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When installing CUDA in Ubuntu 16.04 by executing cuda_8.0.44_linux.run,

I got the following error message in /var/log/nvidia-installer.log

enter image description here

Then I checked /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf and got

enter image description here

Any suggestion to disable Nouveau Kernel Driver?

I found this 2012 discussion but didn't work for me.

1
  • I did but didn't work. Oct 26, 2016 at 6:18

2 Answers 2

118

According to the NVIDIA developer zone: Create a file:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf

With the following contents:

blacklist nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0

Regenerate the kernel initramfs:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Finally, reboot:

sudo reboot

Read more at: http://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-installation-guide-linux/index.html#ixzz4rQODN0jy

6
  • 3
    This one worked perfectly, but i also had to remove the X0 lock files from /tmp.
    – adelindev
    Jul 9, 2018 at 23:28
  • It worked, thanks! BTW, in Arch Environment, the update-initramfs -u is different. You will need to find your kernel preset in /etc/mkinitcpio.d/ (e.g. linux417.preset), and run sudo mkinitcpio -p linux417, and reboot. All done!
    – MewX
    Jul 17, 2018 at 3:32
  • Works perfectly in Ubuntu 18.04.03. Thank you very much!
    – sdd
    Jun 13, 2020 at 11:28
  • Didn't work on 18.04 for me, nvidia installer still complains about this nuveau.
    – stiv
    Jan 8, 2021 at 6:30
  • 1
    FYI on Fedora, this worked for me! (1) Downloaded the NVIDIA drivers/script for my video card. Executed it. It then generated files in /usr/lib/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf and /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf with the above contents. (2) Then, I had to run dracut --regenerate-all -f on Fedora as sudo update-initramfs -u does not work on Fedora. (3) Reboot and that's it!
    – code
    Dec 31, 2022 at 10:24
34

maybe it is too late ,but hope can help for others. the follow tips worked for ubuntu 16.04 and elementary os 0.4.

  1. remove all nvidia packages ,skip this if your system is fresh installed

    sudo apt-get remove nvidia* && sudo apt autoremove
    
  2. install some packages for build kernel:

    sudo apt-get install dkms build-essential linux-headers-generic
    
  3. now block and disable nouveau kernel driver:

    sudo vim /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
    

Insert follow lines to the blacklist.conf:

blacklist nouveau
blacklist lbm-nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0
alias nouveau off
alias lbm-nouveau off

save and exit.

  1. Disable the Kernel nouveau by typing the following commands(nouveau-kms.conf may not exist,it is ok):

    echo options nouveau modeset=0 | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/nouveau-kms.conf
    
  2. build the new kernel by:

    sudo update-initramfs -u
    
  3. reboot

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  • 3
    Is item 4 necessary? It looks to be a repeat of "options nouveau modeset=0" that was added to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf mentioned in your item 3.
    – Sun Bear
    Feb 27, 2017 at 4:32
  • I did this, then CTRL+ALT+F1, sudo service lightdm stop,then was able to run the installer. I don't know if it was essential to do this, but I did and I was able to run the installer successfully. Thanks! May 2, 2017 at 0:52
  • 2
    This just killed my system. After rebooting now i see an endless blackscreen, not even a darn cursor ;( Oct 13, 2017 at 14:56
  • 1
    @revolutionary that's odd, you must not have a fallback driver. do you have a spare vga monitor anywhere??
    – Tcll
    Oct 16, 2017 at 14:49
  • 1
    well, you can't undo your changes and rerun sudo update-initramfs -u to re-enable nouveau... I did just that like an idiot and had to reinstall xubuntu because I screwed everything up to where any nvidia driver installation failed. best thing I can recommend for @revolutionary is to grab a vga monitor (lcd, crt, doesn't matter). that should at least run off the fallback mode and help get you somewhere.
    – Tcll
    Oct 24, 2017 at 0:59

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