Unable to boot after nvidia upgrade

[vsespb]

I changed my driver in "Additional Drivers" from Nvidia 304 to 319 (recommended one).
After that I was unable to boot, keyboard mouse and screen did not work.

I had

Oct 23 04:17:45 GREEN-U kernel: [ 327.289639] NVRM: API mismatch: the client has the version 319.32, but
Oct 23 04:17:45 GREEN-U kernel: [ 327.289639] NVRM: this kernel module has the version 304.88. Please
Oct 23 04:17:45 GREEN-U kernel: [ 327.289639] NVRM: make sure that this kernel module and all NVIDIA driver
Oct 23 04:17:45 GREEN-U kernel: [ 327.289639] NVRM: components have the same version.

in syslog.

similar issues listed here:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/328551/ubuntu-12-04-lts-black-screen-at-boot-after-changing-nvidia-driver
http://askubuntu.com/questions/342664/nvidia-driver-updated-mixed-versions-of-304-88-and-319-32

in the end fixed by restoring /etc from backup, removing nvidia-319* packages and updating grub

my Ubuntu version 12.04 (installed 12.04.3 with 3.8 kernel)

[efa (efa)]

after some tests I found that packages:

nvidia-current
nvidia-304
nvidia-settings
nvidia-settings-304

work for all kernels 3.2.0-* and 3.8.0-*,

while packages:

nvidia-current-updates
nvidia-experimental-304
nvidia-304-updates
nvidia-settings-updates
nvidia-settings-experimental-304
nvidia-settings-304-updates
nvidia-319
nvidia-experimental-310
nvidia-319-updates
nvidia-settings-319
nvidia-settings-experimental-310
nvidia-settings-319-updates

work for Kernel 3.8.0-* only.

Ubuntu jockey still Recommend 319 version also when kernel 3.2.0-* only are present.
So a bug here.

Furthermore the commands:

$ sudo apt-get purge nvidia-current
$ sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

or

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure nvidia-current

install the driver for only one version of kernel for each minor version.

So, in my case that I have the following kernels installed:

3.8.0-32-generic
3.2.0-55-generic-pae
3.2.0-55-generic
3.2.0-54-generic-pae
3.2.0-54-generic
3.2.0-53-generic-pae
3.2.0-53-generic
3.2.0-52-generic-pae
3.2.0-52-generic
3.2.0-51-generic-pae
3.2.0-51-generic
3.2.0-49-generic-pae
3.2.0-49-generic

I got the driver only for:

3.8.0-32-generic
3.2.0-55-generic-pae

while booting with the other kernels, the driver results not installed.

Seems to me that somewhere in the package there is a wrong indication to build and install for some kernel only.

Anywhere, issuing the following commands fix the situation:

$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.8.0-32-generic
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-55-generic
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-55-generic-pae
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-54-generic
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-54-generic-pae
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-53-generic
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-53-generic-pae
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-52-generic
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-52-generic-pae
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-51-generic
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-51-generic-pae
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-49-generic
$ sudo dkms install nvidia-304/304.88 -k 3.2.0-49-generic-pae

until the next apt-get install nvidia-current or reconfigure

[vsespb (vsespb)]

btw, when I recently upgraded 10.04 to 12.04, of course it did not work (and I ended up with complete reinstall). one of error message was that nvidia kernel version is wrong (or sth like that). perhaps related.

[vsespb (vsespb)]

Another user who run into this http://habrahabr.ru/qa/49256/ (Russian text)

[efa (efa)]

you have to wait one year.
After that time, a deputy from Ubuntu will take care to read your report.
For my reported bugs happen this, when I already switched distribution

[efa (efa)]

after one year, they will ask you to test the latest upstream kernel, that obviously is 10 versions after the one you use now.
Well upstream kernel will behave exactly like your current, no one can convince us the need to use a kernel different than vanilla.
So, you think that is better to test now the latest upstream kernel without wait for a year?
Do not waste your time, after a year they will ask you to test another new upstream kernel.
And if you leave all as it is, the bug expire, not because they fix this, but because lack support.
You better to google for some forum, one day, and you solved your troubles.

[vsespb (vsespb)]

@efa

> you have to wait one year.
yes, I understand this, things in 10.04 never fixed (including "do-release-upgrade" on brang *new* install).

> when I already switched distribution
not sure about switching distribution now, but pretty sure my next distribution won't be ubuntu. it just unreliable.
however, until I use ubuntu, I don't mind reporting issues, perhaps this will help someone.

> but because lack support.
it's opensource. support is limited. however when new functions are in priority over new features - result is unreliable and buggy.

> they will ask you to test the latest upstream kernel
I can test only in virtual machine, not on my prod. box. And virtual machines don't have nvidia cards.

[efa (efa)]

> it's opensource. support is limited
not really!
Googling forums, you got solved your troubles in two days max.

[efa (efa)]

very good un-organized support come from Mint or Debian guy:
http://distrowatch.com/