Whats is, and how do I? [Ubuntu 6.06]
 

What is xorg.conf - and how do I gain acces to it, and where do I find it? They say I have to get there in order to adjust my screen resolution.

And how do I adjust my screen resolution?

Thanks.

xorg.conf is the configuration file for the X server. It'll be found in /etc/X11. You'll need to edit the file with root privileges to change your resolution. Since you're using Ubuntu, you'll want to put "sudo" before any commands you use in the terminal, e.g. to open the file with gedit:

$ sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

In the file, you're looking for the Screen section. Simply change the resolution for your default depth. Here's my section as an example:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection

If you're needing to edit the xorg.conf file to change your resolution in Ubuntu, make sure to take a look at the vert and horiz frequencies in the monitor section. Be sure they are correct for your monitor.

Ok, I found the xorg.conf file, now how exactly do I adjust the screen resolution?

Here is what I got:

Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NV44 [GeForce 6200 TurboCache]"
Driver "nv"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 28-51
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "NVIDIA Corporation NV44 [GeForce 6200 TurboCache]"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

Firstly, what resolution is it currently running at?

Secondly, what resolution are you wanting?

Have you verified the monitor frequencies? If you can't adjust it with the GUI tools provided in Ubuntu wrong frequencies in the xorg.conf is the most common reason why.

Yes, I know frequencies. And I have 1024x768 and I want/need 1280x1024.

is 1280x1024 possiblefor your monitor? my monitor can only truly do 1024x768, despite doing higher in windows (it lies!)

anyway, Nylex posted how to do it, you have to set the default colour depth (24 is best) and then ammend the mode for that depth, xorg will take the first res in the list. Check his reply, it's clearer than my explanation.

will give you a lot of information

:twocents:

Can someone tell me how I adjust my resolution...? I know my screen supports it, and I know my frequencies.

Again, add the resolution to the list for the subsection corresponding to your default depth (or add it to all of them). As for frequencies, in the "Monitor" section, you're looking for "HorizSync" and "VertRefresh".

Edit: you'll obviously need to restart the X server after making changes to your xorg.conf. This can be done with Ctrl+Alt+Backspace.