Shift the Desktop...

LordGoddard · 04-21-2004, 05:22 PM

Is there any way to "shift" the desktop? my desktop is over to the right and i'm missing part of the right of my desktop. I've adjusted the settings on my monitor as far left as they go and it still isn't far enough left. i was wondering if there is any software fix?

Andrew Benton · 04-21-2004, 05:38 PM

You need to reconfigure XFree86. I had this problem the other day installing Mandrake 9.2. I couldn't see anything obviously wrong with the files /etc/X11/XF86Config and /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 so I deleted them and replaced them with an XF86Config file I knew worked with my hardware. So if you have another linux system installed that works, copy the /etc/X11/XF86Config across and see if it works. It can't make it any worse, can it?

320mb · 04-21-2004, 06:05 PM

you accidently set the virtual desktop..........
this gives you a desktop bigger than available screen area.........
you just gotta find the settings on the XF86Config file and edit.........

LordGoddard · 04-21-2004, 07:20 PM

I made a new xf86config file before i made this post...it didn't work...but perhaps i did something wrong...

i don't have virtual desktop on because that would fill my monitor...i have a black space on the left side that i want to shift the rest of my desktop into...Plus I didn't turn it on when i made the new xf86config file...

cetialphav · 04-21-2004, 11:17 PM

Try using xvidtune. It should be installed with all Linux distributions. Note that this is a very old utility, but it works. (Gotta love a tool that starts by saying "THE INCORRECT USE OF THIS PROGRAM CAN DO PERMANENT DAMAGE TO YOUR MONITOR"). Adjust things how you want and then you can use the "Show" button to print the X modeline for your setting. You can put that in the XF86Config file.

Andrew Benton · 04-22-2004, 02:50 AM

Is there an XF86Config-4 in /etc/X11 ? If so try moving it out of the way and using the new XF86Config you made.

LordGoddard · 04-22-2004, 06:03 AM

Thanks cetialphav...that worked perfectly...

LordGoddard · 04-22-2004, 06:16 PM

bump...

LordGoddard · 04-22-2004, 06:17 PM

ok, that worked, but everytime i restart kde...it returns to the way it was...is there anyway to get it to save the changes?

dawizman · 04-22-2004, 08:41 PM

Well, my monitor has these buttons, as do most monitors that allow you to adjust the dimensions and position of the picture.

cetialphav · 04-22-2004, 11:53 PM

In your XF86Config file, you will see lines like:

Code:

ModeLine     "1400x1050" 184.0 1400 1464 1656 1960 1050 1051 1054 1100 +
hsync +vsync

xvidtune can generate a ModeLine that indicates your current settings. So use xvidtune to generate the new line and replace what is in the XF86Config file with that. Sorry I can't be more detailed, but it's been a while since I've had to do this.

sandman · 04-23-2004, 12:10 AM

Hey, I dunno if this is related to your problem. But if you have an nvidia card and are using the module that came with your distro (called "nv"). Getting the nvidia drivers from nvidia will shift your desktop back to where it is supposed to be. This has been an issue for as long as I have been using linux.

LordGoddard · 04-27-2004, 04:46 PM

what is the name of the xf86config file? i tried typing in "emacs /usr/root/xf86config.conf"
i'm not even sure if the directory is right...or the name...

sandman · 04-27-2004, 11:33 PM

It will either be /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 or /etc/X11/XF86Config
and upper and lower case are important.

LordGoddard · 04-28-2004, 02:36 PM

Thank you all for your help...i finally have everything for my monitor working correctly...thanks