[SOLVED] Re: Locked into runlevel 3 after installing nvidia-driver

On Sat, 20 Jun 2026, john doe wrote:

> I'd try
> https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/cant-get-nvidia-driver-to-work-on-deabian-13-rt-laptop/353618.

I read and re-read this thread and came to the conclusion that I needed the 
Linux headers, so I installed a header meta-package version 6.12.90-2.  During 
installation the missing modules were _automatically_ built.  No error messages 
in journalctl.  I rebooted and I have run level 5 graphical on both monitors.

> I would start by purging the nouveau driver if not already done.

In the end I didn't have to do this.

On Sat, 20 Jun 2026, mick.crane wrote:

> I'm using a nvidia driver, forget where from, if the kernel is updated need
> the matching headers for the kernel to build the modules for the video driver.

Agreed, my kernel had been updated.  I'm marking this as solved.

Thanks for your help, Roger