ok so my final goal is to get dota2 working on steam, I upgraded my linux to the latest version yesterday and I concluded that I needed to upgrade my video drive.

Error message steam gave me
http://i40.tinypic.com/2n650mr.png

Steam info
http://i41.tinypic.com/110vixe.png
http://i41.tinypic.com/2dl7ig9.png

System Specs
http://i42.tinypic.com/bg319l.png

Then i concluded that I needed to upgrade to NVIDA-Linux-x86-319.32.run
I allow as executable file then Run in terminal
Then
http://i44.tinypic.com/fpczs4.png
So I access the terminal and change my status to the root user by sudo -i
Btw NVIDIA-Linux-x86-319.32.run is in /ben/home/desktop
I do this and get this:
http://i41.tinypic.com/291kwv4.png

Anyways thanks for taking interest in my problem, I was wondering if you had any advice you could offer me.

Questions:
1) Is it even possible for me to play dota2 on this machine?
2) Should I be upgrading to NVIDIA-Linux-x86-319.32.run?
2a) If not what should I do?
2b) If yes, how?

Most distributions have the nVidia binary driver pre-packaged.

It looks like you're using Ubuntu. There is a GUI to enable the "restricted driver" for your video card.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Bi...erHowto/Nvidia

Also most distros are using the Nouveau driver
and you will have to manually disable the nouveau driver FIRST in order to install the nvidia.run driver
( the udev blacklist dose not work well on all distros)

using your package manager to install the version of the nvidia driver that was PREPARED for the use on your distro is normally a better option

the 325.08 "NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-325.08.run" is the current
but the 319 is the "long life" version

--------- edit -----------
from the photo
http://i41.tinypic.com/291kwv4.png
you placed the driver on your normal users DESKTOP !!!!
this is not a Microsoft Operating system
you do not use the desktop to install things from

also i am betting you placed it on your NORMAL users Desktop and NOT on the root accounts "Desktop"
different folders and likely on different partitions

as root copy it to /

then reboot WITH X DISABLED !!!!!!!!!!!
text only, NO GUI ,NO KDE, NO GNOME
-- TEXT ONLY ---


then login as root in the text boot login
-- this is fine to do , just do not run the gui as root ( that has been disabled on a lot of OS's )
cd to /
the .run is a shell script with a binary file attached
then say "yes" to everything using the arrow keys and < enter>

but
it is likely this will FAIL if the boot image has NOT had the nouveau driver REMOVED
as in you will have to rebuild the boot image first - without the nouveau driver
then install the .run

-- this is a LOT of extra work

just use your package manager
--

According to nvidia, shut down the X server and log in as root. run ./NVIDIA*.run the installer will do all the work for you and even generate a new Xorg.conf.

Although maybe using the package in the distribution center would be easier for you?

Thanks for the advice everyone, I am still trying to fix it and I will have some feedback shortly.

1- Not without a hardware upgrade.

http://store.steampowered.com/news/11109/

Your screenshot makes me think you are running a 6150SE nForce 430, which is far under the 8600GT required.

2- No, you cant. The 6XXX and 7XXX series cards haev been dropped from drivers newer than the 30X (currently 304.XX) drviers. 319.XX/325.XX will not run on that video chip.