1st Post: Trying to fix my resolution in SuSE 7.3 Pro>

jblaven · 05-10-2002, 08:35 AM

Hi everyone,

Just another Windose user trying to learn Linux. I am installing Linux on my Prostar 2200 laptop. I am having trouble improving my resolution in SuSE. I know this is possible because I burned three CD-Rs of Mandrake 8.1, this install went just fine. Only two things were a problem: 1) No manuals. 2) The keyboard would stop working after a few moments. So I decided to buy SuSE for the manuals. Well, in SuSE the keyboard works, but I can't get the same resolution I had in Mandrake.

Below is a link to the thread about this problem. Could someone on this forum tell me how to fix my resolution?

http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showth...threadid=86671

Thanks

Joe

aliensub · 05-10-2002, 09:19 AM

Log in as root. then with an texteditor, edit /etc/X11/XF86Config (-4) Then theres a section called display here you can set your resolution.

jblaven · 05-10-2002, 09:41 AM

Thanks,

I am so new to Linux, that I am clueless as to how to edit this. Could you tell me how. I know how to logon as root, but as far, as how to edit and what to change in the config file.... I am a dummy. Thanks for your patience.

Joe

crashmeister · 05-10-2002, 09:47 AM

Hello - a couple of things:
check what version of xfree86 you got on there; there are rpm's at suse to upgrade to 4.2.0 - my SiS works much better with that.Try to get it working with whatever you got on there now first.
Suse doesn't install the driver for SiS630 by default - you need to install it with Yast2. It's in group: X11/XFree86/Servers.
Then you can try to configure the card with sax2 - get rid of fbdev - that doesn't support changing the resolution.
If sax2 doesn't work - it always crashes for me - you have to configure xfree with xf86config.
That's the only way I get it to work - stay away from the X11 config of Yast2 after that or it will screw everything up again.
If have problems with that send me an email - I can send you my configfile.
It's not for a LCD but at least something to start with.

jblaven · 05-10-2002, 10:20 AM

Thanks crashmeister,

Let me slowly re-read your post and I will try and do as you have suggested.

jblaven · 05-10-2002, 10:45 AM

OK,

I just checked in X11/XFree86/Servers and I found one driver listed for SiS 530 - SiS 620. I didn' t try this one since I am at work and my SuSE CDs are at home. Would you try this driver first?

Thanks,

Joe

crashmeister · 05-10-2002, 11:59 AM

Try it; should work - I use it with a SIS 730 chip.
The thing is that when you use fbdev you can't change the resolution of the display.
At least that's what my box tells me at startup when I use fbdev.
Be careful you can crash your display pretty good with wrong settings and it's not easy to fix it when you can't see anything.

jblaven · 05-10-2002, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crashmeister
- get rid of fbdev

Great, I will try the driver when I get home. How do I get rid of fbdev?

Thanks again,

Joe

crashmeister · 05-10-2002, 01:02 PM

With Suse you do sax2 - graphics device setup - properties and change driver fbdev to sis. You got to have the driver installed.
Sax2 doesn't work for me - crashes the screen; but you can give it a try.
You can always configure it manually with xf86config but you have to know where your configfile is in order to tell the prog where to write the new file to.
With Suse you can write it to the defaultlocation. Other distros might use a different location.
After you are done with that restart your xserver and make sure you have a beer handy or start praying - whatever you prefer.
P.S. I go and get one right now - so don't expect any more posts from me today that make any sense at all

Mushroom_sock · 05-10-2002, 02:18 PM

man, i wish you could just right click on the desktop and go to properties, to change your res... im a total novice to linux, although i have red hat 7.1 and suse 7.2... (i want to be MS free.. )

but, maybe you can ... check out this link,

http://www.winlinux.net/2001

its a linux, but its designed to be like, windows as much as possible.. in terms of looks n stuff.. great for newbies i guess..

crashmeister · 05-10-2002, 05:46 PM

You can't put it that way - there is a lot of different hardware out there and it changes constantly. It's not easy to put up with it. Linux distros are volunteers or at the most little companies - nobody at the hardwaremanufacturers gives a fschk how they get it to work.
If Bill doesn't like something they change it.
It ain't all peachy in windows, too - my printer works normally for 1 week max. then it dies on me - driver issue.
In Linux the same printer works forever (once I got it set up right).