[SOLVED] Mint13 - Nvidia GeForce GT540M optimus (64 bit)

Nvidia graphic cards with Optimus technology (such as GeForce GT540M) may take to errors in case of installation through the official Nvidia .run file or apt-get install nvidia-current, and result in a horrible VGA screen resolution (in the best cases).

At write time there wasn't a single working solution, but many different forum discussions each solving a subpart of the problem. Now that I managed to solve it, I report here all and only the necessary steps to finally use your Nvidia graphic card on your Ubuntu/Mint OS.

Note: tested on Mint13 64bit.

Important: follow all the steps in order, inserting password when prompted, always confirming

REMOVE PREVIOUS NVIDIA INSTALLATION ATTEMPTS:

• open a Terminal (CTRL+ALT+T)
• type sudo apt-get purge nvidia- and press 2times TAB fast; with the arrow up key reselect the command and complete it with each of the found options
• type sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.* then enter
• type sudo reboot then enter. The system will REBOOT! (close open programs/files before)

INSTALL BUMBLEBEE

• open a Terminal (CTRL+ALT+T)
• type sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable then enter
• type sudo apt-get update then enter
• type sudo apt-get install bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia linux-headers-generic then enter
• type sudo apt-get install virtualgl-libs:i386 then enter
• type sudo usermod -a -G bumblebee $USER then enter
• type sudo update-initramfs -u then enter
• type sudo gedit /etc/init/bumblebeed.override then enter
  write:
      start on    (runlevel [2345])
      stop on     (runlevel [016])
  save and close;
• type sudo reboot then enter. The system will REBOOT! (close open programs/files before)

TEST IT

• open a Terminal (CTRL+ALT+T)
• type optirun glxspheres then enter

Please let me know if it was successful for you. If some step gives you problem and you go on skipping it please let me know too! You don't need to register in order to comment!

Note: this guide solves also the following problems:

• You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run `nvidia-xconfig` as root), and restart the X server.
• Could not apply the stored configuration for monitors
• The Bumblebee daemon has not been started yet or the socket path /var/run/bumblebee.socket was incorrect

Ubuntu - NVIDIA graphic card driver - stop X server

Are you trying to install a NVIDIA graphic card and you are asked to "Stop the X server"? Here is the solution:


type sudo apt-get install nvidia-current in terminal, or:

1. make sure that the .run driver file is in a directory which path does not contain spaces (example: /home/file.run is ok, /home/my folder/file.run is bad)
2. read all the following steps before following the instuctions and write them down on a piece of paper: you won't be able to use the computer in graphic mode while installing!
3. Press CTRL+ALT+F1 and login with your username and password
4. type sudo service gdm stop and insert your password for root privileges
5. type sudo sh <filepath> where <filepath> is the directory path similar to the example in point 1
6. follow the instructions on screen
7. when complete type sudo service gdm start
8. press CTRL+ALT+F7 to go back to graphic mode.

your graphic card should now work. =)

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