Just installed Ubuntu Gnome 15.04- Display issues!

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
,
1

Please bear in mine that I am an absolute newbie when it comes to Linux. I recently installed Ubuntu Gnome 15.04 to a separate drive from my Main (C:). After installation the first thing I did was go to the display manager through the GUI to change my screen resolution and configure the layout of my two monitors. After clicking the icon (Display) it exits the the settings "window" and does not access the display settings. Any ideas?

Extra Info:
- I have an NVIDIA 970 card that is used for both monitors (NVIDIA driver issue?)
- I also have an APU- Intel HD Graphics- that is not in use (Use alternate display device)
- I unplugged all other drives before installation
- I installed Gnome through a USB installer (Did I screw up installation or should I get earlier version of Gnome?)

2

Nvidia driver issue, probably.

3

Would you advise using a different display adapter, or attempt to install drivers compatible with Linux? (I've been told- that is likely impossible)

4

Try to find some proprietary drivers for the 970. Although, it could just be a problem of the resolutions not showing up in the GUI, because reasons.

5

Use the ¨additional drivers¨ application that ubuntu has already installed and install a propriety driver from there. That should solve your problems.

The open drivers are reversed engineered and often have problems.

6

Ok thanks, will try that and check back.

7

I have two proprietary options:
- Using NVIDIA binary driver- version 346.59 from nvidia- 346 (proprietary, tested)
- Using NVIDIA binary driver- version 346.59 from nvidia- 346-updates (proprietary)

I'm going to try the (proprietary, tested) version first, then report back with results...

8

After installing the Proprietary Nvidia driver I restarted the computer. It isn't looking good.
What happened:
1. After PC runs startup routine it begins to boot to Gnome
2. A Gnome like blank grey screen appears for about 4 seconds
3. A black screen with the gnome logo appears for a blink of an eye
4. Four white square dots appear in the middle from left to right
5. Gnome doesn't boot and monitor goes into power save mode.

  • Any advice, can I boot into some kind of safe terminal while gnome tries to boot to try to change back the original drivers?
9

This is weird. It should work fine unless it has issues with the intel driver. Is this by any chance a laptop with optimus or a desktop? If it is a laptop that is the issues, the drivers. It is supposed to work but the drivers are still not very stable. Nvidia drops the ball as usual.

If you press control+alt+F2 while in the blank screen does it take you to the terminal? If yes you can you can remove the driver using the terminal by loggin in and do ¨sudo apt-get remove nvidia-*¨

If you do not get it working i would suggest to either try another ubuntu-based distro (like Mint) or use the latest ubuntu LTS that is fully stable (14.04.3). It will likely have no issues.

10

FYI, you don't have an APU. You have an intel CPU with an iGPU. And APU would be weaker cores but better graphics.

Start with using the integrated graphics until you get the Nvidia graphics working. im honestly not surprised you have issues with Nvidia graphics drivers......Linus Torvalds did give Nvidia the finger for their driver support.

11

Woop, yeah it looks like you are right. The more you learn.

12

Its a desktop. There is Intel microcode firmware available in the additional drivers section. I tried to control alt f1 on boot a few time, but nothing happened so I went ahead and reinstalled the os. I've done this a few times now in attempt to access the proper drivers but I think I am going to take your advice and install Ubuntu LTS 14.04.3 and see if it works out.

13

I install gnome on my sandybridge i3 all the time when distro hopping. Intel iGPU never has a problem