Cannot install nvidia driver using software-properties-gtk. package nvidia-361 361.28-0ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 255

[Stéphane Gourichon]

In trying a workaround for https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1547077 tried once again to install nVidia proprietary driver using software-properties-gtk.

Observed: crash report window appears, software-properties-gtk appears to cancel the installation and rollback.

This is at least the third time and bug report in a few weeks (not trying to complain, just reporting), details in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1547077.
especially
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1547077/comments/41
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1547077/comments/42

The glyph bug impact the very process of reporting this as the semi-workaround I use does not work for everything. For example, there's currently no workaround for the context menu in firefox.

Thank you for your attention.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: nvidia-361 361.28-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-12.28-generic 4.4.4
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-12-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Mar 14 14:48:59 2016
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 255
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-02-03 (39 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20160203)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1
 apt 1.2.4
SourcePackage: nvidia-graphics-drivers-361
Title: package nvidia-361 361.28-0ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 255
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Stéphane Gourichon (stephane-gourichon-lpad)]

Apparently, driver did not actually roll things back.

As a result I got no display at all after reboot. Permanently.

That would scare the hell out of a newbie user, so perhaps it's an important bug.

Anyway I could login from another machine on the local network.

Here's the package status when there is no screen output:

 dpkg -l "*nvidia*"

Souhait=inconnU/Installé/suppRimé/Purgé/H=à garder
| État=Non/Installé/fichier-Config/dépaqUeté/échec-conFig/H=semi-installé/W=attend-traitement-déclenchements
|/ Err?=(aucune)/besoin Réinstallation (État,Err: majuscule=mauvais)
||/ Nom Version Architecture Description
+++-================================-=====================-=====================-======================================================================
un libgl1-nvidia-alternatives <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
ii nvidia-361 361.28-0ubuntu1 amd64 NVIDIA binary driver - version 361.28
un nvidia-common <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
un nvidia-driver-binary <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
un nvidia-legacy-340xx-vdpau-driver <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
un nvidia-libopencl1-361 <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
un nvidia-libopencl1-dev <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
un nvidia-opencl-icd <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
ii nvidia-opencl-icd-361 361.28-0ubuntu1 amd64 NVIDIA OpenCL ICD
un nvidia-persistenced <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
ii nvidia-prime 0.8.2 amd64 Tools to enable NVIDIA's Prime
ii nvidia-settings 361.28-0ubuntu1 amd64 Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver
un nvidia-settings-binary <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
un nvidia-va-driver <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)
un nvidia-vdpau-driver <aucune> <aucune> (aucune description n'est disponible)

Notice that X would seem to start normally, say things are ok, but screen would remain black.

Fixed with these commands:

aptitude purge nvidia-361
service lightdm stop
service lightdm start

no reboot needed.

[Stéphane Gourichon (stephane-gourichon-lpad)]

Hmm, something is even more broken.

I can't even open a session now under Ubuntu 16.04.

Now using older Ubuntu release that uses nouveau driver 1:1.0.11-1ubuntu2.

We'll see if bug happens again: [Some glyphs drawn consistently wrong, bug comes and go](https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1547077)

[Nuno (nmrcardoso)]

Ubuntu 16.04 with nvidia drivers 361 and 364 are NOT working here either in a laptop with intel and nvidia GeForce 940M.
Using either these drivers and nvidia-prime, its installs and works at first graphical boot, after a few minutes the system freezes and only after a hard reset the drivers don't work anymore.
Also, I only managed to get working the driver 361 with bumblebee, however after a suspend the nvidia card cannot be used getting a error of fallen off the bus and the message refused to change state...

In conclusion, these drivers are NOT WORKING!!!!!

I only get the system perfectly working using the 352 drivers and nvidia-prime, the install of the 352 nvidia driver is not working through apt-get and ppa:graphics-driver/ppa,
I had to manually download them from the site and install them manually.

Please fix these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or at least give the people the option to install the 352 drivers through the Additional Drivers in Software and updates.

[Stéphane Gourichon (stephane-gourichon-lpad)]

Thank you Nuno for reporting the trouble you observed. I'm the one who posted this very bug report where you added your comment.

I can understand your frustration. I'm frustrated too. I'm using open-source nouveau driver instead and it has problems, too cf. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1547077 , and on top of that all these are regressions from older Ubuntu releases.

In any case, in any open-source and unpaid context, please refrain from using several question marks or writing some words in all capital letters, as its main effect is to turn people away.

Thank you for your attention.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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