Ubuntu – Ubuntu 14.04 with Nvidia driver – blank screen after kernel update

• After 1st boot failure and switching to console (Ctrl+Alt+F1 or any to F6).

  1. Build driver modules for the current kernel (which just installed)

     sudo sh ./<DRIVER>.run -K
     

  2. Reboot:

     sudo reboot
     

  No need to reboot multiple times and switch adapters.

  Reference: Ubuntu Wiki: Nvidia Manual - Kernel and Mesa Updates

• To be complete, For driver release >=304 it is possible to register its module to DKMS. DKMS will take care of building it for each newly installed kernel.

  1. Install DKMS (For some reasons, it may not be installed already)

     sudo apt-get install dkms
     

  2. Reinstall nVidia driver with DKMS option.

     sudo sh ./<DRIVER>.run --dkms
     

  After this, it should be no need to redo the steps above any more. A way to verify/check after new kernel install:

  dkms status
  

  References:

  • Registering the NVIDIA Kernel Module with DKMS
  • sh ./<DRIVER>.run --advanced-options

OK, I think I have found a solution and it would be good if others with the same problem could test.

• Install the Nvidia 340 drivers from the Xorg edgers PPA.

• Once the install is complete, do not reboot. Head into Prime and set the profile to Intel graphics.

-Add the following line to your Xorg.conf, under the Nvidia Screen header - Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP"

• Reboot.

• You should now have the drivers installed but be running in Intel graphics mode. This should be checked in Prime.

• In order to use the Nvidia, set the profile in Prime and the LOG OUT. Do not reboot.

• Important to remember, you should not reboot or shut down the machine when in Nvidia graphics profile. Intel should be reset before each shutdown / reboot.