I'm running a Dell XPS L502X, one of those hybrid graphics models that don't yet "just work" on Linux :( When I installed Ubuntu (Natty) I just went ahead and accepted whatever options I was given, including installing the current NVidia drivers.

Additional Drivers reports the driver as the current version, recommended, required for Unity, activated, but not currently in use. However, I can't actually run Unity, so I'm currently running with Unity 2D. Ubuntu has not detected the driver as being obsolete, but I get the following when running /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p :

Xlib:  extension "GLX" missing on display ":0".

Xlib:  extension "GLX" missing on display ":0".

Xlib:  extension "GLX" missing on display ":0".

Error: unable to create the OpenGL context

When I start the "NVIDIA X Server Settings" application, I get the following message: "You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run nvidia-xconfig as root, and restart the X server."

I've since been told that on these models specifically you shouldn't install or activate the NVidia driver. Is this true, and why?

If it is true, should I uninstall the driver, and what benefits will this give me? If I uninstall it, what should I switch to, if anything? How do I uninstall it?

Otherwise, is it safe to activate it? In which case do I just run sudo nvidia-xconfig?

My goal here is to either:

• run Unity just like the other kids
  
  
  
  • by enabling the NVidia driver if this is required
  
  
  • or, by doing something else
  
  
  • 
    
    • and, uninstall the NVidia driver, if this is advisable (whether or not it is required)
    
    
  
  


• continue running Unity 2D if Unity is impossible on my machine
  
  
  
  • by doing nothing (leave the system as-is)
  
  
  • 
    
    • and, uninstall the NVidia driver, if this is advisable
    
    
  
  

My goal is not (yet) to:

• get hybrid graphics working (for example, by install Bumblebee) - it seems to me that support for this is still in development on the Linux platform, so I'll let others experiment :)


• disable either the Intel or NVidia card (I want to get Unity working "the right way" first)