Visualization Problem in Ubuntu

[Tiders]

I have ubuntu dual booted on my system along with vista but it wont let me enable desktop visualization effects. I was told this was because that my windows graphics card driver wouldnt be working with Linux and Id need to get a driver. I went to the Nvidia website and downloaded the correct driver (My Card: NVIDIA Geforce 9600m GS with 512 MB RAM). I then disabled X and went into the console to run the installer (I was also told that I would need to disable x before installing the driver). The driver says it installs fine and graphics work okay the first time. I then look to restart my computer only to see in amazement that my Shut Down and Restart buttons have disapeared! I then just hold down the off button figuring that theres nothing I can do.. I restart my computer and boot into Ubuntu and it says that my graphics are now running on low settings and that Id have to configure monitor/graphics card settings (my computer is a laptop so theres no monitor brand and my series of graphics card isnt on the list). I hit cancel on this. After logging into ubuntu I find that the visualization effects are no longer working agian and when I go into the settings to try and enable them again it says that desktop visualizations could not be enabled. Does anybody have any suggestions on what I should do or has anyone had this problem before?

[zero-impact]

Unfortunately I can not help you myself as I have never owned an Nvidia card and have only dealt with ATI under Linux.

However you should probably try posting on the official Ubuntu forums. You are much more likely to get the problem solved there.

http://ubuntuforums.org/

[DemonWasp]

System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers. This should list the available drivers, and show none of them as active. Select the recommended one and click on "Enable" and it should download and install the driver correctly for you.

Be aware that 3d drivers in Linux are a little hit-and-miss, because of a variety of political @#$% in the industry and the relatively small market size of Linux. Things are rapidly improving, however.