screen resolution on mandriva 2006 / dell inspiron 8200

hotburner2001 · 09-17-2006, 07:38 PM

Hello,

I installed mandriva and it works fine at 1024X768. I wanted to raise the resolution but when I do, the window is larger than my screen. Meaning I have to drag the mouse pointer to see the top or bottom of the screen (or left and right).

Does anyone know how to change the screen resolution?

Thanks!
Jo

kilgoretrout · 09-18-2006, 05:41 PM

Post your graphics card or graphics chipset. This is a common problem with intel integrated grapics and there are solutions available.

hotburner2001 · 09-18-2006, 06:13 PM

Hi,

glad to hear this :- ) So here we go:
Model: Dell 8200
Chipset: GeForce4 440 Go
RAMDAC: Integrated RAMDAC
Windoze driver: nv4_mini.sys

Hope this helps!

Thanks for taking the time...Mind you I have an equally urgent issue with my netgear wireless usb key (different thread) if you're in the mood :- )

Jo

Wim Sturkenboom · 09-19-2006, 06:32 AM

Please post zections device, monitor and screen from you x configuration file (located in /etc/X11). Also let us know which monitor you have and the horizontal sync / vertical sync frequencies (both can be found in the monitor manual).

kilgoretrout · 09-19-2006, 08:50 AM

That's an nvidia based chipset and should work fine. I would suggest a couple of things.

First, install all the updates available. I assume you are using mdv2006 and there were several updates to the graphical system called "X" or "xorg". Mdv2006 shipped with a developmental version of xorg that caused problems with some nvidia based cards. Later updates fixed that.

Second, the configuration file for your graphical system is /etc/X11/xorg.conf. This is a fairly lengthy file divided into sections. Per the above post, please post the "Device" and "Monitor" sections. If that's too confusing just post the entire xorg.conf file.

Third, after you install all the updates, rerun the graphical configuration utility. You can do so by opening a console and running:

$ su
<enter root password>
# XFdrake

A window will pop up with XFdrake, the mandriva graphics setup utility. Check that you have the right card selected and double check your monitor setting. There is a button you can press to test the configuration changes you make before commiting them. Keep trying until you get something that tests out properly. Actually, you might want to try running XFdrake before doing anything else. By the way, XFdrake automatically edits xorg.conf for you thus simplifying the graphics setup process.

Fourth, mandriva ships with the open source driver for your nvidia based graphics card called "nv". That's problably what you will see in your xorg.conf "Device" section for the driver. Nvidia makes an excellent closed source linux driver but the installation is a little daunting for newbies. You need the nvidia driver for 3d accelleration necessary to run many games. After you get things running properly with the open source driver, you may want to consider installing the nvidia closed source driver.

Finally, as alluded to above, mdv shipped with a somewhat buggy version of xorg that can cause problems for nvidia and ati based chipsets. If you like mandriva but don't want to hassle with trying to fix these problems, you may want to take a look at PCLinuxOS:

http://www.pclinuxos.com/news.php

It's based on mandriva but is a lot more newbie friendly IMHO and you won't have all these xorg problems that you have in mdv2006. It also comes as an installable livecd so you can test out how it works on your system before installing.

Interdictor · 09-19-2006, 09:02 AM

At home, I use a Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop which has got the Geforce2 Go Nvidia graphics built in.

Using the NVIDIA 8774 driver downloaded from their website, rather than the "nv" driver supplied with Slackware 10.2 I've got my screen resolution set at 1600x1200.

I'll post the relevant parts of my xorg.conf when I get home later this evening, maybe that'll help.

odcheck · 09-19-2006, 09:58 AM

Have you got the latest video bios installed?
And how did your purchase your 8200 SXGA, WUXGA which type of display?
The Inspirion 8200 is the same as Latitude C840 only some other little changes.
Regarding the choices of video cards and build in wireless options and the modem.

odcheck · 09-19-2006, 10:03 AM

Code:

This is a 100% working xorg.conf

# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier     "single head configuration"
	Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
	InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
	InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# RgbPath is the location of the RGB database.  Note, this is the name of the 
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db").  There is normally
# no need to change the default.
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
	RgbPath      "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
	FontPath     "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load  "dbe"
	Load  "extmod"
	Load  "fbdevhw"
	Load  "glx"
	Load  "record"
	Load  "freetype"
	Load  "type1"
	Load  "dri"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
#	Option	"Xleds"		"1 2 3"
# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.
#	Option	"XkbDisable"
# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults).  For example, for a non-U.S.
# keyboard, you will probably want to use:
#	Option	"XkbModel"	"pc102"
# If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
#	Option	"XkbModel"	"microsoft"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
#	Option	"XkbLayout"	"de"
# or:
#	Option	"XkbLayout"	"de"
#	Option	"XkbVariant"	"nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
#	Option	"XkbOptions"	"ctrl:swapcaps"
# Or if you just want both to be control, use:
#	Option	"XkbOptions"	"ctrl:nocaps"
#
	Identifier  "Keyboard0"
	Driver      "kbd"
	Option	    "XkbModel" "pc105"
	Option	    "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Mouse0"
	Driver      "mouse"
	Option	    "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
	Option	    "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
	Option	    "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
	Option	    "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "Monitor0"
	VendorName   "Dell"
	ModelName    "i8200 SXGA+ Display"
	DisplaySize  305	230
	HorizSync    28.0 - 120.0
	VertRefresh  40.0 - 110.0
	ModeLine     "1400x1050" 110.0 1400 1400 1648 1776 1050 1050 1053 1067
	Option	    "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"

	#Driver      "nv"
	Identifier  "Videocard0"
	Driver      "nvidia"
	VendorName  "Videocard vendor"
	BoardName   "NVIDIA GeForce 4 (generic)"
	Option	    "NvAgp" "0"
	Option	    "NoLogo" "1"
	Option	    "CursorShadow" "1"
	Option	    "CursorShadowAlpha" "64"
	Option	    "CursorShadowXOffset" "4"
	Option	    "CursorShadowYOffset" "2"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     16
		Modes    "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth     24
		Modes    "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
	Group        0
	Mode         0666
EndSection

Interdictor · 09-19-2006, 01:31 PM

Here's my xorg.conf.

As I said, I'm using a Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop with NVIDIA Geforce2 Go graphics. One thing I remember I had to do was a bios update from the A04 to A15 bios to get the NVIDIA driver to work properly.

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"

    Identifier     "Simple Layout"
    Screen         "Screen 1" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Synaptics Mouse" "AlwaysCore"
    InputDevice    "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection

Section "Module"

    Load           "dbe"  	# Double buffer extension
    SubSection     "extmod"
    Option         "omit xfree86-dga"   # don't initialise the DGA extension
    EndSubSection
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
    Load           "synaptics"

EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    Identifier     "My Monitor"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 80.0
    VertRefresh     40.0 - 60.0

EndSection

Section "Device"

    Identifier     "Standard VGA"
    Driver         "vga"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    BoardName      "Unknown"

EndSection

Section "Device"

    Identifier     "** NVIDIA (generic)                   [nv]"
    Driver         "nvidia"

EndSection

Section "Screen"

    Identifier     "Screen 1"
    Device         "** NVIDIA (generic)                   [nv]"
    Monitor        "My Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    16
    SubSection     "Display"
        Viewport    0 0
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Viewport    0 0
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Viewport    0 0
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection

EndSection

I didn't bother changing all the descriptions from "** NVIDIA (generic) [nv]", I just changed the driver reference.

HTH

odcheck · 09-19-2006, 01:55 PM

@Interdictor
the xorg I posted is directly from an 8200.
And the Bios Update doesn't include an update for the Video Bios on an Inspirion 8200.
But I think that after your post and the one from me he will successfully get his x working.

But still no answer to the LCD type? SXGA+ or WUXGA what is it?

hotburner2001 · 09-19-2006, 02:32 PM

Hi all,

thanks so much for this avalanche of tips.

To Kilgoretrout: true, this happened upon first instal. I can't connect to the net yet, as in another thread I deal with my wireless access woes :- )

Interdictor, oddcheck: I will start with your advice (downloas video bios from Dell) as soon as I get home. Or if you get this in the meantime: should I manage to get online first and see if the "regular" patches solve the problem first?

I'll also post my xorg.conf shortly.

Thanks!
Jo

hotburner2001 · 09-19-2006, 06:14 PM

Here it is:

# File generated by XFdrake.

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the XF86Config man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "Files"
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Mandrake 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
FontPath "unix/:-1"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
#DontZap # disable <Crtl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work
#DontZoom # disable <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "synaptics"
Load "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/nvidia/libglx.so"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard1"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbOptions" "compose:rwin"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "monitor1"
VendorName "Generic"
ModelName "Flat Panel 1024x768"
HorizSync 31.5-55
VertRefresh 40-70

# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
# 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630

# 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
ModeLine "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
VendorName "nVidia Corp."
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce4 (generic)"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "DPMS"
Option "IgnoreEDID" "1"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "screen1"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultColorDepth 24

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Virtual 1280 1024
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 15
Virtual 1280 1024
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 1280 1024
EndSubsection

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1280 1024
EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "layout1"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "SynapticsMouse1" "AlwaysCore"
Screen "screen1"
EndSection

I managed to get online so I'm downloading all the updates to Mandriva. If that solves the problem I will report but please feel free to have a look at the xorg.conf.

Thanks!
Jo

Wim Sturkenboom · 09-20-2006, 01:25 AM

I think that you must get rid of the virtual resolution in the subsection display. Change

Code:

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1280 1024
EndSubsection

to

Code:

Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024"
EndSubsection

hotburner2001 · 09-20-2006, 07:48 PM

Hi Wim,

that didn't work, all it did was remove any resolutioon higher than 1024X768 in the "screen resize and rotate" icon at the bottom right of the KDE menu. I didn't expect that either!

However, when I open the system config tool, it still gives me the option of higher resolutions, only it won't apply them.

hotburner2001 · 09-20-2006, 08:34 PM

Hi all,

now the graphic server won't boot. I replaced my monitor section with the one used by odcheck:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Dell"
ModelName "i8200 SXGA+ Display"
DisplaySize 305 230
HorizSync 28.0 - 120.0
VertRefresh 40.0 - 110.0
ModeLine "1400x1050" 110.0 1400 1400 1648 1776 1050 1050 1053 1067
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

so I probably need to reload the conf.old...I'll try that.