Screen Resolution

darkervisions · 12-01-2005, 11:56 AM

Hi, i'm new to linux. I tried to change my screen resolution from 800x600, but there is only one other option (640x480). I would like to use 1280x800. My computer is capible of it, but it's just not there for usage. Thanks for the help. ;D

Poetics · 12-01-2005, 12:02 PM

You'd like to use 1200x800?

Which distro of Linux are you running?

darkervisions · 12-01-2005, 12:04 PM

I'm using Ubuntu.
Sorry, I ment 1280x800. lol

anti.corp · 12-01-2005, 02:09 PM

Hi,

You may need to manually edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf. Make sure to create a backup first.

If can also post your xorg.conf here.

darkervisions · 12-01-2005, 04:35 PM

I don't know how to do that. When I try to open it in Gedit or whatever, it says that it is read only. I don't know what to change and what not.

Mateo1041 · 12-01-2005, 04:43 PM

Do you need to be logged in as root? Then maybe try the "vi" editor from the Linux prompt.

Just some ideas...

alperthereal · 12-01-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by darkervisions
I don't know how to do that. When I try to open it in Gedit or whatever, it says that it is read only. I don't know what to change and what not.

hey darkervisions,

if you are sure your computer (graphics card + monitor) is capable of handling the resolutions you mention, then there is no reason why it wouldn't work.

ok, first, yes, it is gedit

and, true, you may not be able to open the .conf file for writing. to be able to that, you need to know your root password -- which i am assuming you do. but i really dont recommend, editing that .conf file manually,

judging by your post (mentioning gedit), you are gnome user. so try changing the resolution from the preferences --> screen resolution tool.

btw, if you told us what distro you were using, we probably could be more helpful

good luck!

darkervisions · 12-01-2005, 04:55 PM

What is the password for root? Ahh confusion.

alperthereal · 12-01-2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by darkervisions
What is the password for root? Ahh confusion.

you don't know your root password? ok, darkervisions, you really need to tell what distro you are using now...

darkervisions · 12-01-2005, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alperthereal
hey darkervisions,

if you are sure your computer (graphics card + monitor) is capable of handling the resolutions you mention, then there is no reason why it wouldn't work.

ok, first, yes, it is gedit and, true, you may not be able to open the .conf file for writing. to be able to that, you need to know your root password -- which i am assuming you do. but i really dont recommend, editing that .conf file manually,

judging by your post (mentioning gedit), you are gnome user. so try changing the resolution from the preferences --> screen resolution tool.

btw, if you told us what distro you were using, we probably could be more helpful

good luck!

I'm using ubuntu. I had windows on this system previously, and it was capible of running in 1280x800. I tried changing the resolution but 1280x800 was not an option there.

alperthereal · 12-01-2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by darkervisions
I'm using ubuntu. I had windows on this system previously, and it was capible of running in 1280x800. I tried changing the resolution but 1280x800 was not an option there.

ok then, ubuntu it is. you probably never needed root password before. i am betting it has never been changed -- it is default. to set the password, use the toolbar on the top of the screen by default.

Applications | System Tools | Root Terminal

run that. then voila, you can run programs as root. but first, set a root password. type

Code:

passwd

and then enter your password. now you have a root password, my friend, don't you forget this

after doing that.

using the same toolbar,

System | Preferences | Screen Resolution

you can change your resolution using that program.

good luck again

darkervisions · 12-01-2005, 06:17 PM

Okay, thank you, that worked. Now how do I add that 1280x800 as option in the list? lol

elrohir_telperi · 12-01-2005, 06:47 PM

Hi,

firstly run gedit as root (sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf)

then search the file for line

Code:

Section "Screen"

Code:

	SubSection "Display" 		Depth		24 		Modes		 "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" "720x350"  EndSubSection

add in "1280x800", save the file.

restart x (ctrl alt backspace)

now you should have 1280x800.

cheers.

darkervisions · 12-01-2005, 07:10 PM

Okay, I tried that. Nothing happened. Here is a copy of my xorg.conf. (Wow am I learning linux quickly.

)

Code:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/CID"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        # paths to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load	"GLcore"
	Load	"i2c"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"ddc"
	Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	Load	"type1"
	Load	"vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"ATI Technologies, Inc. 3D Rage Pro (AGP)"
	Driver		"ati"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"MX50"
	Option		"DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"ATI Technologies, Inc. 3D Rage Pro (AGP)"
	Monitor		"MX50"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480" "1280x800"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

lord-fu · 12-01-2005, 08:28 PM

Hello,

Change this

Code:

SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480" "1280x800"
	EndSubSection

to this

Code:

SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1200x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480" 
	EndSubSection

That should work.
Hope it helps.