Linux: problem with display drivers (I think)

**doc_bean** · 11-01-2006, 21:26

So I finally got a comp to install Linux (Kubuntu) on. Everything went relatively well. But I noticed when scrolling through internet pages that there is a lot of 'lag'. My image stutters. This isn't just with image pages but also pdf files and such. Now I don't have this problem in XP, so I assume it's Linux specific and I assume it's due to my graphics drivers. I tried changing the settings in the monitor and display settings menu in System settings, but whenever I select the correct card (Geforce 4) or the correct monitor (MAG Innovision) and run the test I just get grey dots on my screen.

Now I'm really enjoying Kubuntu, but this is just too annoying. Anyone got a solution ?

PS: real time spell check in Konqueror FTW !

**doc_bean** · 11-01-2006, 22:11

Wow, after installing the nvidia-glx package through the 'run command' thingie I can't get into the GUI anymore. Time for a reinstall I fear !

**Beirut** · 11-02-2006, 00:48

Nevermind... lost my brain for a moment.

**Xiahou** · 11-02-2006, 01:49

Originally Posted by doc_bean

Wow, after installing the nvidia-glx package through the 'run command' thingie I can't get into the GUI anymore. Time for a reinstall I fear !

Dumb question... did you try 'startx'?

You may need to reconfigure some of your X settings too if you installed new video drivers.... I havent reinstalled my vid drivers for a long time, so it's hard to remember.

edit: Step 8 of this guide rings a bell for me.

**Blodrast** · 11-02-2006, 06:39

hey. doc, I've had some headbutts with the nvidia-glx package before, though not on Ubuntu. Sometimes, the thing just doesn't install properly, though it doesn't tell you so.

Last time I had problems with it, it was because it wasn't removing all the symlinks to previous .so libraries that were there from previous installs or from the original package. IIRC, once that was done (manually), it all worked just fine. Oh, and btw, the installer always happily claimed "Successful installation!".
Yeah, right.

So keep at it, and it's very unlikely you need to reinstall the whole thing. Try different versions of nvidia-glx packages, too, some may work better than others, as weird as that may sound.

**doc_bean** · 11-02-2006, 09:06

Thanks guys, I did re-install it after all (only takes about 20 minutes anyway, and I didn't lose anything worthwhile, plus it allowed me to re-partition). I fear I'll have to read some newbie guides before I'll be able to find my way around the terminal and its use.

Small question on the side: I only have 256MB of RAM, could this also be (partially ?) responsible for all the stuttering ?

I think I'm going to install another distro on my newly created partition (probably debian, though is just using the first cd sufficient to install ?) so I can mess around with one while not risking losing full functionality.

**Husar** · 11-02-2006, 16:51

I only know that I get this scroll-stuttering in XP before installing my NVidia drivers so I guess this may really be a reason, no idea about Linux though.