Alright, let's tackle this Nvidia driver and dual-screen issue step by step—since everything works fine on Windows, we know the hardware is solid, so this is definitely an Ubuntu configuration problem. Here's a structured troubleshooting plan:

1. 先确认Ubuntu能检测到你的Nvidia显卡 #

First, let's make sure the system actually sees your Nvidia GPU—if it's not detected, driver installs will do nothing. Open a terminal and run:

lspci | grep -E 'VGA|3D controller'

You should see two entries: one for Intel UHD 630, and another for your Nvidia card. If the Nvidia entry is missing:

• Reboot into your BIOS/UEFI, check for settings like Optimus Mode, Hybrid Graphics, or Discrete GPU Enable—make sure the discrete Nvidia card isn't disabled.

2. 彻底清理残留的Nvidia驱动文件 #

Previous failed installs might have left conflicting packages. Let's wipe them clean:

• Uninstall all Nvidia-related packages:

  sudo apt purge nvidia* nvidia-* libnvidia*
  

• Remove unused dependencies and cached files:

  sudo apt autoremove && sudo apt autoclean
  

• Reboot your system to ensure you're running on pure Intel integrated graphics.

3. Reinstall the correct Nvidia driver (manual, reliable method) #

Skip the "Additional Drivers" auto-select and install the recommended driver directly:

• Check which driver version is recommended for your GPU:

  ubuntu-drivers devices
  

  Look for the line marked recommended (e.g., nvidia-driver-535).
• Install that specific driver:

  sudo apt install nvidia-driver-XXX  # Replace XXX with the recommended version number
  

• After installation, install the dual-graphics management tool and switch to Nvidia:

  sudo apt install nvidia-prime
  sudo prime-select nvidia
  

• Reboot again, then verify the driver works with:

  nvidia-smi
  

  If you see your Nvidia GPU's stats here, the driver is successfully installed.

4. Fix the second screen recognition issue #

If the driver works but the second screen is still missing:

• Double-check your monitor cable is plugged into the Nvidia card's port, not the motherboard's Intel port—Windows might auto-switch to discrete GPU output, but Ubuntu needs this physical connection.
• Open Nvidia Settings via terminal:

  nvidia-settings
  

  Go to X Server Display Configuration, click "Detect Displays"—if the second screen shows up, set your preferred resolution/position, click "Apply", then "Save to X Configuration File".
• If that fails, try updating your kernel (old kernels often have poor new GPU support on Ubuntu 18.04):

  sudo apt install linux-generic-hwe-20.04
  

  Reboot and check again.

5. Troubleshoot Xorg configuration (last resort) #

If all else fails, reset your Xorg config:

• Backup the current config:

  sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak
  

• Generate a fresh Nvidia Xorg config:

  sudo nvidia-xconfig
  

• Reboot and test the displays again.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Shino