nvidia-340 340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2: nvidia-340 kernel module failed to build

[Paul Herrmann]

currently using older kernel since graphic crashs on latest kernel while booting

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: nvidia-340 340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-63.71~20.04.1-generic 5.8.18
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-63-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.21
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
DKMSKernelVersion: 5.11.0-38-generic
Date: Sun Oct 31 06:39:04 2021
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-05-16 (167 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20210209.1)
PackageVersion: 340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.8, Python 3.8.10, python3-minimal, 3.8.2-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: N/A
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.19.7ubuntu3
 apt 2.0.6
SourcePackage: nvidia-graphics-drivers-340
Title: nvidia-340 340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2: nvidia-340 kernel module failed to build
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[sdtrott (sdtrott)]

I have used Ubuntu for many years and it used to be very reliable. Now, the maintenance of Ubuntu seems to have fallen into neglect. I was tired of this problem with the Nvidia driver on Ubuntu 20.04, so I downloaded the most recent version of Ubuntu last night (20.04.3) and installed it on a new hard drive. The installation went well and Ubuntu was actually working last night, but then while I was installing the driver for my wireless adapter, an error message popped up about an error with the Nvidia graphics driver. I thought it was a fluke because the graphics were still working after the error message popped up, but now this morning when I tried to boot into Ubuntu, all I get is a randomly blinking cursor when the Nvidia graphics is supposed to launch. So now I had to pull the new hard drive out and reinstall the old hard drive and then go back to the last working Linux kernel (5.8) since 5.11 has been a complete failure.

Although I wasted hours installing Ubuntu 20.04.3 last night, Ubuntu failed before I was able to begin copying data files from the old hard drive, so I can just scrap the installation of the faulty Ubuntu 20.04.3 from my hard drive. Can anyone recommend a more reliable version of Linux that is simular to Ubuntu, since it appears the developers are not going to fix 20.04.3 any time soon?

[sdtrott (sdtrott)]

Does anyone monitor this forum at all? If so, I would like to ask a question. Since this bug is clearly a result of the Nvidia driver, is there a way to revert the current kernel to use the generic graphics driver rather than the Nvidia driver? Since the GUI won't launch due to the incompatible graphics driver, is there a way to enter a command to revert the video driver outside of the GUI?