Ubuntu won't start after updating nvidia drivers from X-swat PPA

Question

I tried to update the nvidia drivers using:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

After this, I rebooted my pc, launch Ubuntu, then I can see that it's loading everything (as usual), but then I end up with a black screen and a flashing underscore. (I tried to load the terminal at this point using ctrl + alt + F1, but that doesn't work)

My videocard model is GT650M

How can I fix this?

Answer 1

To remove the obviously non-working driver, which will get you back to the previous stage:

1. Boot to a root shell

2. Install ppa-purge to remove the x-updates ppa:

   apt-get update && apt-get install ppa-purge
   ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
   

3. Reboot

   reboot
   

This should replace the updated nvidia-current driver with the version from the repositories.

Alternatively (or if you don't trust ppa-purge) you can also purge the nvidia-current driver, remove the ppa, and then reinstall the proprietary driver from the repositories from within a root-shell:

apt-get purge nvidia-current
add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
apt-get update
apt-get install nvidia-current

^{Note: no sudo needed in the root shell}

Answer 2

To fix a similar issue with 16.04 and nvidia-375 I did the following:

• Pressed Shift to get access GRUB menu Logged into recovery mode (I had to use previous kernel version)
• Enabled networking
• Accessed root shell
• Typed the following to help me identify which package I needed to uninstall

ubuntu-drivers devices

• Typed the following to uninstall the driver package

apt-get purge nvidia-375

Then I was able to restart and boot regularly. Phew!

Answer 3

you can remove them by first finding out their name with

ubuntu-drivers list

that will tell you their names. Then you can use

sudo apt-get remove *******

to remove any of them that are installed.

Answer 4

I notice this is an old post regarding the black screen with the flashing underscore after installing the nvidia drivers, but I still want to share with you what worked for me without uninstalling the nvidia drivers.

I had the same problem after installing the nvidia drivers (https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-the-nvidia-drivers-on-ubuntu-20-04-focal-fossa-linux) without realizing I would come across this issue with my version 20.1 (BETA). It says on the website that Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux is required, so after upgrading my OS to ubuntu 20.04 focal-fossa, I got it all fixed.

The link to upgrade to ubuntu 20.04 focal-fossa is: https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-upgrade-ubuntu-to-20-04-lts-focal-fossa

It might seem pretty obvious at the beginnig but because of that we tend to forget the other processes. I hope it works for you!

Sincerely, Juan Carlos (johannes)