ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 9.10
Release: 9.10
Codename: karmic
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ dpkg -l | grep nouveau
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ dpkg -l | grep nvidia
ii nvidia-173-modaliases 173.14.20-0ubuntu5 Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org drive
ii nvidia-185-modaliases 185.18.36-0ubuntu9 Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org drive
ii nvidia-96-modaliases 96.43.13-0ubuntu6 Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org drive
ii nvidia-common 0.2.15 Find obsolete NVIDIA drivers
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
Ubuntu 9.10 live CD is OK:
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lsb_release -a 173-modaliases 173.14.20-0ubuntu5 Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org drive 185-modaliases 185.18.36-0ubuntu9 Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org drive 96-modaliases 96.43.13-0ubuntu6 Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org drive
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 9.10
Release: 9.10
Codename: karmic
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ dpkg -l | grep nouveau
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ dpkg -l | grep nvidia
ii nvidia-
ii nvidia-
ii nvidia-
ii nvidia-common 0.2.15 Find obsolete NVIDIA drivers
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$