I seem to have 2 versions of Gnome, one with the "Activities" and the icons and one with "Applications" and names for the apps. To get my resolution right (1280X1024) I have to type "nomodeset" at boot. Then I get the "application" desktop. If I don't I get the "Activities" desktop with the wrong resolution. Sometimes the "Activities" desktop WILL have the correct resolution, and I go into settings and the monitor is recognized and res showing correctly and I save this res. But if I boot out I'm right back to the wrong resolution, it's hit and miss. "Nomodeset" gets me the right res and the "Applications" desktop every time. I prefer the "Activities" desktop. Does anyone have any idea what's going on here?

Also, I have to run the command line as root '/usr/sbin/NetworkManager' to get my wireless network to work, every time. Can't seem to get it to log in at boot. I posted this in the "Networking" forum but none of the suggestions worked.

Thanks

The Wiki for Arch linux has a consise introduction for the Gnome shell that
I believe answers what is happening to you:

The link to this quote: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GNOME

The graphics capabilities in your computer appears to be right on the
margin in working with the Gnome Shell. When the resolution is increased
it falls back to 2D mode.

Thank so much for the reply. I'll look into that link.

How can I set the Desktop up for one or the other w/o using 'nomodeset' everytime? When it loads Gnome 3, sometimes it has the correct res in 'settings', recognizes the monitor and everything.

I've solved my NM trouble by looking into 'networksetting's' and finding that "control by NM" wasn't checked. My resolution/2 versions of Gnome/ problem was leaving the settings of Gnome 3 alone when it boots up. Previously, I would look into "settings/display" and "apply" when the settings were correct. Somehow that made it default to the wrong resolution. If I leave it alone the res stays where it needs to be, recognizing the montior and displaying the correct res and not clicking 'apply'.


Thank you all for your time and patience. I've been using Linux for 10 years but I'm still a little "sloppy".

raysr,

Good to read you have resolved your problems.

My resolution went to crap again. How can I set my resolution? I thought I had it figured out above but it came up 1024X780 again. It needs to 1280X1024.

Got it fixed again by adding "Nvidia" to my repositories. Rebooted and res was correct but it didn't recognize the monitor. I didn't go into 'Nvidia' to reconfigure.