LinuxQuestions.org - Monitor resolution too high for my monitor

- Linux - General (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-general-1/)

- - Monitor resolution too high for my monitor (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-general-1/monitor-resolution-too-high-for-my-monitor-155054/)

Monitor resolution too high for my monitor

I Installed a copy of SuSE on a PC using a friends PC, which has a 17" TFT Monitor with a resolution of 1280*1024 however now that ive got the computer home, i cant get the GUI to start because the resoltion is set too high for my 15" CRT Monitor to display.

I know I perhaps should have thought of this before I brought it home but its too late now, is there a way of altering the resolution kde starts in using the command prompt? or a way of starting in safe mode.

Whist i consider myself an advanced user, im relativley new to the world of Linux (a bit of a contridiction there perhaps but never mind) anyway any help would be greatly recieved

We agree that all you need is to change the XF86Config-4 file (which is the Xserver config file) and that the problem is that u cant access to a term before X starts.

So, i don't know if it works, but u can try ;)
I suppose the Suse installation is almost like the debian one (i never tried Suse)
With your installation CD, try to boot on it. when u have loaded a kernel, try to press CTRL+ALT+F2. you should arrive at a term prompt.
try to mount your "/" partition, there edit the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file with vi or nano or any editor you have. and there change the appropriate value (if you r using 24bit depth resolution, change the line refering to this one by deleting the "1280x1024" string.

normally it should works...
hope it helps
Creak

That isn't an option at the moment, my install disk is a DVD+R i used my friends DVD Drive to install it but the system now only has a CDRW drive....

if u have an access to the net, download an cd-iso image of any distrib (Debian?) and burn it. Or get a distrib CD from a friend, just have another boot than the default one. There, you could have a term...

Maybe there is another solution (like the F8 for windows before the boot) but i really don't know it, although i think i've heard of some kind of manipulation in a forum but i can't tell you more, sorry. I only know that the script that launch the services is "C-c proof" (i don't know how to say it, but i like the expression :)) so don't try to abort it when it is launched...

Hope youll find a solution
Creak

Your system still boots right?

I don't know exactly where your files are so try this..

Code:

cat /var/log/* | grep /etc/X11/XF86

you'll see something like this..

Code:

(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config"

That's the file to edit.

now look at this..

Code:

cat  /etc/X11/XF86Config |grep Modes

                Modes    "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

                Modes    "640x480"

The Modes line needs to be edited. Here is a way to do it with sed..

Include the exact text in the file to be removed like this.. sed s/'Modes *text to be removed'/Modes/ as shown..
[code]

cat /etc/X11/XF86Config |sed s/'Modes *"1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768"'/Modes/ > newconfig

Check the results with diff the difference in the two files will be displayed

Code:

 diff newconfig /etc/X11/XF86Config

116c116

<              Modes "800x600" "640x480"

---

>              Modes    "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

Now you can backup and replace the contents of the file /etc/X11/XF86Config

Code:

cp /etc/X11/XF86Config /etc/X11/XF86Config.bak

cat newconfig > /etc/X11/XF86Config

You could also edit the file with an interactive editor if you want.

If you can get to the command prompt, enter
sax2
as root, it brings up the Suse X configurator. If you are stuck looping with X trying to start, reboot, start linux safe, and then start sax2 once you are logged into the console as root.

RO

I would not attempt to reconfigure X just to change the screen size, but that is just my opinion.