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My problem is that after trying to update my driver through the additional drivers GUI I can't boot Ubuntu with GUI anymore, since Xorg says the kernel module is of version 304.88 (The old version before I updated) but the driver components are of version 319.32 (The new version)

This is the output of dpkg -l | grep nvidia

dkpg -l | grep nvidia
ii nvidia-304 : 304.88-0ubuntu0.0.3
 NVIDIA binary Xord driver, kernel module and VDPAU library
ii nvidia-319 : 319.32-0ubuntu0.0.1
 NVIDIA binary Xord driver, kernel module and VDPAU library
ii nvidia-common : 1:0.2.44.2
 Find obselete NVIDIA drivers
ii nvidia-current : 304.88-0ubuntu0.0.3
 Transitional package for nvidia-current
ii nvidia-settings : 304.88-0ubuntu.0.0.3
 Transitional package for nvidia-settings
ii nvidia-settings-304 : 304.88-0ubuntu.0.0.3
 Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver
ii nvidia-settings-319 : 319.32-0ubuntu.0.0.1
 Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver

That's the output of that file.

The message startx gives me is:

NVIDIA: API mismatch: the NVIDIA kernel module has version 304.88, but this NVIDIA driver component has version 319.32. Please make sure that the kernel module and all NVIDIA driver components have the same version.

   Fatal server error:
   no screens found

I understand that something went wrong during the update, so I wonder how to fix this so that the remaining parts of 304 are removed and replaced with 319. I don't know hwere to start because I thought that nvidia-current was the one that would update to 319 and so reinstalling that didn't work. And I googled and found that somebody said to try to install/reinstall/uninstall this package: nvidia-current-updates-dev

But I didn't have that package installed so it did not help. Other than that, I am clueless. I hope the information I provided will be enough so I can get an answer soon.

EDIT:

lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise

uname -a
Linux SQuad 3.2.0-52-generic #78-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jul 26 16:21:44 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/LINUX
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  • It is clear from the errors that the latest NVIDIA drivers are meant for latest Kernel. So there are two options for you.. either your remove older version of NVIDIA drivers or Install latest kernel. Edit your question and paste the result of: lsb_release -a and uname -a Sep 7, 2013 at 18:39
  • @SauravKumar I have done as you requested. I understand what needs to be done, I just don't know how to do it since it just says that nvidia-current is installed already and does not need to be upgraded/changed. And I wish to use 319 instead of 304 and I suspect nvidia-current is 304 (I'm not sure of this, but before when I tried upgrading with sudo apt-get install nvidia-current to get 319 it didn't do anything, so it stayed 304).
    – Simon
    Sep 7, 2013 at 19:22
  • Ok I got your problem.. Your Kernel version is too old.. I don't know why it is showing 3.2.x in Ubuntu 12.0.3 LTS.. It should show 3.8.x. I am posting the way to install better kernel like 3.8.x as an answer.. Please give me some time. Sep 7, 2013 at 19:57
  • check my answer.. Sep 7, 2013 at 20:21

1 Answer 1

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Instead of installing the latest version, I recommend you to install Kernel which is meant for Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS that is Linux Kernel 3.8.0.30. It is available in the repository so no need to go to some other place. Here is the steps to install Kernel 3.8.0.30 for Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS.

  • Execute following commands in series(one by one, if you get any error in any command just comment for the command for which you got the error with the error message)

    • Execute this to update repository:

      sudo apt-get update
      
    • Execute this to install Kernel 3.8.x(be careful, don't miss any character)

      sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-raring linux-headers-3.8.0-30 linux-headers-3.8.0-30-generic linux-headers-generic-lts-raring linux-image-3.8.0-30-generic linux-image-generic-lts-raring
      
    • Execute this to update grub:

      sudo update-grub
      
    • Execute this to re-configure all installed packages(It would take some time, so wait. If it fails, gives some error just proceed to next step)

      sudo dpkg-reconfigure -a
      
    • Execute this to restart your system:

      sudo reboot
      
  • While restarting, you would see one more entry in Grub Entry for Linux Kernel 3.8.0.30 chose that.

  • See what happens.. Reply for further assistance..


Now Removing nvidia-304 and re-configuring nvidia-319

Follow these steps to do so.. I am assuming that nvidia-319 is currently installed in your system.

  • Open terminal and execute following commands to completely nvidia-304

    sudo apt-get autoremove nvidia-304*
    sudo apt-get --purge remove nvidia-304*
    sudo apt-get autoremove
    sudo apt-get autoclean
    
  • Then execute these commands to re-configure nvidia-319

    sudo update-grub
    sudo dpkg-reconfigure nvidia-319
    

    if above command shows some error then try to replace nvidia-319 with nvidia-319*

    sudo update-grub
    sudo update-initramfs -u (it would take some time)
    
  • Then restart your system

    sudo reboot
    

Reply..

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  • I'll try this tomorrow when I wake up. I'll come back with an answer on how it went as soon as I have tried this. I was actually going to try to update the kernel when you mentioned it earlier but I stopped just in case I would mess it up even more. So, tomorrow I'll come back with information about how it went.
    – Simon
    Sep 7, 2013 at 22:56
  • Okey, I tried this and it did not help. I still get the same error. How do I update the NVIDIA kernel module to version 319.32?
    – Simon
    Sep 8, 2013 at 10:08
  • That is what I wanted to check from you.. If you installed a new kernel 3.8.x and currently using that then you need to remove nvidia-304 completely from your system.. and reconfigure nvidia-319 to work properly.. I am editing my answer how can you do so.. Please give me 2 minutes.. Sep 8, 2013 at 10:15
  • check my answer.. Reply what happens.. Sep 8, 2013 at 10:35
  • I'll get back to this as soon as I can. I am in the middle of a big project right now so I'll leave my Ubuntu on the side for now, but I will fix it when I have time, and I really appreciate the help you're offering :) @SauravKumar
    – Simon
    Sep 10, 2013 at 18:01

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