fbset -xres 1024 -yres 768 doesn't change my console screen resolution
 

I installed fbset with apt-get today on my Debian 4 box. The resolution of my consoles is 800x600 now and I want to get it to 1024x768 or maybe even 1280x1024.

when I do "fbset -xres=1024 -yres=768"
I just get a new command line and nothing happens.

What am I doing wrong?

If youre talking about the console that comes up at boot time you should edit either /etc/lilo.conf or your grub config file... so when your machine boots up it starts at the resolution given to your boot manager.
I dont use grub but if you use lilo there should be a section in /etc/lilo.conf that looks something like this:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
append="resume=/dev/sda2 splash=silent "
boot = /dev/sda
bitmap=/boot/splash.bmp
bmp-table=234p,348p,1,4
bmp-colors=220,0,,255,220,
bmp-timer=539p,396p,220,0,
prompt
timeout = 50
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
vga = 791 <---notice no # sign!
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section

as root edit /etc/lilo.conf
just put a # sign in front of the resolution you dont want and remove the # sign from the resolution you do want. and as root run lilo and reboot you should be good to go.
your distro may even have a configuration utility for this so check that out first.
hope this helps