This is a duplicate of bug #459639.
Robert, your comment #9 shows the main problem. vga16 and nvidia use the same frame buffer device /dev/fb0 during boot up (see: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/upstart/+bug/459639/comments/52).
With this the start conditions in kdm.conf for the graphics device doesn't work if nvidia kernel driver isn't loaded or is still loading.
This problem does not only affect nvidia kernel drivers. I think this is an essential problem of startup.
This is a duplicate of bug #459639.
Robert, your comment #9 shows the main problem. vga16 and nvidia use the same frame buffer device /dev/fb0 during boot up (see: https:/ /bugs.launchpad .net/ubuntu/ +source/ upstart/ +bug/459639/ comments/ 52).
With this the start conditions in kdm.conf for the graphics device doesn't work if nvidia kernel driver isn't loaded or is still loading.
This problem does not only affect nvidia kernel drivers. I think this is an essential problem of startup.