[updated, scroll down if you want to skip some nonsense]
So, I did an upgrade to Ubuntu Studio 8.10 (basically Ubuntu with rt-kernel and lots of nice media-related packages easily accessible and a skin that rocks) from the earlier 8.04. And the upgrade itself was really easy. I just opened the “Software Sources”, set the Release upgrade to Normal Releases (you find it under the Updates tab).
After that you get the option to do a Distribution Upgrade, which I did (took some 45 minutes to finish).
I did however run into some serious problems with the NVidia Drivers after the upgrade. Basically, the new drivers dont seem to install correctly under the new kernel. This conclusion took me a day of laborating with settings, installing packages, uninstalling packages, reinstalling packages and a whole lot of googling.
What I have come down to right now is doing the following:
sudo apt-get install module-assistant
This will install the module assistant and it will also make sure that you have all the correct linux headers to install the NVidia drivers.
Going back to the “Software Sources” under i check the “Unsopported updates”.
Then i execute
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get install nvidia-177-kernel-source
m-a auto-install nvidia
UPDATE!
After fiddling around with this Laptop (Lenovo Thinkpad T61) I really just needed these three steps to fix the problem. All of them from X using the regular nv-drivers.
- In a terminal, run sudo apt-get install module assistant
- In a terminal, run sudo m-a auto-install nvidia
- Open the “Hardware Drivers” application and pick the driver you want (177 in my case) and click Activate. If it worked alright, you’ll get the green recycle icon and be asked to reboot to activate the settings.
Hopefully, this might help someone. It did work for me and I am now able to work with wobbly windows and all that crap. (Besides some serious 3d stuff 
)
Anyway. Since I did not save the urls, I cannot give credit to those who have pointed to stuff that did help me on the way, but I’ve actually not find information anywhere yet that solve the problem totally and, well… that’s why I did decide to post in here.
Feel free to leave a comment if you got any more info or if you got any help from this.
I’ve been fighting with Ubuntu ever since the upgrade to Ibex. I’ve tried your method and it feels like it’s going to work, but the blue screen of the module installer always says the build fails. Not sure why.
I assume you are getting stuck at step 2?
Do you get any error messages?
Try executing the striked commands in my post. They did no good, as far as I can tell, on my laptop and when I repeated another one I could leave them out.
Before the second step, do:
sudo apt-get autoremoveand then
sudo apt-get install nvidia-177-kernel-sourceLet me know if it helps.
I’m not sure what changed now, but when I tried to grab the nvidia driver, this is what I get:
sudo apt-get install nvidia 177-kernel-source
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
E: Couldn’t find package nvidia-177-kernel-source
Hmm… I’m afraid I haven’t got a good answer for you there.
Try running:
sudo aptitude search nvidia-177You should be able to see two packages there. The
nvidia-177-kernel-sourceand thenvidia-177-modaliasesPerhaps it’s a repository thing?
Still build failed even after executing the striked commands above. Error was: “Build of the package nvidia-kernel-source failed!”. How to fix this?
Spontaneously, i would guess that you does not have the “unstable” repositories enabled.
Now, I’m currently on a Debian box and I don’t remember what they are called in Ubuntu. I Will check it out and get back to you.
This is probably the case for both you and Elli.