Hey guys, haven't been on here in a while.
I have been having some issues and was trying to get some answers on ubuntuforums but got very little help at all. I'm pretty unhappy with the response or more accurately the lack thereof I got over there. Really hoping to get a better reception over here.
Anyway I upgraded from kubuntu 9.01 to 10.04 and have been having a ton of troubles since then.

I'll post a lot here but I'll add links to ubuntuforums cause there is a lot there.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1514390

!!!

My first thread. I thought this was the problem but now I think just a symptom of a much bigger problem.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1470642

This thread goes on for a while due to one persons help but never went anywhere.

Others with similar issues
compositing suspended
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1379379


VLC freezing
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1512049

Is this really that hard a problem no one has any ideas?

Can I try and enable compositing in the terminal to see if it gives an error or maybe an error log I can look at?
I know these aren't huge issues and they should be pretty easy to diagnose I just don't have the knowledge to do it on my own.

Did you upgrade your kernel as well? If your old kernel is still installed it will be available in the GRUB bootmenu. Try booting with it and see what results your get. What version of nvidia-current do you have installed?

When I was in 9.01 I manually upgreaded to a newer kernel to resolve a problem I was having in WINE. It worked fine until the upgrade.
Since it wasn't a repo kernel it didn't upgrade with everything else and the problem started on that kernel. Once I remembered I reinstalled the repo current kernel. It might have gotten a little better but the problems were still there.

I am running Nvidia 195.36.24.
I tried upgrading to Nvidias beta driver just to try something different but couldn't get it to work.

More details from my Ubuntu thread

According to this page your driver is different. It shows...
This newer driver
This page shows installation method
Try turning off compositing and see what effect that has. There is a plasmoid available to do that "plasma-widget-toggle-compositing" or you can follow this link

Hehe the release date was tuesday. It was the beta I tried to install a week ago.
It doesn't look like it's hit the repos. I might try to install it a little later.
My computer seems worse off when compositing is disabled.
VLC is more likely to crash, everything is slower, trying to fullscreen flash vids is hit and miss. At least that's what happens when it gets disabled by whatever is killing it.

I haven't spent much time with it manually switched off but most my issues are so sporadic it doesn't tell me much.

nvidia-installer log file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log'
creation time: Fri Jun 25 19:09:31 2010
installer version: 256.25

option status:
license pre-accepted : false
update : false
force update : false
expert : false
uninstall : false
driver info : false
precompiled interfaces : true
no ncurses color : false
query latest version : false
OpenGL header files : true
no questions : false
silent : false
no recursion : false
no backup : false
kernel module only : false
sanity : false
add this kernel : false
no runlevel check : false
no network : false
no ABI note : false
no RPMs : false
no kernel module : false
force SELinux : default
no X server check : false
no cc version check : false
force tls : (not specified)
force compat32 tls : (not specified)
X install prefix : (not specified)
X library install path : (not specified)
X module install path : (not specified)
OpenGL install prefix : (not specified)
OpenGL install libdir : (not specified)
compat32 install chroot : (not specified)
compat32 install prefix : (not specified)
compat32 install libdir : (not specified)
utility install prefix : (not specified)
utility install libdir : (not specified)
doc install prefix : (not specified)
kernel name : (not specified)
kernel include path : (not specified)
kernel source path : (not specified)
kernel output path : (not specified)
kernel install path : (not specified)
proc mount point : /proc
ui : (not specified)
tmpdir : /tmp
ftp mirror : ftp://download.nvidia.com
RPM file list : (not specified)

Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface
-> License accepted.
-> Installing NVIDIA driver version 256.25.
-> Performing CC sanity check with CC="cc".
-> Performing CC version check with CC="cc".
-> Kernel source path: '/lib/modules/2.6.32-23-generic/build'
-> Kernel output path: '/lib/modules/2.6.32-23-generic/build'
-> Performing rivafb check.
-> Performing nvidiafb check.
-> Performing Xen check.
-> Cleaning kernel module build directory.
executing: 'cd ./kernel; make clean'...
-> Building kernel module:
executing: 'cd ./kernel; make module SYSSRC=/lib/modules/2.6.32-23-generic/b
uild SYSOUT=/lib/modules/2.6.32-23-generic/build'...
NVIDIA: calling KBUILD...
test -e include/linux/autoconf.h -a -e include/config/auto.conf || ( \
echo; \
echo " ERROR: Kernel configuration is invalid."; \
echo " include/linux/autoconf.h or include/config/auto.conf are mis
sing."; \
echo " Run 'make oldconfig && make prepare' on kernel src to fix it
."; \
echo; \
/bin/false)
mkdir -p /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.tmp_versions ; r
m -f /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.tmp_versions/*
make -f scripts/Makefile.build obj=/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.2
5/kernel
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.nv.o.d -nos
tdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclude -I/us
r/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include include/linu
x/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-prototype
s -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror-implicit-function-
declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete-n
ull-pointer-checks -O2 -m64 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -fu
nit-at-a-time -maccumulate-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1
-DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGNAL_FRAME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unw
ind-tables -mno-sse -mno-mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=1024 -
fno-omit-frame-pointer -fno-optimize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-after-s
tatement -Wno-pointer-sign -fno-strict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconser
ve-stack -I/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsig
n-compare -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VERSIO
N_STRING=\"256.25\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG
-DMODULE -D"KBUILD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=KBUILD_STR(nv)" -D"KBUILD_
MODNAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)" -c -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.2
5/kernel/.tmp_nv.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv.o";
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.nv_gvi.o.d
-nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclude -
I/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include include/
linux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-proto
types -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror-implicit-funct
ion-declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete-null-pointer-checks -O2 -m6
4 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -funit-at-a-time -maccumulate
-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1 -DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGNAL_FR
AME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables -mno-sse -mno-
mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=1024 -fno-omit-frame-pointer -f
no-optimize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-after-statement -Wno-pointer-sig
n -fno-strict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconserve-stack -I/tmp/selfgz162
5/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.
25/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsign-compare -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -D
MODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VERSION_STRING=\"256.25\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -
UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DMODULE -D"KBUILD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=K
BUILD_STR(nv_gvi)" -D"KBUILD_MODNAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)" -c -o /tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.tmp_nv_gvi.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-
Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv_gvi.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv_gvi.o";
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.nv-vm.o.d -
nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclude -I
/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include include/l
inux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-protot
ypes -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror-implicit-functi
on-declaration -Wno-format
-security -fno-delete-null-pointer-checks -O2 -m64 -mtune=generic -mno-red-z
one -mcmodel=kernel -funit-at-a-time -maccumulate-outgoing-args -fstack-prot
ector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1 -DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGNAL_FRAME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compa
re -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables -mno-sse -mno-mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -W
frame-larger-than=1024 -fno-omit-frame-pointer -fno-optimize-sibling-calls -
pg -Wdeclaration-after-statement -Wno-pointer-sign -fno-strict-overflow -fno
-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconserve-stack -I/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.2
5/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsign-compare -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -DM
ODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VERSION_STRING=\"256.25\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -U
DEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DMODULE -D"KBUILD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=KB
UILD_STR(nv_vm)" -D"KBUILD_MODNAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)" -c -o /tmp/selfgz16
25/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.tmp_nv-vm.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Lin
ux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv-vm.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv-vm.o";
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.os-agp.o.d
-nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclude -
I/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include include/
linux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-proto
types -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror-implicit-funct
ion-declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete-null-pointer-checks -O2 -m6
4 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -funit-at-a-time -maccumulate
-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1 -DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGNAL_FR
AME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables -mno-sse -mno-
mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=1024 -fno-omit-frame-pointer -f
no-optimize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-after-statement -Wno-pointer-sig
n -fno-strict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconserve-stack -I/tmp/
selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsign-compare -Wno-c
ast-qual -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VERSION_STRING=\"256.2
5\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DMODULE -D"KBU
ILD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=KBUILD_STR(os_agp)" -D"KBUILD_MODNAME=KBU
ILD_STR(nvidia)" -c -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.t
mp_os-agp.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-agp.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-agp.o";
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.os-interface
.o.d -nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iincl
ude -I/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include in
clude/linux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict
-prototypes -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror
-implicit-function-declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete-null-pointer
-checks -O2 -m64 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -funit-at-a-ti
me -maccumulate-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1 -DCONFIG_A
S_CFI_SIGNAL_FRAME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables
-mno-sse -mno-mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=1024 -fno-omit-fr
ame-pointer -fno-optimize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-after-statement -W
no-pointer-sign -fno-strict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconserve-stack -I
/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsign-compare -
Wno-cast-qual -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VERSION_STRING=\"
256.25\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DMODULE -
D"KBUILD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=KBUILD_STR(os_interface)" -D"KBUILD_
MODNAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)" -c -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.2
5/kernel/.tmp_os-interface.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kern
el/os-interface.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-interface.o";
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.os-registry.
o.d -nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclu
de -I/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include inc
lude/linux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-
prototypes -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror-implicit-
function-declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete-null-pointer-checks -O
2 -m64 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -funit-at-a-time -maccum
ulate-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1 -DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGN
AL_FRAME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables -mno-sse
-mno-mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=1024 -fno-omit-frame-point
er -fno-optimize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-after-statement -Wno-poi
nter-sign -fno-strict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconserve-stack -I/tmp/s
elfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsign-compare -Wno-ca
st-qual -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VERSION_STRING=\"256.25
\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DMODULE -D"KBUI
LD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=KBUILD_STR(os_registry)" -D"KBUILD_MODNAME
=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)" -c -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kerne
l/.tmp_os-registry.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-re
gistry.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-registry.o";
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.nv-i2c.o.d
-nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclude -
I/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include include/
linux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__
-Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-prototypes -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-c
ommon -Werror-implicit-function-declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete
-null-pointer-checks -O2 -m64 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -
funit-at-a-time -maccumulate-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI
=1 -DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGNAL_FRAME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-
unwind-tables -mno-sse -mno-mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=102
4 -fno-omit-frame-pointer -fno-optimize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-afte
r-statement -Wno-pointer-sign -fno-strict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fcon
serve-stack -I/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel -Wall -MD -W
sign-compare -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VER
SION_STRING=\"256.25\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEB
UG -DMODULE -D"KBUILD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=KBUILD_STR(nv_i2c)" -D
"KBUILD_MODNAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)" -c -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_
64-256.25/kernel/.tmp_nv-i2c.o /tmp/
selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv-i2c.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv-i2c.o";
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.nvacpi.o.d
-nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclude -
I/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include include/
linux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-proto
types -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror-implicit-funct
ion-declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete-null-pointer-checks -O2 -m6
4 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -funit-at-a-time -maccumulate
-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1 -DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGNAL_FR
AME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables -mno-sse -mno-
mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=1024 -fno-omit-frame-pointer -f
no-optim
ize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-after-statement -Wno-pointer-sign -fno-s
trict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconserve-stack -I/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA
-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsign-compare -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-err
or -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNVRM -DNV_VERSION_STRING=\"256.25\" -mcmodel=kern
el -mno-red-zone -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DMODULE -D"KBUILD_STR(s)=#s" -D
"KBUILD_BASENAME=KBUILD_STR(nvacpi)" -D"KBUILD_MODNAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)"
-c -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.tmp_nvacpi.o /tmp/s
elfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nvacpi.c
set -e ; perl /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/recordmcoun
t.pl "x86_64" "64" "objdump" "objcopy" "cc" "ld" "nm" "" "" "1" "/tmp/selfgz
1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nvacpi.o";
ld -m elf_x86_64 -r -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel
/nvidia.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv-kernel.o /tmp
/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Li
nux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv_gvi.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25
/kernel/nv-vm.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-agp.o /
tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-interface.o /tmp/selfgz1
625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/os-registry.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-L
inux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv-i2c.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.2
5/kernel/nvacpi.o
(cat /dev/null; echo kernel//tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/ker
nel/nvidia.ko > /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/modules.
order
make -f /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/Makefile.modpost
scripts/mod/modpost -m -a -i /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/Modu
le.symvers -I /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/Module.symve
rs -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/Module.symvers -S -
w -s
WARNING: could not find /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.n
v-kernel.o.cmd for /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nv-kern
el.o
cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/.nvidia.mod.o
.d -nostdinc -isystem /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.4.3/include -Iinclud
e -I/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/arch/x86/include -include incl
ude/linux/autoconf.h -Iubuntu/include -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wundef -Wstrict-p
rototypes -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Werror-implicit-f
unction-declaration -Wno-format-security -fno-delete-null-pointer-checks -O2
-m64 -mtune=generic -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -funit-at-a-time -maccumul
ate-outgoing-args -fstack-protector -DCONFIG_AS_CFI=1 -DCONFIG_AS_CFI_SIGNAL
_FRAME=1 -pipe -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables -mno-sse -m
no-mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow -Wframe-larger-than=1024 -fno-omit-frame-pointer
-fno-optimize-sibling-calls -pg -Wdeclaration-after-statement -Wno-pointer-s
ign -fno-strict-overflow -fno-dwarf2-cfi-asm -fconserve-stack -I/tmp/selfgz1
625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel -Wall -MD -Wsign-compare -Wno-cast-qua
l -Wno-error -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -DNVRM -D
NV_VERSION_STRING=\"256.25\" -mcmodel=kernel -mno-red-zone -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG
-DNDEBUG -D"KBUILD_STR(s)=#s" -D"KBUILD_BASENAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia.mod)" -
D"KBUILD_MODNAME=KBUILD_STR(nvidia)" -DMODULE -c -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-
Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nvidia.mod.o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-
256.25/kernel/nvidia.mod.c
ld -r -m elf_x86_64 -T /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic/scripts/mo
dule-common.lds --build-id -o /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/ker
nel/nvidia.ko /tmp/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nvidia.o /tm
p/selfgz1625/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-256.25/kernel/nvidia.mod.o
NVIDIA: left KBUILD.
-> done.
-> Kernel module compilation complete.
ERROR: Unable to load the kernel module 'nvidia.ko'. This happens most
frequently when this kernel module was built against the wrong or
improperly configured kernel sources, with a version of gcc that differs
from the one used to build the target kernel, or if a driver such as
rivafb/nvidiafb is present and prevents the NVIDIA kernel module from
obtaining ownership of the NVIDIA graphics device(s), or NVIDIA GPU
installed in this system is not supported by this NVIDIA Linux graphics
driver release.

Please see the log entries 'Kernel module load error' and 'Kernel
messages' at the end of the file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for
more information.
-> Kernel module load error: insmod: error inserting './kernel/nvidia.ko': -1
No such device
-> Kernel messages:
[ 85.002885] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.
[ 91.914265] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on
isa0060/serio0).
[ 91.914270] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.
[ 105.839671] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on
isa0060/serio0).
[ 105.839676] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.
[ 114.176782] ath5k phy0: noise floor calibration timeout (2427MHz)
[ 116.553031] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x81 on
isa0060/serio0).
[ 116.553037] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e001 <keycode>' to make it known.
[ 117.455199] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on
isa0060/serio0).
[ 117.455203] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.
[ 129.903982] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on
isa0060/serio0).
[ 129.903988] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.
[ 154.168360] nvidia: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel.
[ 154.168365] Disabling lock debugging due to kernel taint
[ 155.019673] NVRM: The NVIDIA probe routine was not called for 1
device(s).
[ 155.019679] NVRM: This can occur when a driver such as nouveau, rivafb,
[ 155.019681] NVRM: nvidiafb, or rivatv was loaded and obtained ownership
of
[ 155.019683] NVRM: the NVIDIA device(s).
[ 155.019687] NVRM: Try unloading the conflicting kernel module (and/or
[ 155.019688] NVRM: reconfigure your kernel without the conflicting
[ 155.019690] NVRM: driver(s)), then try loading the NVIDIA kernel module
[ 155.019692] NVRM: again.
[ 155.019695] NVRM: No NVIDIA graphics adapter probed!
[ 547.664345] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x81 on
isa0060/serio0).
[ 547.664351] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e001 <keycode>' to make it known.
ERROR: Installation has failed. Please see the file
'/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details. You may find suggestions
on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux
driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

I already removed everything nouveau related except for libdrm-nouveau1
If I try and remove it in synaptic in items to be removed it lists pretty much the whole OS.
Pretty much every program on the computer, kdebase, kdm etc etc.



This library implements the userspace interface to the nouveau-specific kernel
DRM services. DRM stands for "Direct Rendering Manager", which is the
kernelspace portion of the "Direct Rendering Infrastructure" (DRI). The DRI is
currently used on Linux to provide hardware-accelerated OpenGL drivers.

Oh and without nvidia current installed I can't even get into X/KDE that stands out to me as a big flag for something.

Seems as if your not the only one with problems with that series. I remember when I upgraded to an Nvidia when I started using Linux about 10 years ago as ATI didn't support Linux and I was wanting something more graphically than my old S3 card. I used to install Nvidia from the command line in another terminal before logging into X. Many is the time when I rebuilt my kernel just to install the drive only to find the driver was &^$#@*. (for what it's worth). You can Google around for that "nvidia.ko" and might find someone that had the right kernel and module combo that works.

I am totally unfamiliar with manually modifying the kernel.
I don't even know what I'd be looking for.
Do you think this is an issuue with Nouveau trying to own the graphics?

Possibly.

Have you perused this page yet?