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Distribution: Fedora Core 6 on Dell Latitude D620 Laptop
Posts: 22
Rep:
Resolution issues - Dell D620 Intel 945 chipset
Hello!! First time poster, and somewhat of a new guy at Linux. I just loaded Fedora Core 6 on my D620 Dell Latitude laptop. Everything is great, and I am using it regularly, however, it will not recognize the native resolution of my laptop's LCD (1280x800). It defaults to 1024x768. It is an Intel 945 chipset. The 1024x768 is useable, but since it is a wide screen display, it appears distorted.
My other hardware is working fine. I have updated my BIOS, and verified the BIOS shows the proper default resolution. Also, the laptop is dual booted with windows, and windows sees the proper hardware and resolution.
I read an article where someone obtained the right resolution by starting the Linux installer with an argument containing the resolution. I would like to get this resolved without re-installing Linux, if possible.
Distribution: Fedora Core 6 on Dell Latitude D620 Laptop
Posts: 22
Original Poster
Rep:
Well we are closer, but not there. I updated my yum and installed the 915resolution package. If I go to System -> Administration -> Desktop it shows the proper video card and I can choose from various resolutions (one of which is 1280x800). However, once I choose a new resolution, it tells me my xorg.conf has been edited, and says I must restart X. So I reboot the PC, and it is back to the old resolution.
This may not be directly applicable to your setup, but give it a try. If it doesn't work, or your xserver wont start when you reboot just do this in a root terminal:
Distribution: Fedora Core 6 on Dell Latitude D620 Laptop
Posts: 22
Original Poster
Rep:
Well, thanks for the input, but I am afraid I did not make any progress. If I set the only resolution mode to 1280x800 the system still loads 1024x768. Here is my current xorg.conf file. I really appreciate all of your help.
# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
Identifier "Monitor0"
ModelName "LCD Panel 1280x800"
### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
### HorizSync 31.5 - 90.0
### VertRefresh 59.9 - 60.1
Option "dpms"
EndSection
You don't seem to be getting any errors when you start up.
as root do:
Code:
915resolution -l
this will give the available modes for your chip.
You can also try editing the /etc/default/915resolution file so that it has XRESO=1280 YRESO=800
I am not sure if this will work. After doing some googling this appears to be an issue with whether the 915resolution package (really it just patches the bios modelines) thinks it is needed for your chip.
Distribution: Fedora Core 6 on Dell Latitude D620 Laptop
Posts: 22
Original Poster
Rep:
This just keeps getting more and more weird. According to package manager, I have 915resolution installed. However, if I run the "915resolution -l" command as root, it says command not found. Also, under /etc/default there is no 915resolution file. Also, if I open file explorer and search the file system for 915 it returns no results. So, I removed it from package manager, and installed it again using "yum install -y 915resolution". Still, there is no 915resolution folders, files, or commands.
Distribution: Fedora Core 6 on Dell Latitude D620 Laptop
Posts: 22
Original Poster
Rep:
OK, I got around that last issue, here is the result of the 915resolution -L command. It is interesting it does not show a 1280 x 800, which is the native resolution of the display (and what Windows runs as).
[root@pc2rw16b1 ~]# 915resolution -l
Intel 800/900 Series VBIOS Hack : version 0.5.2
Distribution: Fedora Core 6 on Dell Latitude D620 Laptop
Posts: 22
Original Poster
Rep:
OK I think we are close, I modified 915 resolution to display 1280 x 800 using the following command:
915resolution 38 1280 800
This put 1280 x 800 on the list. I then added 1280x800 to the modes under display in my xorg.conf. I understand now I need to put 915 resolution in the startup so it starts before X. How do I do that?
Distribution: Fedora Core 6 on Dell Latitude D620 Laptop
Posts: 22
Original Poster
Rep:
SO CLOSE!!!! I have the resolution on my screen right now!!! If I run the above command, then log out of X and back in, it puts the resolution at the right place. BUt as soon as I reboot it is back to the wrong resolution. So if I can just get it in my startup I am golden!!
Every time you reboot, you have to run 915resolution before GUI loads. If you have a file named /etc/rc.local, /etc/local.rc, /etc/conf.d/local.start, or other similar files, place /usr/sbin/915resolution and with its option to change the video BIOS. I suggest changing mode 38, 49, 58.
You do not need to reboot Linux for a setting to take effect. You just need to log out and hit CTL+ALT+BKSPC to restart the GUI. It will then use the new settings.
The easiest is to use whereis if you trying to find a command. Updating locate takes a long time.
Information about Intel graphics 915 and up:
In order to use a custom resolution that these chips do not come from the factory (Intel), you will have to use some utility to reprogram the video BIOS in order to get the custom resolution to work. This utility is named 915resolution. The utility needs to be loaded before GUI is loaded or else factory set resolutions will be used. Depending on the distribution, it may have created a service script in /etc/init.d, so you can load it up as a service upon boot up. If it does not, you have to find the file that your distribution use to load during boot up after all scripts are run. Blame Intel for this mess.
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