Nvidia 390 drivers on kernel 6.8

[ket]

Hey, ive been trying to install nvidia 390 dirvers on zorin os 17 but found out that kernel 6.8 is too new for old drivers like nvidia 390..
but i have heard that there are community patches that can fix this
i am completely new to this, just switched from windows and please do not tell me to upgrade my gpu, i cannot do that

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Welcome to the Forum!

You have 2 Options:

Install the older 5.15 Kernel. You can install the 390 Driver. Or:
You can take a Look at this Repo to add:

Error installing drivers nvidia 390 on Zorin OS 17

Hmmm... If you click Package Details on the lower right hand side above the package list, you can see that the package is in the repository for Nvidia-Driver-390. However, I also see that Kelebek named the packages differently than how they are named on the Ubuntu drivers team's repo. Can you please try: sudo apt install nvidia-graphics-drivers-390

[Locklear93]

Welcome to the forum. Ponce-de-Leon covered the advice I would've given, but I also wanted to note that you don't have to worry about people telling you to upgrade your hardware here. That only tends to be the advice if someone tries to do something actually impossible on their existing hardware. We've got users running very old hardware and users running bleeding edge.

[ket]

Can you please guide me on how i can install an older kernel without changing my zorin os version?

[Aravisian]

You should be able to just use

sudo apt install linux-image-5.15.0-72-generic linux-headers-5.15.0-72-generic linux-modules-5.15.0-72-generic linux-modules-extra-5.15.0-72-generic

Or you can use the Mainline Installer tool:

[HOW TO] Easily install a later Kernel (Needs Net Connection)

Updated as of Mar 28 2025 To install the Mainline Installer: add the repository: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cappelikan/ppa Update sources and install: sudo apt update && sudo apt install mainline Launch Mainline from App Menu or terminal, and select the kernel you wish to test. To use TuxInvader Kernel: These are not Microsoft signed, so Secure Boot must be disabled in BIOS Settings. Add repository: If using Zorin OS 16: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tuxinvader/lts-mainline If usi…

[Ponce-De-Leon]

@Aravisian already wrote You the Command to install the Kernel directly over the Terminal or add the Mainline Tool to do it graphical. To add something to @Aravisian's Command: Instead of the 72 use 141. So it should look like this:

sudo apt install linux-headers-5.15.0-141-generic linux-image-5.15.0-141-generic linux-modules-5.15.0-141-generic linux-modules-extra-5.15.0-141-generic

After you have installed the Packages, make a Reboot and in the GRUB Menu choose the Menu Point ''Advanced Options'' and choose there the 5.15 Kernel to start with. When the System is started with the 5.15 Kernel use the following tutorial to set that as default:

[HOW TO] set an older kernel to default boot

You may need to use an earlier kernel than the current kernel used by Zorin. This method allows you to set the kernel that you will boot into by default. To set the new kernel to default: Boot into the kernel you wish to be Saved. Open terminal and run: sudo nano /etc/default/grub Change GRUB_DEFAULT=0 to GRUB_DEFAULT=saved Hit enter to drop down a line. Add GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT=true ctrl+x to exit, then the y key to say yes to save, then the enter key to save as current configuration. Ru…

When You only have Zorin installed, You shouldn't have by default a GRUB Menu. If You have it activated for some Reason, okay. If it shouldn't be active, You have to activate it. To do that, open the Terminal and type:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Then look for this:

You have to change 2 Lines to the Following:

GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10

The first Line makes that the GRUB Menu is shown and the second Line is the Value for how long it is shown. The 10 makes that it is 10 Seconds visible. If 10 is not enough for You, you can take 20, 30 or what suits You.

After that, You can install the Nvidia Driver with the Command:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-390 nvidia-dkms-390