Ubuntu Install Screen Resolution
 

When I boot Ubuntu 6.10 to the Desktop, the characters are elongated and smeared, and the bottom of the Performance Dialog box is off the screen. The screen Resolution is 1280 x 1024, and will not change. When I try to change it,it reverts back to the former screen in a few seconds. It looks great before it changes. It's very strange. XP Prof works fine. I'm trying to dual boot Linux. hzadell

Which sounds similar to what I get with my system when it's just had a new install or a kernel upgrade/update.

The problem I get is to do with my graphics card/monitor combo not liking the generic nv driver that installs with most distros. I have to go the extra mile and install the proprietary "nvidia" driver - then my screen is fine - I run at 1600x1200@85hz. with that set new installs and/or kernel upgrades display bad scanning lines and it can be quite hard to see/read/understand whats actually on the screen (with the *buntus, while it's in "liveCD" mode the screen looks fine).

So if I were you, find out what graphics card it is that you have i.e. either Nvidia or ATi based, then (even in XP) http://www.ubuntuforums.org/index.php is a likely location to obtain the instructions to install the appropriate "proper" driver - it may be that you have to print off instructions on how to do with in command line - you can usually select "console login" when the Ubuntu is booted in as far as the login screen (there should be a drop down, session or similar to select the console login).

Then it's just (theoretically) a case of logging in with your username/password and following the instructions - I'm thinking that you'd need to know about installing the driver and possibly modifying the /etc/apt/sources.list file with vi/vim (I think that Ubuntu uses a special version called visudo - you just have to know what to add into the /etc/apt/sources.list, or just possibly uncommenting a line that may already be there and then saving/closing it). Make sure you know the command to run the updater comes to mind.

Sorry if that doesn't sound that easy, it's not as complicated as it sounds. It's just how I'd do it, I can't think of any possible easier way that might be available.

regards

John

ATI Graphics card
 

My graphics card is about 7 years old (ATI Rage Fury, Rage 128), and is no longer listed on the ATI web site. I may have to give up on Linux until I upgrade my PC. hzadell

I really doubt that you will have to give up on Linux because of that card...
Did you check the link given by bigjohn?

Use a text editor to open /etc/X11/xorg.conf and find the sections that describe the monitor, video card and screen--typically they are at the end of the file--post those here.
And also tell us what kind of monitor you have.

Monitor Resolution
 

My Monitor is: Samsung 17 in. LCD, Syncmaster, Model: 173PSQAQ
The settings for XP: Res. 1280 x 1024, DPI 96, Refresh 60 Hz

Re: bigjohn
I've posted my problem on ubuntuforums, and recieved a few replys, which did not resolve the problem.
I only have average Pc skills, and am reluctant to try bigjohns suggestions. I was hoping to download a driver update. Also, I am not familiar with "text editor", but would like to learn more about it.
I repartitioned my drive for Linux, and was looking forward to cutting my ties to the MS monopoly. Thank you for your interest. hzadell

Ubuntu Install
 

My Ubuntu reference book has a good description of Text Editor. However, since my display is unreadable, it would be difficult to use.

Since my display works fine for a few seconds before it reverts back to the original screen, could my problem be something other than the graphics driver? Apparently, no one else has reported a similar problem in the past. hzadell

Honestly, it all does look scary when you first start. Particularly editing files.

One of the bonuses with linux is command line stuff - again, spooky as hell if you're not used to them, but if you noted down what file you edit and what the actual edit is, then you can always change it back - the monitor problem can be sorted with command line, not that I'm suggesting that, well sort of.

You'd need to check through the Ubuntu docs, I think it uses a version of "vi" called visudo. I don't recall off the top of my head. But the point being, that at the login stage, there should, somewhere, be options, usually under sessions, if you click it you usually get the options as a drop down, if you then choose the "console login", it dumps the graphical stuff i.e. where your problem is, and you get the command line login, just put in the username and password and you're away.

As I said in my first reply, my monitor is a large philips CRT (21"). It just doesn't like the generic offerings of the "nv" or "vesa" driver. Lots of people get on well with them. The only way I can make use of them is to drop my resolution to 800x600@60 hz otherwise I get either big columns of horizontal scanning lines that make the monitor virtually unusable - hence my suggestion of installing the proprietary driver, that should (theoretically) allow you to have the access to a full selection of settings that the driver, and more importantly, your monitor are capable of.

For example, this link is what I got from google by just searching "ubuntu nvidia driver install", it was quite close to the top of the list. It looks reasonably straight foward. Plus theres mention of a facility that I forgot about, automatix. It allows you to easily install all the various drivers, multimedia codecs etc etc so that it's easy to do most, if not all of the things that you take for granted under windows.

Worst case scenario ??? Well, google for instructions on how to restore the windows bootloader, just in case you really do hit the wall. Then as long as you know which partitions you have the linux installed in, you can just re-install over the top. I did that for about 2 years or so as it was usually the easiest way of getting out of the self made problems I'd get when I'd been doing stuff that was too far over my head.

As I say, as far as text editing is concerned you can always do it from the console login, then once you're ready, you should just be able to do the "startx" command and start the graphical environment to see if it's worked.

Sorry I can't be more specific - it's hard to help from a distance.

regards

John

p.s. erm, have you had a look to see if you have a LUG (linux user group) in your area ? Because if you have then there might be someone who could sort this in real time, with you watching to see how relatively easy it should be.

Ubuntu install
 

Re: bigjohn

Apparently Ubuntu needs to be installed on the drive in order to access console login. Because of my bad display, I'm stuck on the "Ubuntu Desktop".

There are a couple of LUGs in PA (not very local) that may be helpful.
I'm not ready to throw in the towel. Thank you, hzadell

Ah ha! I see, the problem is when using the Ubuntu in "live" mode. Gotcha. All my suggestions have been made under the premis that it's already installed.

So, I'd suggest looking at distrowatch, and download a few other "live" distros, and see which one likes your system/monitor - if it works Ok then install it. Thats what I'd do.

So, PA = Pennsylvania Ok, well don't forget, they (the LUG's or their contact - mailing lists and such like) maybe only an email away (or phone call etc etc)

Not ready to throw in the towel ? Excellent. Now thats what I call the right attitude. I don't believe that linux is "hard", it's just different. Because lots of problems are brought about by the bloody hardware manufacturers, and their habits of trying to keep drivers closed - you probably wouldn't be that suprised to find out just how much "stuff" is reverse engineered for linux.

I'd also suggest, that if you have room on the system, then install it. It'd probably be easier to trouble shoot (and give you some install practice - Oh and I'm presuming that it's a desktop system ???). Then you should be able to get a proprietary driver sorted - look around, just because you have an older graphics card, it doesn't mean that theres not a driver available for it (my sidux install, when I'm doing my upgrades, it offers me nvidia drivers according to what card is detected and currently theres 2 newer version that don't support it - they just call it old and older nvidia and say which cards etc - I'm presuming that there might be something similar for yours). Theres also the possibility that "it's" trying to use the wrong generic driver, you'd have to be able to view a terminal/console though to see what it's using when booted (yes, unfortunately the info is probably in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file).

Once you have some space/partitions sorted, there'd be nothing to stop you trying as many distros as you want, until you find one that works for you - thats a bit of a bonus with linux.

Sorry I can't think of any specific assistance, only generalised suggestions etc. As I say, distance can make helping someone a bit of a bugger (especially when it's IRO 3000 miles or so :D)

regards

John

Ubuntu Dapper screen res
 

I've been running this happily for quite a long time on my Dell Dimension 4500.
I bought myself a 19" LCD yesterday: Targa Visionary 19-4 (1280*1024).

I've edited the xorg xconf, so it now runs right.

But the boot-up still uses some lower mode, and looks horrible.

I googled around, and tried adding vga=795 (then 794, 775) to the kernel line in /boot/grub/menu.lst - it complained they were all unsupported, and offered me a choice of 0-7.

I tried installing 915resolution and running it, and got the following.
# 915resolution -l
Intel 800/900 Series VBIOS Hack : version 0.5.2

Unknown chipset type and unrecognized bios.
915resolution only works with Intel 800/900 series graphic chipsets.
Chipset Id: 1a308086

Is there a fix, or do I have to live with it??

Thanks
Chris

Dunno, but it's also courtesy to start your own thread if you can't find any answers by searching - rather than try to hijack someone elses question.

regards

John

Ubuntu install
 

RE: bigjohn

Thank you for the help. You've given me some very good suggestions and sources of information. I may go ahead and try to install Ubuntu. I can make out most of the displayed text. It's the stuff that is off the bottom of the screen that I need to guess about!

I'll keep you posted. hzadell

OK - sorry.

Chris

In Ubuntu, if you can access the terminal, you can try the command
$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
to reconfigure your X server. Most of the prompts that come up have sensible and safe default options, so you can simply press Enter for these. I guess the important step here is the one in which you can select the resolutions you want the X server to use; simply arrow down to the resolutions you want and toggle them on or off with Space Bar.

Of course, restart X with Ctrl-Alt-Backspace when finished.

Hope this helps.