LinuxQuestions.org - changing resolution

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changing resolution

I'm trying to change my screen resolution and I changed the appropriate lines in my XF86Config-4 file, but it still doesn't seem to give me the options for a higher resolution in the GNOME resolution changer. Also, on my login screen its too big for the screen or something so I have to move the mouse to scroll around. But as soon as I log in it goes to normal full screen. I can't really tell what resolution the login screen is running at. I'm running the latest testing debian.

XF86Config-4

Code:

# XF86Config-4 (XFree86 X Window System server configuration file)

#

# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using

# values from the debconf database.

#

# Edit this file with caution, and see the XF86Config-4 manual page.

# (Type "man XF86Config-4" at the shell prompt.)

#

# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xfree86 package upgrades *only*

# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xfree86

# package.

#

# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated

# again, run the following commands as root:

#

#  cp /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /etc/X11/XF86Config-4.custom

#  md5sum /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 >/var/lib/xfree86/XF86Config-4.md5sum

#  dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86



Section "Files"

        FontPath        "unix/:7100"                    # local font server

        # if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load    "GLcore"

        Load    "bitmap"

        Load    "dbe"

        Load    "ddc"

        Load    "dri"

        Load    "extmod"

        Load    "freetype"

        Load    "glx"

        Load    "int10"

        Load    "record"

        Load    "speedo"

        Load    "type1"

        Load    "vbe"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier      "Generic Keyboard"

        Driver          "keyboard"

        Option          "CoreKeyboard"

        Option          "XkbRules"      "xfree86"

        Option          "XkbModel"      "pc104"

        Option          "XkbLayout"    "us"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier      "Configured Mouse"

        Driver          "mouse"

        Option          "CorePointer"

        Option          "Device"                "/dev/input/mice"

        Option          "Protocol"              "ImPS/2"

        Option          "Emulate3Buttons"      "true"

        Option          "ZAxisMapping"          "4 5"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier      "Generic Video Card"

        Driver          "vesa"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier      "DXS:1313"

        HorizSync      30-60

        VertRefresh    50-75

        Option          "DPMS"

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier      "Default Screen"

        Device          "Generic Video Card"

        Monitor        "DXS:1313"

        DefaultDepth    24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          1

                Modes          "800x600" "640x480" "1024x768" "1400x1050" "1152x864" "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          4

                Modes          "800x600" "640x480" "1024x768" "1400x1050" "1152x864"  "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          8

                Modes          "800x600" "640x480" "1024x768" "1400x1050" "1152x864"  "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          15

                Modes          "800x600" "640x480" "1024x768" "1400x1050" "1152x864"  "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          16

                Modes          "800x600" "640x480" "1024x768" "1400x1050" "1152x864"  "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          24

                Modes          "800x600" "640x480" "1024x768" "1400x1050" "1152x864"  "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier      "Default Layout"

        Screen          "Default Screen"

        InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"

        InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"

EndSection



Section "DRI"

        Mode    0666

EndSection

I usually remove all resolutions except 800x600 and 1024x768. That usually fixes it - and there is no point having other options than the ones you need.

OK, I tried removing all of the resolutions except 1400x1050 and above. Now the entire login screen is displayed at 1024x768, but the gnome resolution switcher still lists 1024, 800, and 640. Is there some other file that I have to change?

Re: changing resolution

Quote:

Originally posted by Moebius
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "DXS:1313"
HorizSync 30-60
VertRefresh 50-75
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

This part here with the HorizSync and VertRefresh is the most important part for getting your resolution correct. Go to your monitor manufacturer's website and find out what your ranges are.

Your default resolution will be the first entry in the "mode" line at the default depth. If your having trouble getting 1400x1050 and you know your monitor can handle it and the HS and VR are correct, try lowering your "DefaultDepth" from 24, your card may not have the memory to handle those resolutions at that color depth...

KC

OK, I succeeded by changed up my XF86Config-4 a whole bunch. Here is the working file in case anyone else has the Compaq Armada E500 laptop with the 1400x1050 screen. I didn't know the real HorizSync and VertRefresh rates (and from what I can tell from my googling, no one really does) so I just put in bogus values that I knew were high enough for the resolution and refreah rates I wanted. I'm currently running at 1400x1050@72 Hz, but beware of going higher than that.

Code:

zac@moe-laptop2:~$ cat /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

# XF86Config-4 (XFree86 X Window System server configuration file)

#

# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using

# values from the debconf database.

#

# Edit this file with caution, and see the XF86Config-4 manual page.

# (Type "man XF86Config-4" at the shell prompt.)

#

# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xfree86 package upgrades *only*

# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xfree86

# package.

#

# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated

# again, run the following commands as root:

#

#  cp /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /etc/X11/XF86Config-4.custom

#  md5sum /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 >/var/lib/xfree86/XF86Config-4.md5sum

#  dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86



Section "Files"

        FontPath        "unix/:7100"                    # local font server

        # if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"

        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load    "GLcore"

        Load    "bitmap"

        Load    "dbe"

        Load    "ddc"

        Load    "dri"

        Load    "extmod"

        Load    "freetype"

        Load    "glx"

        Load    "int10"

        Load    "record"

        Load    "speedo"

        Load    "type1"

        Load    "vbe"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier      "Generic Keyboard"

        Driver          "keyboard"

        Option          "CoreKeyboard"

        Option          "XkbRules"      "xfree86"

        Option          "XkbModel"      "pc104"

        Option          "XkbLayout"    "us"

EndSection



Section "InputDevice"

        Identifier      "Configured Mouse"

        Driver          "mouse"

        Option          "CorePointer"

        Option          "Device"                "/dev/input/mice"

        Option          "Protocol"              "ImPS/2"

        Option          "Emulate3Buttons"      "true"

        Option          "ZAxisMapping"          "4 5"

EndSection



Section "ServerFlags"

        AllowMouseOpenFail

EndSection



Section "Module"

        Load "glx.so"

EndSection



Section "Device"

        Identifier      "Primary-Card"

        VendorName      "ATI"

        BoardName      "RAGE LT PRO"

        Option          "no_font_cache"

        Option          "no_pixmap_cache"

        Driver          "ati"

EndSection



Section "Monitor"

        Identifier      "DXS:1313"

        HorizSync      31.5-70

        VertRefresh    50-128

        Option          "DPMS"

        Modeline        "1400x1050" 108.96 1400 1416 1704 1944 1050 1050 1059 1097

        Modeline        "1280x1024" 110.76 1280 1296 1552 1736 1024 1024 1034 1070

        Modeline        "1280x1024" 127.80 1280 1296 1552 1736 1024 1024 1035 1070

        Modeline        "1152x864" 90.48 1152 1168 1384 1568 864 864 873 902

EndSection



Section "Screen"

        Identifier      "Default Screen"

        Device          "Primary-Card"

        Monitor        "DXS:1313"

        DefaultDepth    24

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          1

                Modes          "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          4

                Modes          "640x480

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          8

                Modes          "640x480"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          16

                Modes          "1400x1050" "1152x864" "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          24

                Modes          "1400x1050" "1152x864" "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

        SubSection "Display"

                Depth          32

                Modes          "1400x1050" "1152x864" "1280x1024"

        EndSubSection

EndSection



Section "ServerLayout"

        Identifier      "Default Layout"

        Screen          "Default Screen"

        InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"

        InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"

EndSection



Section "DRI"

        Mode    0666

EndSection

Cannot Display This Video Mode

Hi,

I recently purchased an emachine with Windows XP pre-loaded. I am also using a Dell flatscreen monitor. My intension is to reload with Linux.

I have run into a problem with the installation of Redhat 8.0. It seems that the monitor and PC cannot syncronise and I get the message "Cannot display this video mode". However I don't get that problem with a Mandrake installation.

I have read various comments about editing the /etc/X11/XF86Config file, but the problem occurs during OS installation.

Redhat 8.0 is more stable (and easier) than Mandrake so I don't want to use the latter.

The Dell homepage isn't a great deal of help. Any suggestions please?

Thanks.

this must be a totally different issue I think. Since it's with the redhat installation program there's no XF86Config file that you can edit. I have never used redhat so I couldn't tell you what to do, but I would suggest you look at redhat specific help forums, IRC, and documentation.