Comment 72 for bug 774978

My laptop has:
xserver-xorg-input-synaptics 1.3.99+git20110116.0e27ce3a-0ubuntu12.1

Laptop randomly crashes X several times a day. Most recently I was typing a Libre Office document, the screen went black for a moment, then I was presented with the opportunity to login again.

11.04 is by far the buggiest and most displeasing experience I've had with Ubuntu. Up until Natty Ubuntu had worked so well for me that I hadn't spent much time troubleshooting. I don't know how to troubleshoot effectively since there seem to be many technical issues that are beyond my capabilities to resolve quickly.

1) My laptop is an Dell Precision M60
2) Video card is Quadro FX Go700 and Natty doesn't seem to like it very much
3) Doesn't run 3D Unity and I don't know if video card is capable of running Unity or not

Would've been nice if the Natty install said, "Dude, your system blows chunks. It isn't going to run Natty well so I'm going to quit before I brick your laptop." I've installed Natty cleanly twice but each install becomes an experience in frustration. No clear resolution what the problem is our how to resolve it.

When I reboot the laptop I see all sorts of white background and malformed text before the system gets to a login screen. Sometimes I don't get to the login screen and the system hangs with white screen and black malformed text. Here's output from the xorg log file.

Why is the nvidia kernel module found sometimes and other times not?

X.Org X Server 1.10.1
Release Date: 2011-04-15
[ 24.955] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 24.955] Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-27-server i686 Ubuntu
[ 24.955] Current Operating System: Linux book 2.6.38-10-generic #46-Ubuntu SMP Tue Jun 28 15:05:41 UTC 2011 i686
[ 24.955] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=1a90eb39-8d73-4637-8c48-cc130be25f72 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
[ 24.955] Build Date: 21 May 2011 11:38:35AM
[ 24.955] xorg-server 2:1.10.1-1ubuntu1.1 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
[ 24.955] Current version of pixman: 0.20.2
[ 24.955] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
 to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 24.955] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
 (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
 (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 24.955] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Wed Jul 13 07:05:00 2011
[ 24.955] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
[ 24.955] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 24.955] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
[ 24.955] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen" (0)
[ 24.955] (**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[ 24.956] (==) No device specified for screen "Default Screen".
 Using the first device section listed.
[ 24.956] (**) | |-->Device "Default Device"
[ 24.956] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen".
 Using a default monitor configuration.
[ 24.956] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 24.956] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 24.956] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 24.956] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 24.956] (==) FontPath set to:
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi,
 /var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType,
 built-ins
[ 24.956] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 24.956] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
 If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[ 24.956] (II) Loader magic: 0x81ffde0
[ 24.956] (II) Module ABI versions:
[ 24.956] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[ 24.956] X.Org Video Driver: 10.0
[ 24.956] X.Org XInput driver : 12.3
[ 24.956] X.Org Server Extension : 5.0
[ 24.957] (--) PCI:*(0:1:0:0) 10de:031c:1028:019b rev 161, Mem @ 0xfc000000/16777216, 0xd0000000/268435456, BIOS @ 0x????????/131072
[ 24.957] (WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)
[ 24.957] (II) "extmod" will be loaded by default.
[ 24.957] (II) "dbe" will be loaded by default.
[ 24.957] (II) "glx" will be loaded. This was enabled by default and also specified in the config file.
[ 24.957] (II) "record" will be loaded by default.
[ 24.957] (II) "dri" will be loaded by default.
[ 24.957] (II) "dri2" will be loaded by default.
[ 24.957] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[ 24.957] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/libglx.so
[ 25.080] (II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 25.080] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[ 25.080] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 25.080] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module 173.14.30 Thu Apr 14 09:20:02 PDT 2011
[ 25.080] (II) Loading extension GLX
[ 25.080] (II) LoadModule: "extmod"
[ 25.096] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so
[ 25.096] (II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 25.096] compiled for 1.10.1, module version = 1.0.0
[ 25.096] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 25.096] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 25.096] (II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
[ 25.096] (II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
[ 25.096] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
[ 25.096] (II) Loading extension DPMS
[ 25.096] (II) Loading extension XVideo
[ 25.096] (II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
[ 25.096] (II) Loading extension X-Resource
[ 25.096] (II) LoadModule: "dbe"
[ 25.097] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so
[ 25.097] (II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 25.097] compiled for 1.10.1, module version = 1.0.0
[ 25.097] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 25.097] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 25.097] (II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
[ 25.097] (II) LoadModule: "record"
[ 25.097] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so
[ 25.097] (II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 25.097] compiled for 1.10.1, module version = 1.13.0
[ 25.097] Module class: X.Org Server Extension
[ 25.097] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 25.097] (II) Loading extension RECORD
[ 25.097] (II) LoadModule: "dri"
[ 25.098] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
[ 25.098] (II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 25.098] compiled for 1.10.1, module version = 1.0.0
[ 25.098] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 25.098] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
[ 25.098] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
[ 25.099] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
[ 25.099] (II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 25.099] compiled for 1.10.1, module version = 1.2.0
[ 25.099] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
[ 25.099] (II) Loading extension DRI2
[ 25.099] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
[ 25.099] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so
[ 25.100] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 25.100] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[ 25.100] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 25.100] (II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 173.14.30 Thu Apr 14 08:56:42 PDT 2011
[ 25.100] (II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
[ 25.100] (++) using VT number 7

[ 25.100] (II) Loading sub module "fb"
[ 25.100] (II) LoadModule: "fb"
[ 25.100] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfb.so
[ 25.101] (II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 25.101] compiled for 1.10.1, module version = 1.0.0
[ 25.101] ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[ 25.101] (II) Loading sub module "wfb"
[ 25.101] (II) LoadModule: "wfb"
[ 25.101] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libwfb.so
[ 25.101] (II) Module wfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 25.101] compiled for 1.10.1, module version = 1.0.0
[ 25.101] ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[ 25.101] (II) Loading sub module "ramdac"
[ 25.101] (II) LoadModule: "ramdac"
[ 25.101] (II) Module "ramdac" already built-in
[ 25.101] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so
[ 25.101] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libwfb.so
[ 25.101] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfb.so
[ 25.101] (II) NVIDIA(0): Creating default Display subsection in Screen section
 "Default Screen" for depth/fbbpp 24/32
[ 25.101] (**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
[ 25.101] (==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
[ 25.102] (==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
[ 25.102] (==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
[ 25.102] (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "NoLogo" "True"
[ 25.102] (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "NvAGP" "1"
[ 25.102] (**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
[ 25.102] (**) NVIDIA(0): Use of NVIDIA internal AGP requested
[ 25.102] (II) NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
[ 25.102] (II) NVIDIA(0): enabled.
[ 25.104] (EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to load the NVIDIA kernel module!
[ 25.104] (EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting ***
[ 25.104] (II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
[ 25.104] (II) Unloading nvidia
[ 25.104] (II) UnloadModule: "wfb"
[ 25.105] (II) Unloading wfb
[ 25.105] (II) UnloadModule: "fb"
[ 25.105] (II) Unloading fb
[ 25.105] (EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.
[ 25.105]
Fatal server error:
[ 25.105] no screens found
[ 25.105]
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
  at http://wiki.x.org
 for help.
[ 25.105] Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[ 25.105]
[ 25.106] ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log