A1: add a new resolution 1280x800 to your /etc/X11/xorg.conf (or if you use XFree86, use XF86config or something instead of xorg.conf). Edit the file as root,
Code:
su
vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf
or use your favourite editor instead of vim. Locate the resolution lines (one line per colour depth), and where it says something like
Code:
"1024x768" "800x600"
add "1280x800" in front of it, so it becomes
Code:
"1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600"
do the same for every resolution line if you want that for every colour depth. Save, close and restart X (CTRL+ALT+BACKSCAPE while using X).
A2: maybe it's a kernel option. I haven't ever used that big resolutions in console, nor 2.4 kernels for a while. Search the web for how you use the 'vga=' option in the kernel line, if I'm right it's got something to do with this.
was that really necessary?