Hi, I recently installed Debian Linux (Lenny, but I used a backpost kernel) A couple months ago, I dropped my laptop and it has GIANT cracks in it so that it is nearly impossible to see most of the screen. I've managed to work around it by hooking it up to my TV screen, but now that I've installed debian, and am trying to use bash as much as possible, I wonder if it would be possible to tell debian not to use any of the unusable screen. Is there a way to set this up? It's an Acer Aspire One 150 ZG5

Your graphics chip is only partially supported by Lenny. I recommend to install Squeeze. If that is done, you can set up your displays by using the xrandr-command from the command line, or by setting up a xorg.conf-file.

IDK any way to do what you have asked for but there may be another way ...

If you log on to the desktop, open a terminal emulator, size and position it into the remaining good part of the screen then you would have something workable. The next question is how to get that automatically. Three possibilities:
Save th

• Save the desktop session on logout. With a bit of luck next time you logon the terminal emulator window will appear in the same position.
• Use something like wmtool via the desktop autostart facility to open the terminal emulator window where you want it.
• Use suspend and resume.

TobiSGD, I've spent hours and hours setting up stuff for my computer to run Lenny. How long would it take to install Squeeze, and would I be able to keep settings such as my WiFi settings, or would I have to start from scratch? I wouldn't mind installing squeeze if I can keep things like that. I didn't realize when I started the installation that the stable versions are really just for servers, not single user type people...

catkin, that doesn't sound like a bad plan, but it's a bit more complicated, as my TV's native resolution is not compatible with my laptop screen, so that my laptop displays nothing while I'm in Xfce. I'm also trying to do as much as I can inside the terminal, so that I won't have to use Xfce. But I suppose if I happen to take my laptop somewhere, I could change the resolution before I go and do that...

It should work to upgrade to Lenny, without the need to reinstall. You have to exchange lenny in all lines with squeeze in the file /etc/apt/sources.list. After that doto upgrade to Squeeze. Be aware that a backup of your configuration files and important data is always recommended.
By the way, the stable version is meant for production environments and first time Debian users, if you are more experienced (and don't need your system as production environment) use Testing. If you want to have always new software use Unstable, like I do.

If you don't want to use the GUI environment the screen command might do what you want. I have never used it so don't know any more.