As others that want to run GPUGRID together with Ubuntu 9.10, I did have some trouble after the upgrading from 9.04.

The first trap to avoid is to preserve your settings from Ubuntu 9.04 as I found that there is a major bug with the manager of the root password in the 9.10. Any new password seems not to be accepted after either an upgrade or a fresh install. Real bad code somewhere.

You don't need to do anything with the BOINC program.
Have the new Nvidia driver downloaded somewhere you know you can find it again.

Once you've control again with your machine,
- go further to Synaptic;
- write nvidia in search box;
- pick up all the green marked programs by double- clicking the top of the check-box row
- mark them all for remove, UNLESS nvidia-settings.
- remove and close synaptic.

- press Ctr + Alt + F1
- write username & password
- get access to the root (su root)
- enter root password

You now need to stop the X-server and then a little difference from the 9.04 environment:

While man could have written
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
under U 9.04, I'm now writing:
sudo service gdm -stop

- Restart the machine.
- choose the last option (accessing system loader? or something like that)
- write your username & password
- get access to the root, write password
- go to the Nvidia directory (cd Nvidia).
Be aware of the case sensitivity!
- show the directory content (1 file) with:
- dir
then start the installation with
- sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-190.42-pkg2.run
- type yes & OK all the way
even if there's many error messages popping-up all the line.

- Reboot
Now access the Nvidia-settings through the normal way and look at the new configuration and make adjustments as resolution or make overclocking available. Coolbits is already included in the new driver.

However, I did experienced that the overclocking was not working as I answered yes to the Nvidia agreement, the all window just disappeared... The solution to this disagreement seems to:

- open Terminal
- get access to the root, write password
- type gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
- open the file if it doesn't open by its self
- move the line with Option "Coolbits" "1" from the monitor section to the device section
- save the file

Don't be disappointed if you see 2 xorg.conf file while one has 0 byte. Probably another "too fresh edition" bug, there too.

- Reboot

Now you should be able to get the GPUGRID on track again...

PS: I use to suspend BOINC activities while adjusting the overclocking options.

Sorry buddy but lots you posted is pretty wrong :-)

1. Never ever upgrade from one version to another. This is the best way to get strange bugs. Fresh install ONLY. it take under 30 minutes and somewhere 20 minuts for me.

2. In order to keep all your setting, software, desktop setting, etc. just split your HDD like this:
/ - 7-10 Gb - more then enough even if you want to recompile the kernel
/swap - if you've got less then 2Gb of RAM, otherwise go to next step
/home - rest

In this case when I'm installing new version of Ubuntu all my stuff is in place already, coz all settings are on /home, including BOINC.

3. nvidia drivers are proprietary and that is why by default the are NOT installed, so no need to do smth

4. You'll get nvidia-settings with drivers automatically so do not bother with them either.

5. installation. type in console
sudo sh NVIDIA[full name by "Enter"] --no-x-check

That's easy :-)

6. You forgot to mention CUDA toolkit. You can install it typing in console:
sudo sh cuda[full name by "Enter"]

Sorry to point finger on you :-)

BTW, I've got 195.xx and CUDA 2.3 - works just fine for me.
____________