I had the problem that my computer locking up. The only way I can get it going again is by force closing it with the power button. I have this version.

Linux Mint 18.2
Cinnamon 64-bit
Cinnamon Version 3.4.6
Linux Kernel 4.15.0-32-generic

A friend told me my problem is my video driver, I think he said.


So in the System Settings
I click on Driver Manager

In Driver Manager there are two options.

Nvidia-304 (recommended)
Version 304.135-Obuntu.16.04.2
Nvidia legacy binary driver-version 304.135
or
xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (open-source)
Version 1.1.0-1build2
X,Org X server-Nouveau display driver

When I choose the first one, the Nvidia or recommended one and restart the computer it tells me that Cinnamon just crashed and I can continue on in the Fallback Mode. It works fine in the Fallback Mode. But it is the Fallback Mode.

When I choose the second one, the xserver-xorg-video-nouveau open source it runs well but then it repeatedly locks up and I have to cut it off by holding the power button for a few seconds.

My friend says I can just work in the Fallback Mode till it is updated with the regular updates. Is there another way I can solve this problem? Remember I do not understand Linux. I am very ignorant on how to run it. Is there an easy fix?

Thanks,
Mark Yoder

Hi:

Run this command in your terminal and post the output for us.

All you might need to do is install the driver.

Some more detailed information concerning your graphics hardware might be helpful here. Open a terminal and run
Post the output here.

I did what Zfcoracat said and the output is this:
00:0d.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation C61 [GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a] (rev a2)

Now I put in what ferrari said and this output is:
00:0d.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation C61 [GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a] [10de:03d6] (rev a2)
Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] C61 [GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a] [1462:7597]
Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau
00:18.0 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 10h Processor HyperTransport Configuration [1022:1200]

So what so I restart and try it?
Thanks,
Mark

Looking at the output:

You have a MSI motherboard and a Nvidia GeForce 7025 GPU.

Best to wait for ferrari, I'm not good with Nvidia.

I'm at the limits of my knowledge with this as well. I'm not a Mint user, so can only refer to the guide...
Let's check your current kernel boot parameter configuration...
This output shows that no (full) nvidia driver has yet been installed...
Here's a general guide on installing NVIDIA drivers in Ubuntu/Linux Mint, but hopefully an Ubuntu (or Mint) user can chime in with specific advice on this
http://www.webupd8.org/2016/06/how-t...rivers-in.html
Your opening post output suggests that this card requires the nvidia legacy (nvidia-304) driver. I'm not sure why the GUI doesn't succeed for you here. Does it install without issue if you try something like the following?
*I assume here that the repo has already been added, otherwise that will need to be done first.

When I put in this code: cat /proc/cmdline I received the following output.

BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-32-generic root=UUID=d8bae02f-cfbb-4366-963d-82b957046d3c ro quiet splash

When I put in sudo apt install nvidia-304 nvidia-settings, the output was as follows:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
nvidia-settings is already the newest version (361.42-0ubuntu1).
nvidia-304 is already the newest version (304.135-0ubuntu0.16.04.2).
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
libllvm4.0 libllvm4.0:i386
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in <Linux Mint> and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

That checks out as expected, as does the nvidia output you shared. Let's see what other Mint users advise here.

Thank you, Ferrari, I did what you recommended and for a while I thought it was fixed. But now it has returned to locking up again with the nvida-304. So I am working in the Fallback Mode with the xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (open-source),Version 1.1.0-1build2. So, yes, lets see if other Mint has any other ideas.
Mark

I don't have Nvidia myself but am running Mint 19 which informs me that nvidia-390 is available for my system. It might be worthwhile for you to try Mint 19 to see if the updated nvidia package works better.

Good idea. Thank you.
But I need more help. I am very ignorant about Linux. How can I install Mint 19? Can I install it without uninstalling Mint 18? I am sorry too bother you more but could you tell me how to do it? I am just a learner.
Mark

You could use the 'mintupgrade' tool....

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/07/...x-mint-19-easy

How to upgrade to Mint 19:

https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3615

Note however that since you're running Mint 18.2, you will have to upgrade to Mint 18.3 first:

https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3462

Mint 19 will replace Mint 18.x on your system. However, if you install TimeShift and make a system snapshot before the upgrade then you should be able to return to Mint 18 if things go awry.

Ensure that you backup all your documents, images, videos and other data files before carrying out any upgrade.

hydrurga,

With the nvidia 304 driver installed doesn't nouveau have to blacklisted?

Maybe a higher version of the kernel would help and dmesg the driver to see what's retured in the output:-

**-::-If the 'wrong driver' is loading first it will cause the device to fail.-::-**
******--------------------******----------------------******---------------------------******------------------------******

** nvidia-xconfig creates a xorg.conf file that tells the kernel which driver to use.**

http://www.howtoeverything.net/linux...-in-linux-mint