Ubuntu 14.04 LTS NVIDIA DKMS fails after kernel update

📖 ~1 min read

Table of contents

1. Symptom & Impact
2. Environment & Reproduction
3. Root Cause Analysis
4. Quick Triage
5. Step-by-Step Diagnosis
6. Solution – Primary Fix
7. Solution – Alternative Approaches
8. Verification & Acceptance Criteria
9. Rollback Plan
10. Prevention & Hardening
11. Related Errors & Cross-Refs
12. References & Further Reading

Symptom & Impact

GUI fails or falls back to low graphics after reboot.

Environment & Reproduction

Appears when kernel updates without matching headers or driver compatibility.

Root Cause Analysis

DKMS cannot compile module against active kernel ABI.

Quick Triage

Check dkms status, uname -r, and /var/lib/dkms build logs.

Step-by-Step Diagnosis

Validate headers, GCC toolchain, and module source package alignment.

Solution – Primary Fix

Install matching linux-headers and rebuild/reinstall NVIDIA DKMS package.

Solution – Alternative Approaches

Boot previous kernel or switch to nouveau temporarily.

Verification & Acceptance Criteria

nvidia module loads and graphical session starts normally.

Rollback Plan

Purge failing driver and return to previous known-good kernel path.

Prevention & Hardening

Test kernel updates in staging before broad rollout.

Related Errors & Cross-Refs

Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel.

Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.

View all Ubuntu 14.04 LTS tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →

Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.

References & Further Reading

Ubuntu DKMS and NVIDIA driver maintenance references.