SOLVED: Nvidia driver files will not update

Support & Help Requests
#1

I get Nvidia-driver updates from the "Graphics Drivers" PPA.

A couple of weeks ago I updated 25 of these driver files. On reboot, I was stuck at a login-screen loop.

I have since kept them held back.

Yesterday I un-held them and tried again to do this update, with the same result.
(I rolled back the system to an earlier snapshot with Timeshift to recover.)

When I look at any one of these files in Synaptic, they show one (or more) of the others as dependencies.
I would think that the dependencies should be met by updating them all simultaneously.

I'm currently at a loss as to how to do this update successfully.

All ideas welcome.

My graphics card is an NVIDIA Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 (as shown in my sig).

inxi tells me that the OpenGL renderer is: "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060/PCIe/SSE2, v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 495.44, direct render: Yes"

I'm using the Nvidia driver version 495.44, and I'm trying to update it to v. 495.46.
Almost all of the 25 files in the update are version 495.44, and the update is to move them to 495.46.

For what it's worth, here's a current boot-info script.

And these are the 25 files that won't update:

libnss-systemd (installed: 245.4-4ubuntu3.14; latest: 245.4-4ubuntu3.15)
libnvidia-cfg1-495 (.44 > .46, same update for next 8 libs below)
libnvidia-compute-495
libnvidia-compute-495:i386
libnvidia-decode-495:i386
libnvidia-encode-495:i386
libnvidia-extra-495
libnvidia-fbc1-495
libnvidia-gl-495
libnvidia-gl-495:i386

libpam-systemd (245.4-4ubuntu3.14 > 245.4-4ubuntu3.15)
libsystemd-dev (same version as above)
libsystemd0 (same as above)
libudev1 (same as above)

lightdm (1.30.0-0ubuntu4-20.04.1 > 1.30.0-0ubuntu4-20.04.2)

nvidia-compute-utils-495 (.44 > .46)
nvidia-dkms-495
nvidia-kernel-common-495
nvidia-kernel-source-495
nvidia-utils-495

systemd (245.4-4ubuntu3.14 > 245.4-4ubuntu3.15)
systemd-sysv (same version as above)
systemd-timesyncd (same as above)
udev (same as above)
xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-495 (.44 > .46)

I am ruinning Ubuntu-MATE 20.04.3 with kernel version 5.4.0-96-generic

#2

IMHO you do not need a PPA.
According to Nvidia site you need 470.94 driver which is available from official repository.
Please add output of

apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-495
grep ^deb -r /etc/apt/ --include=*.list
sudo apt-get update

to the next reply (if long - use pastebin).

#3

[Edit: the word "not" was previously missing (mistakenly, obviously) from the above quote.]

Not sure what you mean by this, I am already using the Graphics Drivers team PPA.

Indeed! I do see this now. However, I believe that if I download the driver from the Nvidia site, I would have to update manually on the next update.

I can also download it from the PPA (though it would apparently be version 470.86, not the 470.94 up-to-the-minute version that's on the nvidia site).

--> apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-495
xserver-xorg-video-nvidia-495:
Installed: 495.44-0ubuntu0.20.04.1
Candidate: 495.46-0ubuntu0.20.04.1
Version table:
495.46-0ubuntu0.20.04.1 500
500 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-updates/restricted amd64 Packages
500 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-security/restricted amd64 Packages
*** 495.44-0ubuntu0.20.04.1 100
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

--> lf /etc/apt/sources.list.d
total 220
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 108 Jan 18 17:01 alexlarsson-ubuntu-flatpak-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 108 Jan 18 17:01 alexlarsson-ubuntu-flatpak-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 85 Jan 18 17:01 atareao-ubuntu-atareao-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 85 Jan 18 17:01 atareao-ubuntu-atareao-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 112 Jan 18 17:01 audio-recorder-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 112 Jan 18 17:01 audio-recorder-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 141 Jan 18 17:01 brave-browser-release.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 141 Jan 18 17:01 brave-browser-release.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 130 Jan 18 17:01 cappelikan-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 74 Jan 18 17:01 gezakovacs-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 74 Jan 18 17:01 gezakovacs-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 79 Jan 18 17:01 jeffreyratcliffe-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 79 Jan 18 17:01 jeffreyratcliffe-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 91 Jan 18 17:01 jonathonf-ubuntu-vim-daily-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 91 Jan 18 17:01 jonathonf-ubuntu-vim-daily-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 98 Jan 18 17:01 mc3man-ubuntu-mpv-tests-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 98 Jan 18 17:01 mc3man-ubuntu-mpv-tests-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 109 Jan 18 17:01 mediaarea.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 109 Jan 18 17:01 mediaarea.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 82 Jan 18 17:01 mixxx-ubuntu-mixxx-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 82 Jan 18 17:01 mixxx-ubuntu-mixxx-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 110 Jan 18 17:01 obsproject-ubuntu-obs-studio-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 110 Jan 18 17:01 obsproject-ubuntu-obs-studio-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 118 Jan 18 17:01 phoerious-ubuntu-keepassxc-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 118 Jan 18 17:01 phoerious-ubuntu-keepassxc-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 87 Jan 18 17:01 rodsmith-ubuntu-refind-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 87 Jan 18 17:01 rodsmith-ubuntu-refind-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 103 Jan 18 17:01 rvm-ubuntu-smplayer-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 103 Jan 18 17:01 rvm-ubuntu-smplayer-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 125 Jan 18 17:01 signal-xenial.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 125 Jan 18 17:01 signal-xenial.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 114 Jan 18 17:01 team-xbmc-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 114 Jan 18 17:01 team-xbmc-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 116 Jan 18 17:01 teejee2008-ubuntu-timeshift-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 116 Jan 18 17:01 teejee2008-ubuntu-timeshift-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 84 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntu-mozilla-security-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 84 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntu-mozilla-security-ubuntu-ppa-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 111 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntuhandbook1-ubuntu-apps-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 111 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntuhandbook1-ubuntu-apps-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 109 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntuhandbook1-ubuntu-audacity-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 109 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntuhandbook1-ubuntu-audacity-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 135 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntuhandbook1-ubuntu-cantata-qt-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 135 Jan 18 17:01 ubuntuhandbook1-ubuntu-cantata-qt-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 115 Jan 18 17:01 unit193-ubuntu-inxi-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 115 Jan 18 17:01 unit193-ubuntu-inxi-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 115 Jan 18 17:01 variety-ubuntu-daily-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 115 Jan 18 17:01 variety-ubuntu-daily-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 164 Jan 18 17:01 webupd8team-ubuntu-y-ppa-manager-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 164 Jan 18 17:01 webupd8team-ubuntu-y-ppa-manager-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 124 Jan 18 17:01 wireshark-dev-ubuntu-stable-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 124 Jan 18 17:01 wireshark-dev-ubuntu-stable-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 142 Jan 18 17:01 xtradeb-ubuntu-apps-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 142 Jan 18 17:01 xtradeb-ubuntu-apps-focal.list.save
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 84 Jan 18 17:01 yannubuntu-ubuntu-boot-repair-focal.list
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 84 Jan 18 17:01 yannubuntu-ubuntu-boot-repair-focal.list.save

--> sudo apt update
Hit:1 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal InRelease
Get:2 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-updates InRelease [114 kB]
Get:3 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-backports InRelease [108 kB]
Hit:4 https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com stable InRelease
Get:5 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-security InRelease [114 kB]
Hit:6 https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt xenial InRelease
Hit:7 https://dl.jami.net/nightly/ubuntu_20.04 ring InRelease
Hit:8 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu focal InRelease
Ign:9 https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/deb stable InRelease
Hit:10 https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/deb stable Release
Get:11 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-updates/main amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [282 kB]
Get:12 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-updates/universe amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [364 kB]
Get:13 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-updates/multiverse amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [940 B]
Hit:14 http://ppa.launchpad.net/alexlarsson/flatpak/ubuntu focal InRelease
Get:15 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-backports/universe amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [11.3 kB]
Get:16 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-backports/main amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [7,980 B]
Get:17 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-security/main amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [40.6 kB]
Get:18 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-security/universe amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [66.4 kB]
Get:19 http://mirror.us-ny2.kamatera.com/ubuntu focal-security/multiverse amd64 DEP-11 Metadata [2,464 B]
Hit:20 http://ppa.launchpad.net/atareao/atareao/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:21 http://ppa.launchpad.net/audio-recorder/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:23 https://mediaarea.net/repo/deb/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:24 http://ppa.launchpad.net/cappelikan/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:25 http://ppa.launchpad.net/gezakovacs/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:26 http://ppa.launchpad.net/jeffreyratcliffe/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:27 http://ppa.launchpad.net/jonathonf/vim-daily/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:28 http://ppa.launchpad.net/mc3man/mpv-tests/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:29 http://ppa.launchpad.net/mixxx/mixxx/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:30 http://ppa.launchpad.net/obsproject/obs-studio/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:31 http://ppa.launchpad.net/phoerious/keepassxc/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:32 http://ppa.launchpad.net/rodsmith/refind/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:33 http://ppa.launchpad.net/rvm/smplayer/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:34 http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:35 http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/timeshift/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:36 http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mozilla-security/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:37 http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntuhandbook1/apps/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:38 http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntuhandbook1/audacity/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:39 http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntuhandbook1/cantata-qt/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:40 http://ppa.launchpad.net/unit193/inxi/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:41 http://ppa.launchpad.net/variety/daily/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:42 http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/y-ppa-manager/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:43 http://ppa.launchpad.net/wireshark-dev/stable/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:44 http://ppa.launchpad.net/xtradeb/apps/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:45 http://ppa.launchpad.net/yannubuntu/boot-repair/ubuntu focal InRelease

#4

UPDATE: Problem solved. I changed to the correct Nvidia driver: I moved from driver 495 to 470, the one recommended for my GPU on the Nvidia site.

Thank you Norbert X.

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