sudo apt-get remove nvidia-currentorsudo apt-get remove nvidia-current-updatesorsudo apt-get remove nvidia-experimental-304).sudo apt-get install linux-source) and headers (sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic).sudo apt-get install nvidia-current-updates

3 AnswersACTIVEOLDESTVOTESup vote21down voteacceptedBefore switching to the nvidia drivers you need to install linux-source and linux-headers. After the source is installed, try switching to the nvidia drivers.Here is how:Switch to a terminal (Ctrl-Alt-F1).

Login as your username.

Install linux source (sudo apt-get install linux-source) and headers (sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic).

Uninstall nvidia driver - this depends on which version you installed (sudo apt-get remove nvidia-currentorsudo apt-get remove nvidia-current-updatesorsudo apt-get remove nvidia-experimental-304).

Reinstall nvidia driver (sudo apt-get install nvidia-current-updates).

If it successfully installs, restart the computer (sudo shutdown -r now).

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Step 2: Manually configure driversRather than having to do this after your machine ends up with a half-working desktop, you can do this before any damage is caused. Hint, if you've already botched, then Ctrl + Alt + F1 to reach the first virtual console. Log in there, then follow the instructions.In the past, running apt-get install build-essential was enough. This would get all the relevant stuff, including the kernel sources and kernel headers. Now, you must specify these separately.sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-source linux-headersIf the transitional package linux-headers is not available, instead, please try running the command by specifying the exact version of the headers with:sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`And this should work. Of course, it only magnifies the feces level of the latest Ubuntu release, but it could help you sort things out. Next, install the current Nvidia driver:sudo apt-get install nvidia-currentIf you skip the part where you install the sources, headers and the rest, you will see the following error message:Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-17-generic

2012-10-30 13:37:19,611 WARNING: modinfo for module nvidia_current failed: ERROR: modinfo: could not find module nvidia_current

2012-10-30 13:37:19,611 WARNING: /sys/module/nvidia_current/drivers does not exist, cannot rebind nvidia_current driverOnce the installation completes successfully, check if the Nvidia driver is loaded:sudo /sbin/lsmod | grep nvidiaIf it's not, you will need to manually insert into memory. First, make sure all kernel module dependencies are satisfied and resolved:sudo depmod -aThen, load the driver:modprobe nvidia_currentThis should succeed and the lsmod command should show it's loaded, but the usage count will probably be 0, because nothing will be using it yet. You will need to restart the graphics environment to actually benefit from the driver:sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm restartThis will restart the graphics environment, you will see the Nvidia splash, and you will load into a desktop that has the nvidia driver running, and all that. Your problem is now resolved. For the skeptics among you, you can reboot to verify. Although there's really no need for that. Linux is flexible enough to setup drivers without having to restart the system.Nvidia loaded