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I've newely installed Ubuntu 19.04 onto my Dell Poweredge T420 server. Ubuntu runs fine on built in graphics but refuses to display any output from the graphics card (Nvidia GT 710). I've tried every version (purging first) but with no luck.

Redacted@redacted:~$ prime-select query
nvidia

Below shows that the driver is installed:

Redacted@redacted:~$ lspci -k | grep -A 2 -i "VGA"
06:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Matrox Electronics Systems Ltd. G200eR2
 Subsystem: Dell G200eR2
 Kernel driver in use: mgag200
--
0a:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK208B [GeForce GT 710] (rev a1)
 Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] GK208B [GeForce GT 710]
 Kernel driver in use: nvidia

Ubuntu Drivers:

redacted@redacted:~$ sudo ubuntu-drivers devices
== /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/0000:0a:00.0 ==
modalias : pci:v000010DEd0000128Bsv00001462sd00008C93bc03sc00i00
vendor : NVIDIA Corporation
model : GK208B [GeForce GT 710]
driver : nvidia-driver-418 - distro non-free recommended
driver : nvidia-driver-390 - distro non-free
driver : xserver-xorg-video-nouveau - distro free builtin

Nvidia-Settings

redacted@redacted:~$ nvidia-settings

ERROR: Unable to load info from any available system


(nvidia-settings:4997): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 13:35:03.097: g_object_unref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
** Message: 13:35:03.102: PRIME: No offloading required. Abort
** Message: 13:35:03.102: PRIME: is it supported? no

Picture from ubuntu:

Blank nvidia X Server Settings

Software and updates - additional drivers

Any suggestions would be really appreciated!!!

Hopefully some of the below is of help!

EDIT: Forgot to mention I've disabled built in graphics on the T420 but it then fails to boot at all

I have a few hunches and suggestions. I faced this issue with the Nvidia 720 and linux mint, but most things should be relevant to this case. I would've liked to comment as this is not all tried and tested but I do not have the reputation to, so here goes.

Your GPU is visible so it seems like you have already chosen Switchable Graphics over UMA in the Boot Setup. If you haven't, then its something you should do.

The next thing, I can think of is the order in which the nvidia drivers and nvidia prime were installed. The ideal sequence is to install prime first and then the drivers. Just to be sure -

1. Uninstall both the drivers and nvidia prime.

2. Use apt-get autoremove and apt-get autoclean to get rid of any remnants.

3. First, reinstall nvidia-prime.

3. Then reinstall the drivers.

Rebooting after this should enable the drivers and the display should work.
It's pretty basic and you might've already tried all this, but I hope it helps!