How to install Nvidia/ATI graphic cards drivers in Ubuntu using envy-ng

"Envy" is an application for Ubuntu and Debian written in python and PyGTK which will automatically detect the model of your graphic card, install the appropriate driver with all the required dependencies and configure the Xserver for you. Its a fast and easy way of installing graphic card drivers.

Before starting please note that this method is not recommended by Ubuntu even though it always worked for me. This method is not just used when the hardware driver manager freezes or doesn't work. It is largely used for the following reasons.

• Your card is new and there is no Ubuntu binary available.
• Bugs are present in provided packages and so ubuntu binary is not present.
• Ubuntu drivers don't provide the new features which are provided by new drivers.

Now, first of all download the envy-ng package. Go to the terminal (Applications->accessories->terminal) and run this command

[shredder12]$ sudo apt-get install envyng-core envyng-gtk envyng-qt

Installing envyng-qt would be a bit heavy for regular ubuntu users. It will download at least 11 MB of packages. I am suggesting you to download it if you need a graphical frontend to install Nvidia or ATI drivers. Otherwise, a textual interface can be also used to install the drivers (read the end of the article for it). For a textual interface only install envyng-core.

Using Graphical frontend

But if you want to use a graphical frontend then go to Applications->system tools->envyng and you will see a window like this

Select whatever you want to use and install the driver.

Using textual interface

Go to terminal and run this command

[shredder12]$ sudo envyng -t

You will see a menu looking something like this. Then enter the number according to the task you want to do and hit ENTER. Rest will be taken care of by envy.