Can I install extra drivers via the command prompt?

Question

Since I can't seem to open the Additional Drivers program? And how do I know what driver I need to install?

Answer 1

The additional drivers program has a command line interface, jockey-text:

Use

jockey-text --list

to get a list of available drivers and their status, then use

# the init lines are required only for graphics drivers
sudo init 1
jockey-text --enable=DRIVER
sudo init 2

where DRIVER is the one you got from the list. For example:

jockey-text --enable=firmware:b43

To install the Broadcom B43 wireless driver.

For your graphics card, you will get a choice of the proprietary driver from the manufacturer and a free alternative.

Answer 2

sudo jockey-text

Or if you know which driver you need, eg nvidia-glx-185 (there is also -173, -180 and -96 - each has different hardware support so use jockey if you don't know which you need), just:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-185

Answer 3

The internal name of the "additional drivers" program is jockey-gtk. There's a console version with the same functionality called jockey-text in the eponymous package. It should be installed by default.

You should be able to use

jockey-text -l

to list the available drivers and something like

jockey-text -e xorg:nvidia-185

to install one of the options listed. You should select the most appropriate driver listed.

Answer 4

you need to run sudo apt-get install nvidia-current and as the previous answer said, sudo nvidia-xconfig afterwards. Then do sudo reboot and you should have a working system.

Answer 5

After install nvidia driver you can regenerate xorg config for your nvidia adapter:

sudo nvidia-xconfig

Also, you can download the driver from www.nvidia.com and install it manually:

sudo sh ./downloads/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-xxx.xx.xx.run