I am trying to figure out just how to set my resolution in X so that I can get the best visibility and overall performance. When I ran xf86config and entered the correct data I got a working x session with no errors. However, the resolution was painfully high for my tastes (1280x1024) and this meant that all the elements and fonts were too small to see comfortably. So, I edited the XF86Config file and shifted the Modes around so that 1024x768 would come up first (I knew I didn't want the first entry so I saw no reason to play with Ctl-Alt-+ or such) and then ran startx again. However, then I had a situation in which the actual screen area was larger than the monitor and could only be viewed by moving the mouse over to the edge and causing it to pan or scroll in that direction. This was unsatisfactory for me and so I am stuck for the time being with a somewhat hard to read setting. How can I adjust this and make a different resolution setting appear entirely on the screen?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

If you don't like 1280x1024 and won't use it, delete the resolution from the list. You can also try the 'Virtual' option in 'Display' subsection (syntax: Virtual xdom ydim).

Many thanks. That did the trick perfectly. I guess I just never thought of removing the entry altogether, and only moved it down the line so it would open on another setting. Peculiar the way these things work.