running an X server.
How in the heck can I exit/turn off/disable the X server to install the driver?


UPDATE -

Well I got it working. I went into the virtual console, went in as root using the sudo -s commaned, then typed in "init 3" before returning to attempt and install the Nvidia driver again, and it installed. I'm not actually that sure what I did but....it worked. Though pressing Ctrl+Alt+F7 to get back to the desktop just gives me a message saying "* Reloading system log daemon..." and a blinking cursor....guess I'll have to try a hard restart and hope that works...

UPDATE 2 -
Well I hit Ctrl+Alt+F1 again to go back to the virtual console, and just typed in "shutdown now" to shutdown normally...though now I'm not sure how to check if the drivers actually installed ok....ehehehe....any help? ^^;;

You can check to see if the nvidia module is loaded with
During the install process the nvidia installer will ask you if you want it to configure your xorg file. If you selected yes you should be up and running with the driver. If not it is not that hard to manually configure.

You are not stopping X with Ctrl+Alt+F1,
just leaving it temporary.

Either choose 'Console Login' ( Alt+R )
in the 'Menu' , KDM 'Desktop login' .....
or hit # init 3 .

.....

Well after a few difficulties I think I've got things sorted. The Nvidia driver I downloaded did install correctly, however after I restarted and checked the Hardware menu, it informed me that I wasn't running any Proprietary drivers and gave me the options of driver version 173 or 177. I told it to activate 177, which Ubuntu then downloaded and installed, then I restarted, and for some reason my machine started to only boot in Low Graphics Mode, with an error about a missing module. I randomly clicked through some of the options, with nothing seeming to work, so eventually I just powered off the laptop and went to bed, figuring I'd post for help in the morning, but when I've turned it on this morning, the machine boots fine and informs me that Proprietary drivers are being used to make the computer work properly, and it informs me that a different version of 177 is being used and is activated.

Again, not exactly sure what I did, but my magic touch seems to have got it working, lol.

Well now back to the problem again....

I downloaded some updates through the update manager, and then it informed me that Nvidia driver version 180 was available, so I clicked activate to download and install it, and I'm back to booting in low graphics mode.

The exact error I get is,

"(EE) Failed to load module "type1" (module does not exist, 0)"

So not sure what to do now.... x.x

But you were running a proprietary driver. Apt did not recognize it because you installed it manually rather than using the package manager. Then you installed it with the package manager. You may be able to clean it up by uninstalling it via apt with

and then uninstalling the script you downloaded from nvidia.

Then choose which way you want to install the driver. It is typically best to install the ubuntu packages rather than the driver downloaded from nvidia. Don't worry about it. I promise you that you weren't the first one to do this.

I ran the commands you suggested and Ubuntu will now boot into Low Graphics Mode with an error saying it can't find anything to do with Nvidia, though before it was booting in a strange way where it only showed part of the screen, and it was split down the middle...kinda hard to describe reall. But now it shows a normal desktop.

However, when I go to Administration -> Hardware Drivers where the Nvidia updates were before, I now find nothing there at all though....oh dear x.x

I've still got the package downloaded from Nvidia, but I don't see a way to get the Ubuntu packages. At least not automatically anyway. Is there a way I can download them manually?

Then just select the options you want from the prompts and it will install the nvidia driver and configure your xserver.

What Version of ubuntu are you running. Jaunty seems to have the new version of x.org that does not use xorg.conf. So everytime I install the nvidia driver it trys to set xorg.conf up for the nvidia driver even though this will not work.

I'm using Intrepid I think (8.10)

I'd actually re-ran the driver I downloaded from Nvidia before I got a chance to read these posts, and so far it's working fine. It's allowed me to go back to my higher 1650 resolution, and I've got an Nvidia menu in my System now, so things seem to be working fine as is. I think I'll leave it for now since things are stable for the moment, and I'm still learning ^^ (talk about thrown in at the deep end though, lol)

lucky you i have reran that driver numerous times to know prevail. I am now learning to rsync cause i am sick of resetting up my system everytime.

Ack, hope you can get it sorted soon x.x

Though one question, what's rsync?

I allows me to make a backup copy of my root folder so everytime i install the nvidia driver i dont have to reinstall it keeps a backup for me. check out grsync which has a GUI. i have actually been using tar mostly to just tar m,y root partition