I've seen some topics about it, but I really don't know where to start, because it seems that every case is unique and, as the linux noob I am, feels like overwhelming. Besides, the risk of restart from scratch again makes me feel uneasy about wasting time without any results.
Well, since march/24 I'm struggling to make my old graphic card functional again. Here is the info:
Notebook: Dell Inspiron 14 3443
Graphic Card: nVidia GeForce 820M (as seen on title)
OS: Zorin 17.2 Core
Prints below about the system, Kernel used and Software & Updates Window with no trace of possible nVidia driver options.
I just need an accurate step by step in order to avoid reinstalling Zorin again from Scratch. I saw this topic, but it was a wee confusing with my ADHD weezing at me. Would you help me, please?
Because You are using an Nvidia Card: Does Your system run in Xorg/X11 or Wayland? to check that go to Settings>About and there look for a Line that should called ''Window Manager'' or similar and look if there stands X11 or Wayland.
If there schould stand Wayland, it would be good to change to X11 because of better compatibility. To do that go to the Login screen and click on Your Profile so that the Password Field appears. It have to be appeared! When it is appeared, You should see a Gear Icon in the bottom right corner. Click on it and choose the Option ''Zorin Desktop on Xorg'' and log in. Then look for Drivers.
Another Thing could be the Age of Your Graphics. It could be maybe too old. So, You would have to install an older Kernel and then the Driver for it. Or - if You would be open for Experiments - install a Driver with the Terminal and look if it will install or not.
Hi, Ponce de Leon. How are you doing? Thank you for welcoming me.
It' Wayland. I'll follow your advice and change to X11 to see what happen.
UPDATE
Changed and Nvidia Driver finally appeared on updates. I'm downloading the 390 driver manually pointed by Michel. But first, I need to see the Kernel changing.
Hi, Michel! Thanks for answering. the graphic card appears, but I don't know how to see if nVidia settings are working. On Settings>About, the integrated graphic card is the one available.
About the kernel, I saw a guy name Aravisian suggesting the following commands on Terminal, but for Zorin 16:
For changing the Kernel, You could take a Look at this Article:
It explanis how You can change the Kernel with the Terminal or over a graphical Interface. For the Usage of the graphical Solution is here a Video what shows that, too:
The driver is not installed because your running kernel 6.8.xx. You need to downgrade the kernel to 5.15 and install the nvidia driver 390. Nvidia does not support your card anymore, you have to rely on an older kernel and driver.
@Ponce-De-Leon and @Michel, finally done it! I was having some troubles with Mainline about uninstalling the newer kernels. So I did it on Terminal. Way much better.
@Ponce-De-Leon and @Michel, thank you a lot! Long months of try and error ended thanks to both of you. Later, I'll summarize all this info for those who need help with this same issue.
After experimenting my graphic card again, It seems to be clunkier than before. I've put it to perform on Chromium and when I pick a tab to create another window, it became white and buggy.
On Firefox, some sites with animation became more laggy, as well. Is it normal or should I change the kernel again?
. Have fun with your machine 