I managed to setup KDE on FreeBSD yesterday. However, everyting was very tiny and hard to see. Do I need to change the resolution, how can this be done in KDE/FreeBSD ? Thanks.

Vijay

Most of the time screen size is set by xfree86 so edit you xfree86 config. There may be a GUI controll panle for you distro you may just need to set it up.

The Distro I am using is FreeBSD 5.1. Couldn't find any such control panel. More specific assistance from those with experience in this regard appreciated.

Vijay

Here http://www.xfree86.org/current/OpenBSD5.html#13

And Here http://www.xfree86.org/current/XF86Config.5.html

Seeing as how you can not set your video modes and I can set mine you may want to pico you attitude

I tried what was suggested above. From the command prompt I configured XF86Config exactly as described. I used the text based config. tool to setup my XF86Config file. That is why I am even more confused with what is happening.

I have no attitude. If anything I am just struggling with the obstacles that I face. I am just a simple newbie trying to learn. That is all. Any help certainly appreciated.

Regards,

Vijay

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO.../x-config.html

You may have seen this all ready,but the info you need is there. Please see "modes" your defalt mode is set too high i.e. "1024x768" or "1900x1600"

you want a lower mode "800x600" or "640x480"

This is a part of XFree86 that can be hard to understand:
1 there are many ways to configure XFree86
2 XFree86 has too many names i.e. X11 XF86 X11R6(they are all XFree86)

I don't run freeBSD so I don't know where it looks for the XFree86config file or I would point you at it with a path(/ect/X11/XF86config) ,but regardless of the path to the config file that is the file you need to edit.

When you ran the XF86config it should tell you or ask were to save it. i.e.
/usr/YOURUSERNAME/Xfx6config.

you can edit that file with a text editor and remove the Modes that are to high and add the modes you want.

I'd bet freeBSD has a GUI for control of screen size, but I can't point you at it.

Don't be put off by this. Configuring XWindows can be hard because of all the video card monitor combo's out there

1 Find out what file X11 is using as it's configuration file and where it is
2 Edit the MODES "1024x768"
to read "800x600"
3 save the file
4 restart X(KDE)

or

1 Run the XF86 configuration tool you have run
2 when you are asked to select your modes don't select "1024x768" or what ever mode you don't want or don't want to use,deselect them if they are selected for you
3 if you are asked for a defalt mode choose "640x480" or "800x600"

This sounds very reasonable. Thank you for your assistance. As a newbie all this just seems to be quite a bit too much. However, I have to learn and get comfortable with all these aspect if I need to continue with Linux.

Here is one other problem I have with FreeBSD, whenever I install it, it messes up my Windows install as well. Do you know how this can be avoided ?

(For now I have decided to stick with Vector Linux. The reason being that there is still so much to learn regarding packages etc., Moreover, the XF86 config. tool in Vector worked very well for me. However, understanding and learning FreeBSD is also a very vital task.)

Vijay

The NT Boot loader and 'nix Bootloaders don't play nice.NT= WIN ME ,2000 ,
XP and XP Pro.

I've tryed myself but I can't get duel boot with NT and 'nix so I use a MAC
Nice BSD kernel OS X and duel boot OpenDarwin.

Sorry not much help from me

If Windows and BSD have conflicts there is nothing much we can do about it.

For now the reason I am using Vector Linux is because it is a much smaller step when climbingup the ladder. I still have several questions here. Once, I get familiar with all this then maybe my mind will be more open and grasp bigger things. Let us face it, among all the OSs the BSDs are ranked very high and are said to come from the ivory towers !!!

For those who desire to use them, FreeBSD has a lot more to offer in terms of applications compared to Vector Linux. You have been extremely helpful and kind. You took a lot of time to explain several things in great detail and typed a lot of info. I sincerely appreciate all this info. I believe that a slow and steady approach will help me succeed in this regard.

Best Regards,

Vijay