ASK: Are there any Linux LiveCDs which include the proprietary NVIDIA driver?

Anonymous Coward

in ask on 2016-02-12 21:29 (#13SK2)

I'm searching for a Linux LiveCD which includes the proprietary NVIDIA driver.

I would like to find one on a LiveCD since installing the proprietary NVIDIA driver usually requires a reboot so I cannot do it myself.

Several years ago when desktop effects in Linux finally hit it big, there were one or two distros which rolled the proprietary NVIDIA driver into the LiveCD to showcase the desktop effects.

While I don't need flashy desktop effects, I would like one or more Linux distros which roll the proprietary NVIDIA driver into the LiveCD so installation is not required.

Thank you.

GPL-2 issues FTW (Score: 1, Informative)

by Anonymous Coward on 2016-02-13 01:10 (#13T2P)

The problem with the proprietary NVIDIA driver is that linking the final .ko violates the GPL-2. When you do it on your own system, it's not a problem because you aren't redistributing, and who are you going to sue: yourself? This is why there are no distros that contain a prelinked .ko. When you install it on any distro, including Ubuntu, you get a package that compiles and links it on the fly.

In the past there were livecds that would include the proprietary NVIDIA driver by downloading, compiling, and linking it while you waited. Can you not `apt-get install` it on an Ubuntu livecd still?