With Slackware 12.1, KDE 3.5.9, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GS, a recent Linux version nvidia driver installed, and nvidia-xconfig was ran, the LCD screen resolution will not stay set to the maximum or native of 1280 x 1024, it will default back to 1024 x 768. In my xorg.conf file it lists modes only up to that 1024x768, but I did try to add that 1280x1024 by manual edit of the xorg.conf, but on a restart it just hung on starting X11 session manager, so I then went back to use the backup xorg.conf. When I select either the auto or 1280 x 1024 resolution in the nvidia x server settings configuration tool, it says on the bottom; "using metamode 1280x1024", but when I start the computer the next day, it goes back to 1024x768 on my Dell 1704 FPT LCD monitor. What can be the solution for this display issue ?

Try running 'nvidia-settings' as root, then set those options and save it to /etc/X11/xorg.conf

When I boot into Slackware soon, I will try that, thanks, here is part of my xorg.conf file which may help to fix this display issue;

Identifier "My Monitor"
HorizSync 31.5 - 50.0
VertRefresh 40.0 - 90.0
EndSection

Section "Device"

#VideoRam 4096
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
Identifier "VESA Framebuffer"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# If your card can handle it, a higher default color depth (like 24 or 32)
# is highly recommended.
# DefaultDepth 8
# DefaultDepth 16
# DefaultDepth 32
# "1024x768" is also a conservative usable default resolution. If you
# have a better monitor, feel free to try resolutions such as
# "1152x864", "1280x1024", "1600x1200", and "1800x1400" (or whatever your
# card/monitor can produce)
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "VESA Framebuffer"
Monitor "My Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection

If Tex's solution doesn't work for you, try commenting out the HorizSync and VertRefresh lines which may be restricting what modes will be selected. The nvidia driver supports DDC which means it should auto-detect the monitor you're using. It works fine with my cheapo HANNS-G 1280x1024 19" LCD.

Then just add "1280x1024" as the first option on the 'Modes' lines and you should be set to go.

The main problem is the proprietary nvidia driver doesn't like to listen to what it's told, you can put stuff in xorg.conf but it may not heed these requests. You have better chances using nvidia-settings to generate a config, then fix it as necessary.

I agree, using the nvidia-settings app, and saving your settings to the xorg.conf file should make the changes permanent. Has always worked for me.

As implied, the nvidia drivers can be temperamental. However, you should not have to fiddle with the nvidia-settings utility to obtain higher screen resolutions. That is a function of xorg.conf and the desktop.

Consider first getting the nv driver working at your native screen resolution. Then save that resulting xorg.conf file as xorg.conf.nv. You then will always have a back door for when your nvidia tweaking leaves you hanging.

The Modes line options must be listed in descending order. Largest size first, smallest size last. Many xorg.conf files default to 1024 x 768 as the maximum resolution. I don't know why. Users often have to manually edit xorg.conf to support higher resolutions.

You are using KDE. Open the Control Center, select the Peripherals section, then Display, then the Size & Orientation tab. Notice the Apply settings on KDE startup check box. If this box is enabled, then KDE will always start at whatever resolution was selected when the check box was enabled. Disable that check box to use higher resolutions. KDE will use the highest resolution listed in the Modes line section of xorg.conf unless that check box is enabled.

When I open the konsole terminal, and do " su -l " to get as root, and then try to edit my xorg.conf file to add in the 1280x1024 resolution to the mode lines, it says; "cannot connect to X server", ( I type in this; kwrite /etc/X11/xorg.conf ). I did also try this in the terminal as the super user mode too, which did the same result, so how do I open my xorg.conf file with a text editor with full root access and able to connect to the X server ?

After you su to root, use a command line editor such as mcedit. If you want to use a GUI editor, then from within KDE press Alt-F2, which opens the Run dialog box. Then type kdesu kwrite. Type root's password when prompted. You then will open an editor as root.

Now solved, thanks for all the help. I had to log into Slackware as the root user to edit my xorg.conf file to make the 1280x1024 work.