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I am trying to install CUDA drivers on kubuntu 12.04, but in order to do so I need to remove nvidia drivers (which come in with the distro). The problem I have is that while doing so it also removes kubuntu-desktop, which is disasterous (though cuda installs ok). I had the same problem when trying Linux Mint 13 KDE.

I followed the link here: http://sn0v.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/installing-cuda-on-ubuntu-12-04/ and noticed that some people have come across this problem as well, but no solution has been found yet - except for not installing the cuda, lol.

I also tried this:

sudo apt-get purge nvidia-common

only to get the same warning of being about to remove the desktop:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree   
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
    kubuntu-desktop nvidia-common
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 to remove and 435 not upgraded.
After this operation, 197 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? n

My question is - can you remove the nvidia drivers in a way that does not remove kubuntu-desktop (or ubuntu-desktop) at the same time? Or do I have to go with killing the desktop and then install the it again after cuda is installed? Wouldn't it affect other apps, which depend on kubuntu-desktop?

I need CUDA for my CG work and so any help would be really welcome, thanks!

Phil_thy
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  • Why dont you remove it from the Jockey? which is basically the additional drivers ? – Suhaib Oct 02 '12 at 14:01
  • Thanks for reply; I haven't activated any of the drivers from the Additional Drivers yet (I am working on a fresh kubuntu install) and there seems to be no way to remove them from this list (that I know of) - is that what you meant? – Phil_thy Oct 02 '12 at 14:58
  • I installed CUDA and the NVIDIA drivers on Kubuntu 12.04 and didn't have any issues. I think I just installed the new drivers without uninstalling anything, and X was automatically reconfigured to use the new drivers. – Roger Dahl Oct 02 '12 at 15:34
  • To avoid having the drivers that come with Kubuntu be installed, I guess you could start the install without an NVIDIA graphics card in the machine. Then install CUDA, then add the graphics card. – Roger Dahl Oct 02 '12 at 15:35
  • @Phil_thy Yea That is what I meant. I think this is what you are looking for: http://askubuntu.com/questions/112302/how-do-i-disable-the-nouveau-kernel-driver Look at the 1st solution :) – Suhaib Oct 02 '12 at 16:19
  • Finally I managed to sort it out, by following this link: http://chrislaidler.blogspot.com/2012/05/cuda-429-and-kubuntu-1204.html It appears the blacklist of drivers suggested in here http://sn0v.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/installing-cuda-on-ubuntu-12-04/ was not good (incomplete) for kubuntu.
    Also, I used the rhe15.5 version of the nvidia drivers, as suggested in the link.     – Phil_thy Oct 02 '12 at 17:51
  • @Roger Dahl: Thanks for your tips; you probably used different drivers than I did, which I think was the problem (I had trouble with the conflicting Nouveau Kernel from the very start). I would have probably resorted to the graphic card removal trick in the end, if was unsuccessful. – Phil_thy Oct 02 '12 at 17:52
  • @Suhaib: thanks for your help, I think the link you gave me would be also a good solution - as mentioned, the blacklist I created before was incomplete and did not work, here is presented the appropriate one, thanks! – Phil_thy Oct 02 '12 at 17:52

2 Answers2

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Following this link helped:

http://chrislaidler.blogspot.com/2012/05/cuda-429-and-kubuntu-1204.html

Phil_thy
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  • Welcome to Ask Ubuntu! Whilst this may theoretically answer the question (as the one who posted the question, you probably know it does), it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference. – Eliah Kagan Oct 04 '12 at 05:19
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The following packages will be REMOVED:
    kubuntu-desktop nvidia-common

kubuntu-desktop is a meta-package. I.e. it's a virtual package, which has other packages as dependencies. Removing this package doesn't remove the packages which depend on it.

So, the answer is: don't worry that kubuntu-desktop package is removed.

warvariuc
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