Nouveau stuck at 800x600

Ubuntu Version

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Desktop Environment (if applicable)

GNOME

Problem Description

tried to switch to install nvidia driver https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/details/226760/
nouveau was disabled in /etc/modprobe.d
the nvidia driver installation failed.
I removed the block from modprobe.d
Now I am stuck with nouveau at 800x600 and out of ideas.
Any pointers are appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

What is the output of

sudo lshw -C display; uname -a; lsb_release -a

Thanks

1 Like

$ sudo lshw -C display; uname -a; lsb_release -a
[sudo] password for mihai:
*-display
description: VGA compatible controller
product: GK106GL [Quadro K4000]
vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:05:00.0
logical name: /dev/fb0
version: a1
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list fb
configuration: depth=32 latency=0 mode=800x600 resolution=800,600 visual=truecolor xres=800 yres=600
resources: memory:ee000000-eeffffff memory:d0000000-dfffffff memory:e0000000-e1ffffff ioport:c000(size=128) memory:c0000-dffff
Linux mps 7.0.0-30-generic #30~24.04.1-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri Aug 7 13:27:52 UTC 2 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS
Release: 24.04
Codename: noble

Open Additional Drivers, install from there, not from Nvidia’s binaries. Or with sudo ubuntu-drivers install.

Now the problem: The last driver for your old Nvidia is the 470 branch that is deprecated. You may want to try a certain PPA (no guarantees).

Nouveau works well for me with wayland (in Ubuntu Desktop 22.04.5 LTS with resolution 3840*2160) with the same nvidia card as yours, so if you use xorg (x11), I suggest that you try wayland.

$ sudo lshw -C display; uname -a; lsb_release -a
  *-display                 
       beskrivning: VGA compatible controller
       produkt: GK106GL [Quadro K4000]
       tillverkare: NVIDIA Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
       logiskt namn: /dev/fb0
       version: a1
       bredd: 64 bits
       klocka: 33MHz
       förmågor: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom fb
       konfiguration: depth=32 driver=nouveau latency=0 mode=3840x2160 resolution=3840,2160 visual=truecolor xres=3840 yres=2160
       resurser: irq:57 memory:fa000000-faffffff memory:e0000000-efffffff memory:f0000000-f1ffffff ioport:e000(storlek=128) memory:c0000-dffff
Linux c30 6.8.0-138-generic #138~22.04.1-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri Aug  7 13:43:15 UTC  x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS
Release:	22.04
Codename:	jammy

env|grep -i xdg_session_type
XDG_SESSION_TYPE=wayland

Edit: In order to check for future usage of nvidia GK106GL [Quadro K4000], I tested the recently released Ubuntu Desktop 26.04.1 LTS version live (booted from a USB pendrive). It uses wayland also when running live, and it can use the full resolution of my monitor, 3840*2160 (without any fixes, just the normal boot procedure).

I have no doubts nouveau can use the full, native, resolution in most cases. The problem seems to be enabling external video output in certain laptops.

The situation described by the OP is likely the result of the failed attempt to install the Nvidia binaries that blacklisted `nouveau`.

1 Like

$ env|grep -i xdg_session_type
XDG_SESSION_TYPE=wayland

I wanted to move to nvidia because I was getting corrupt display too often and I thought I should try the other gpu driver as well.

I also don’t seem to be able to see the upgrade available yet:

$ sudo do-release-upgrade
Checking for a new Ubuntu release
There is no development version of an LTS available.
To upgrade to the latest non-LTS development release
set Prompt=normal in /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades.

You can find the Ubuntu Desktop 26.04.1 LTS iso file at

and test it in your computer.

Sometimes it is a better idea to backup your personal files and then make a fresh installation of the new version instead of do-release-upgrade, because you get rid of old cruft, that may cause problems after the upgrade.

You may prefer the upgrade path, and you should get a release upgrade offer rather soon (because the first point release is available now).

2 Likes

Closing the topic. I saved my stuff and I am installing 26.04.1 .

2 Likes

Topic closed at the request of the original poster.

Many thanks to those who participated and tried to help.