Ubuntu restricted graphics crash

[Kevinaz]

hi,

I'm relatively new to Linux, and these are the specs of the machine I'm experimenting with ubuntu 7.10 on:

intel motherboard
intel p3 800mhz
512 ram
nvidia vanta/vanta LT 16mb graphics

This is not my main pc. this is some piece of junk i picked up at a yard sale for this purpose.

When i first install ubuntu 7.10, it works ok, but it tells me i need to install restricted drivers. It tells me i need

"NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (legacy cards)"

I can run the system fine without it, but i figured i'd do it anyway. After i install it, I reboot the computer, and when it comes back, i get a black screen in 640x480, with a white cursor in the middle which freezes after about 2 seconds. i can do absolutely nothing after it gets to this point. I tried restarting numerous times, but to no avail. so i booted from the live cd, and re-installed ubuntu 7.10, figuring it was a freak crash. but the same thing happened again.

I'm now typing this after having re-installed ubuntu 3 times due to this glitch. I really want to get this driver working, but i'm afraid of crashing again. does that driver maybe not support my card? am I missing a step? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevinaz

 

[f.i.t.h]

I dont think that your going to have a good experience with Compiz (if thats what your getting the drivers for).

Even nV 6xxx cards struggle with to many of those effects enabled.

 

[Kevinaz]

I dont think that your going to have a good experience with Compiz (if thats what your getting the drivers for).

Even nV 6xxx cards struggle with to many of those effects enabled.

i'm not looking for much on compiz. just some transparent windows, and maybe the desktop cube.

I mainly want to know what is going wrong whenever I enable them.

 

[oscaryu1]

It might be overheating, or the drivers might not be compatible.

 

[Kevinaz]

I know it's not overheating, so where could I find a list to tell if my card is compatible?