How to Install NVIDIA Graphics Drivers on Linux Mint 17

Something has recently changed in NVIDIA graphics driver installer because the quick method I used so far to install NVIDIA driver on Mint 17 does not work anymore. Here is a new method I successfully tested with latest R358.16 for Linux and Mint 17 MATE edition:

  1. Download the latest NVIDIA driver installer (for example NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-358.16.run).
  2. Create a new file called disable-nouveau.conf in /etc/modprobe.d/ with nano: 
    $ sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/disable-nouveau.conf
  3. Add the following lines in this file (still with nano editor): 
    blacklist nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0

    and save the file.

  4. Run the following command in a terminal: 
    sudo update-initramfs -u
  5. Reboot the system with: 
    sudo reboot

    The system restarts in console mode and tries to start the x-server.

  6. Stop the Mate desktop manager: 
    sudo service mdm stop
  7. Install the NVIDIA graphics driver: 
    sudo sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-358.16.run
  8. Restart the MATE desktop manager: 
    sudo service mdm start

You should now see your MATE desktop. Check the OpenGL support with nvidia-settings utility or with GL-Z:


Linux Mint 17 - GL-Z utility

Related posts:

  1. How to quickly Install NVIDIA R302.11 Drivers Under Linux Mint 13
  2. How to Update NVIDIA Graphics Drivers under Linux (***Updated***)
  3. Linux Mint 19 TARA released (+ quick OpenGL and Vulkan test)
  4. Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia LTS released
  5. How to Create a Linux Mint 15 Bootable USB Flash Drive

One thought on “How to Install NVIDIA Graphics Drivers on Linux Mint 17”

  1. Aurojit

    I just followed all your steps but…afer the successfull install of the driver when i restarted the linux mint cinamon after logging in error of cinamon has crashed restart…alwayas comes and cinamon is running in fallback mode

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