Hey everyone, I really messed things up on my Linux Mint setup using the i3 window manager and trying to configure my NVIDIA RTX 3090. Initially, I was trying to save changes in the NVIDIA settings app, but I got an error saying it couldn't open the X config file for writing. I attempted to uninstall 'nvidia-prime' due to some errors I was having, which led to more problems, including permission issues and then a black screen after logging out. Now I'm back to using a live USB but don't know what to do next. Should I just restore a Timeshift backup or is there a way to recover my system without losing everything? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Honestly, backing up your data and reinstalling the OS might be the cleanest option. Sometimes it’s just easier to start fresh rather than untangle a mess!
If you're able to get into TTY, I would suggest using a live USB to chroot into your installation. From there, you can reinstall your Xorg and NVIDIA drivers. While it's a bit technical, it might resolve your issues without a complete OS reinstall!
Restoring a Timeshift backup is a great idea! Linux usually allows for quick recovery from such mishaps. Just make sure to pick a backup from before you started making these configuration changes!
Don’t panic, it sounds like your system isn’t fully bricked! If you can still access the command line, you can recover it. Boot into TTY and run these commands to properly purge any NVIDIA packages:
```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt purge *nvidia*
sudo apt autoremove
reboot
```
This should help get your system back to normal!
Totally agree! And remember that Timeshift is great for restoring things like this. You might want to consider backing up important files before making any changes.
Yeah, almost anything on Linux can be fixed if you have the right backup. Good luck!