The last few times I have done an -Syu command, it appears to uninstall my Nvidia driver (GPU is a GTX 3050). When I try to use nvidia-inst to re-install the driver, I get the following error:
checking dependencies…
error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘nvidia-utils’ required by lib32-nvidia-utils
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘nvidia-utils’ required by nvidia-open-dkms
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘nvidia-utils’ required by nvidia-settings
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘vulkan-driver’ required by steam
[abram@Endeavour-abram ~]$ nvidia inst nvidia-utils
bash: nvidia: command not found
[abram@Endeavour-abram ~]$ nvidia-inst nvidia-utils
2026-01-17 16:04:49: Info: nvidia-inst version 26.1.1-1
2026-01-17 16:04:49: Info: Command line: nvidia-inst nvidia-utils
2026-01-17 16:04:49: Info: Selected mode: nvidia (Nvidia’s open source)
2026-01-17 16:04:49: Info: Removing packages: nvidia-utils
COMMANDS TO RUN:
pacman -Rs --noconfirm --noprogressbar --nodeps nvidia-utils
==> NOTE: running the commands may take several minutes…
checking dependencies…
error: failed to prepare transaction (could not satisfy dependencies)
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘nvidia-utils’ required by lib32-nvidia-utils
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘nvidia-utils’ required by nvidia-open-dkms
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘nvidia-utils’ required by nvidia-settings
:: removing nvidia-utils breaks dependency ‘vulkan-driver’ required by steam
Is there an easy work-around for this so I can re-install my driver? Also, is there a way to stop -Syu from uninstalling it every time?
Jan 17 16:25:14 user systemd-modules-load[248]: Failed to find module ‘nvidia_uvm’ Jan 17 16:25:16 user systemd-modules-load[642]: Failed to find module ‘nvidia_uvm’ Jan 17 16:25:17 user kernel: input: HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=3 as /devices/pci0000:00/00> Jan 17 16:25:17 user kernel: input: HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=7 as /devices/pci0000:00/00> Jan 17 16:25:17 user kernel: input: HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=8 as /devices/pci0000:00/00> Jan 17 16:25:17 user kernel: input: HDA NVidia HDMI/DP,pcm=9 as /devices/pci0000:00/00>
This is weird. Getting an error related to the pacman both before and after rebooting and trying the command:
error: failed to init transaction (unable to lock database) error: could not lock database: File exists if you’re sure a package manager is not already running, you can remove /var/lib/pacman/db.lck
I tried to delete /var/lib/pacman/db.lck using the rm command but system is saying it doesn’t exist:
rm: cannot remove ‘/var/lib/pacman/db.lck’: No such file or directory
Tried -Syu again and the command when through without error. Used the sudo pacman -S nvidia-open-dkm command and package started to install, but took forever to install DKMS packages and my computer was screaming the whole time. Posting the install record before restart just in case there are issues:
(1/1) checking keys in keyring [--------------------------------] 100% (1/1) checking package integrity [--------------------------------] 100% (1/1) loading package files [--------------------------------] 100% (1/1) checking for file conflicts [--------------------------------] 100% :: Running pre-transaction hooks… (1/1) Remove upgraded DKMS modules ==> dkms remove --no-depmod nvidia/590.48.01 -k 6.18.5-arch1-1 :: Processing package changes… (1/1) reinstalling nvidia-open-dkms [--------------------------------] 100% :: Running post-transaction hooks… (1/5) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate… (2/5) Install DKMS modules ==> dkms install --no-depmod nvidia/590.48.01 -k 6.18.5-arch1-1 ==> dkms install --no-depmod nvidia/590.48.01 -k 6.12.65-1-lts ==> depmod 6.12.65-1-lts ==> depmod 6.18.5-arch1-1 (3/5) Updating initramfs… :: Building initramfs for linux-lts (6.12.65-1-lts) :: Building fallback initramfs for linux-lts (6.12.65-1-lts) :: Building initramfs for linux (6.18.5-arch1-1) :: Building fallback initramfs for linux (6.18.5-arch1-1) (4/5) Check if user should be informed about rebooting after certain system package upgrades. (5/5) Checking which packages need to be rebuilt
If it’s working again now, then yes – this screams DKMS build failure during a kernel update.
That usually happens when the NVIDIA module didn’t build cleanly for the new kernel, but the system rebooted anyway. Result: broken graphics, black screen, random freezes – pick your poison.
How to make this less likely in the future:
Install an LTS kernel and make it your default
Seriously. Use LTS as your daily driver and treat the newest kernel as a test bench.
With NVIDIA + rolling release, you really don’t want to be on the bleeding edge unless you enjoy debugging DKMS at 2 AM.
Always check DKMS output after kernel updates
After pacman -Syu, make sure DKMS and depmod ran without errors.
If DKMS fails: do not reboot until it’s fixed. Rebooting into a kernel without a working NVIDIA module is just pain.
Important: nvidia-inst is NOT a driver updater nvidia-inst takes options, not package names.
Drivers are updated via normal system updates (pacman, yay, paru, etc.).
Running nvidia-inst nvidia-utils is not the intended workflow – if it half-works, that’s a tool UX issue, not a feature.
Keep a fallback kernel
LTS as default, current kernel as “experimental”.
If things break, boot LTS and move on with your life.
Personal NVIDIA trauma corner (so you’re not alone):
My GTX 950M is now officially e-waste for gaming under Linux.
The ASUS gaming laptop it lives in is no longer usable for modern games – not because the hardware suddenly broke, but because NVIDIA dropped proper support and kernel progress moved on.
I feel your pain.
At some point you have to accept reality:
NVIDIA + legacy hardware + rolling kernels = guaranteed headaches.
Blunt conclusion:
If you want your system to just work on Linux:
buy AMD or Intel next time and enjoy kernel updates without fear.
NVIDIA works… until it doesn’t.
And when it doesn’t, it fails spectacularly.