Need help with graphics card, older computer, and Ubuntu.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Hit "Get EnvyLegacy". Open the .deb. There it's installed, easy as pie.

I'm not sure if EnvyNG supports the MX4000. Is the default driver not playing well with it?

There is no default driver. Ubuntu wasn't able to put it in as Nvidia still wants to officially support the MX4000 for ubuntu, but I couldn't get the official Nvidia installer to work.

EDIT!: Also, it's not supported on my Ubuntu system. I'm running 10.04 not a 9 series version.

[Hatta]

The GeForce4 MX 4000 is supported by the nVidia legacy driver 96.43.xx. There's a list of GPUs and legacy drivers here. Get the driver itself here.

I recommend using the nVidia installer. Remove everything nVidia related from your package manager. Then quit X, change to root, and run 'sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.18.pkg1.run. When it's done and you start X again, you should have 3d acceleration. Test it by running 'glxinfo' in a console and look for "Direct Rendering: Yes". Configure the driver by running 'nvidia-settings'.

For a new Linux user, I have to recommend this read. Also, if you want to get up and running with some 8 bit emulators right away, check out mednafen.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

The GeForce4 MX 4000 is supported by the nVidia legacy driver 96.43.xx. There's a list of GPUs and legacy drivers here. Get the driver itself here.

I recommend using the nVidia installer. Remove everything nVidia related from your package manager. Then quit X, change to root, and run 'sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.18.pkg1.run. When it's done and you start X again, you should have 3d acceleration. Test it by running 'glxinfo' in a console and look for "Direct Rendering: Yes". Configure the driver by running 'nvidia-settings'.

For a new Linux user, I have to recommend this read. Also, if you want to get up and running with some 8 bit emulators right away, check out mednafen.

I tried to get the driver, It refuses to install. I tried command line in terminal and I tried just double clicking it. All I keep getting is character format errors.

I checked out the Linux is not Windows thing and while I understand here it's coming from, it's not really as accurate as they think it is. Nowadays Linux has hit the mainstream as a viable option for general computing use thanks to how simple the GUI is with Ubuntu and other graphical versions. Not making stuff simple as dirt is not an option anymore for graphical versions. Also, thee whole windows not in the driver's seat thing is a crock, I can literally rip apart Windows and change it up myself no sweat, mainly because it's designed all around efficiency from a user customizable level. Linux is meant for servers and one man shows but can be created into a nice GUI driven OS, it just needs to leave the adolescent forced difficulty behind and step up to the plate.

Also, not wanting to emulate, I've got a wall of consoles behind me as I type.

[Hatta]

I tried to get the driver, It refuses to install. I tried command line in terminal and I tried just double clicking it. All I keep getting is character format errors.

It sounds like you're trying to install the driver from within X. You must exit X to run the nVidia installer. I think the command you want it '/etc/init.d/gdm stop'.

You used to be able to kill X just by hitting ctrl-alt-backspace, but apparently hitting 3 keys simultaneously from across they keyboard is just too dangerous for some people.

Also, thee whole windows not in the driver's seat thing is a crock, I can literally rip apart Windows and change it up myself no sweat, mainly because it's designed all around efficiency from a user customizable level.

You're right. Windows isn't as simplified as they make it out to be. You can do a lot with it. But it took you a lot of time to get up to speed on how to make Windows do what you want. It'll take some time to get Linux tamed as well.