nvidia binary driver gives black screen

[Alan Pope 🍺🐧🐱 🦄]

nouveau works, install nvidia-current and reboot and i get a black screen :(
Tis an apple mac book pro 13.3", model 7,1

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-11.18-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-11-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 280.13 Wed Jul 27 16:53:56 PDT 2011
 GCC version: gcc version 4.6.1 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.1-9ubuntu3)
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,grid,compiztoolbox,imgpng,snap,regex,resize,move,place,animation,workarounds,mousepoll,vpswitch,wall,gnomecompat,expo,unitymtgrabhandles,ezoom,session,fade,scale,unityshell]
Date: Mon Sep 19 21:03:31 2011
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: oneiric
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus: nvidia-current, 280.13, 3.0.0-11-generic, x86_64: installed
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, whatever it takes to get this fixed in Ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 nVidia Corporation Device [10de:08a0] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Apple Computer Inc. Device [106b:00c2]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Beta amd64 (20110901)
JockeyStatus:
 kmod:wl - Broadcom STA proprietary wireless driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use) [auto-install]
 xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro7,1
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-11-generic root=UUID=df39e07e-4a5e-46d2-8015-12546629c2e3 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 06/01/10
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MBP71.88Z.0039.B0B.1006012305
dmi.board.name: Mac-F222BEC8
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-F222BEC8
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBP71.88Z.0039.B0B.1006012305:bd06/01/10:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookPro7,1:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-F222BEC8:rvr:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-F222BEC8:
dmi.product.name: MacBookPro7,1
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.5.94+bzr2803-0ubuntu5
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.26-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.0-1ubuntu13
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.15.901-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110411+8378443-1

[Alan Pope 🍺🐧🐱 🦄 (popey)]

I did a clean install (i.e. wiping out the existing OSX and Windows installs) and let the Ubuntu installer do the necessary to make it work. It looks like (forgive my misunderstanding) it's installed in 'EFI mode' rather than 'BIOS mode' which means even the nvidia driver can't make the card work:-

http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/2929.html?thread=54129#cmt54129

[Alan Pope 🍺🐧🐱 🦄 (popey)]

Had a little chat with mjg59 and discovered the method to install in BIOS mode is as follows:-

Insert Ubuntu CD, reboot, hold down 'alt', choose "Windows".