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nvidia command to completely remove the existing driver, then switch to the
open source version ("nv" instead of "nvidia"), restart X, then start up a
console login (with X still running), then run the nvidia utility to install
the new version from the console.

It wouldn't install properly if I didn't remove the previous version first.

It wouldn't install at all if I brought down X first (the script insisted on
doing so and failed if it couldn't).

I hope my vague grunts and clicks will help you a little.