Comment 16 for bug 208718

I was able to fix this as well.

# Completely remove nvidia-glx-new

# Remove nvidia-kernel-common (this also removes linux-restricted-modules), (I am not sure if step 2 is required)

# install build-essentials

# Download the Nvidia beta driver that came out on April 10. You can get it here

# hit ctrl + alt + f1 to break out of gnome

# "sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop" to shutdown the X server

# sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.08-pkg1.run to install the driver. If it asks you to update you're xorg.conf file, let it.

# Reboot. ("sudo reboot") You should now be able to enable Desktop effects.

Detailed here: <a href="http://blog.gpowered.net/2008/04/fixing-nvidia-8600-gt-on-hardy-heron.html">http://blog.gpowered.net/2008/04/fixing-nvidia-8600-gt-on-hardy-heron.html</a>