Envy: Nvidia / ATI Drivers + Ubuntu Edgy / Dapper easily

So, after using Ubuntu for a while, I got really tired about having to set manually the video drivers for my Linux Desktop System.

Nowadays we have powerfull window decorators such as Beryl, so, I really believe it is untollerable that Linux Desktop has to be so poor after an installation made by a common person and not an informatics expert.

You installed Ubuntu or Kubuntu and you find your PC with an Ugly resolution and no 3D acceleration? Are you new to Linux or just too tyred to try out the latest How-TOs wich will guide you to manually install Video Drivers? I’m tired as much as you. So, unless you whant to install Ubuntu Ultimate Edition (A really great alternative to standard Ubuntu, I’ll review it in another post) and have all of your problems solved automatically allmost surelly, you’ve found the right guide for you.

Let’s see how can we set everything immediatelly, without any pain and graphically, that is, without opening a Console at all. First, go to this page. Here you’ll find the great program for Ubuntu Linux by ALberto Milone: Envy. Untill some time ago, Envy only installed Nvidia drivers, now it can install ATI drivers too, automatically.

You’ll download the stable .deb file version of envy. Double click on the .deb downloaded file and the package manager will open (A different package manager for Gnome or KDE. In KDE you can also right click on the file and choose to install it). After you installed this file, go find Envy in this Ubuntu menù path:

Applications –> System Tools –> Envy

And when you run it, you’ll immediatelly notice how simple the frontend is. Here’s a screenshot:

Forget about the 2 latest options, don’t install manually. Let Envydo everything for you. Choose the driver that suits your Video Hardware, click Apply and everything starts and completes absolutelly automatically. Reboot your system and you’ll have a new flaming 3D capable Linux System. Anything Simpler than this?

At that point you’re all set to install Beryl or any other 3D application. Keep in touch with my Blog for my future Hot to Install and Run Beryl guide.