[SOLVED] how to set video mode at boot

user100 · 10-13-2010, 02:57 PM

Hi,

How can I set a video mode when slackware starts? Instead of having to select one each time or wait 30sec.

Thanks.

Ramurd · 10-13-2010, 03:53 PM

you can configure this in /etc/lilo.conf

You probably have a line there that reads:

Code:

vga = ask

Given your system supports it, you can put instead:

Code:

vga = 791

For VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k

Or put another mode there that your system supports.

After this change, you'll have to run lilo again, to install the bootloader with these new settings.

Daedra · 10-13-2010, 04:34 PM

You can also add higher resolutions if your video card supports it. To see what modes/resolutions your video card supports you need to install hwinfo from slackbuilds.org. http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.1/system/hwinfo/

After it is installed run it like this "hwinfo --vbe" and this will give you a list of all available modes for you video card, for example here is mine

02: None 00.0: 11001 VESA Framebuffer
[Created at bios.459]
Unique ID: rdCR.BfO5bYYtG87
Hardware Class: framebuffer
Model: "NVIDIA GF104 Board - 10410001"
Vendor: "NVIDIA Corporation"
Device: "GF104 Board - 10410001"
SubVendor: "NVIDIA"
SubDevice:
Revision: "Chip Rev"
Memory Size: 14 MB
Memory Range: 0xd5000000-0xd5dfffff (rw)
Mode 0x0300: 640x400 (+640), 8 bits
Mode 0x0301: 640x480 (+640), 8 bits
Mode 0x0303: 800x600 (+800), 8 bits
Mode 0x0305: 1024x768 (+1024), 8 bits
Mode 0x0307: 1280x1024 (+1280), 8 bits
Mode 0x030e: 320x200 (+640), 16 bits
Mode 0x030f: 320x200 (+1280), 24 bits
Mode 0x0311: 640x480 (+1280), 16 bits
Mode 0x0312: 640x480 (+2560), 24 bits
Mode 0x0314: 800x600 (+1600), 16 bits
Mode 0x0315: 800x600 (+3200), 24 bits
Mode 0x0317: 1024x768 (+2048), 16 bits
Mode 0x0318: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits
Mode 0x031a: 1280x1024 (+2560), 16 bits
Mode 0x031b: 1280x1024 (+5120), 24 bits
Mode 0x0330: 320x200 (+320), 8 bits
Mode 0x0331: 320x400 (+320), 8 bits
Mode 0x0332: 320x400 (+640), 16 bits
Mode 0x0333: 320x400 (+1280), 24 bits
Mode 0x0334: 320x240 (+320), 8 bits
Mode 0x0335: 320x240 (+640), 16 bits
Mode 0x0336: 320x240 (+1280), 24 bits
Mode 0x033d: 640x400 (+1280), 16 bits
Mode 0x033e: 640x400 (+2560), 24 bits
Mode 0x0345: 1600x1200 (+1600), 8 bits
Mode 0x0346: 1600x1200 (+3200), 16 bits
Mode 0x034a: 1600x1200 (+6400), 24 bits
Mode 0x0360: 1280x800 (+1280), 8 bits
Mode 0x0361: 1280x800 (+5120), 24 bits
Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

So If wanted to use 1600x1200 with 24 bits I would edit /etc/lilo.conf and change vga line to the mode I wanted

vga = 0x034a

user100 · 10-14-2010, 08:44 AM

Thanks but I meant the one where you have to select it pressing enter or space to just continue at boot.

The lilo.conf is set to vga = 773 so thats fine. But it still asks me to select a mode at boot.

x111 · 10-14-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user100

Thanks but I meant the one where you have to select it pressing enter or space to just continue at boot.

The lilo.conf is set to vga = 773 so thats fine. But it still asks me to select a mode at boot.

It means that VESA frame buffer is not supported (at least by your kernel). You might want to recompile the kernel and adding VESA frame buffer support to it.

user100 · 10-14-2010, 01:03 PM

No I mean, I wanna just set it to use video mode 0 and than boot.

When pressing enter I get about 10 choices from 0 to 9, default 0 it selected anyway and thats the one I want. But I still have to press space or select one. I wanna get rid of that.

acummings · 10-15-2010, 01:46 AM

Code:

al@P5Q:~$ cat /etc/lilo.conf
<snip>
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga = 773
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# 16 bit
vga=791
# 24 bit
# vga=792
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins

(edit as needed so that) you Have a # in front of *all* of the above lines which makes it so that you are not using vesa framebuffer

And then, as root, run

/sbin/lilo

And then reboot

And, if I'm not mistaken, it will start right up but the console text will be big in size

If that's ok, done/finished.

(unless your video driver with the later kernel switches mode on you during startup -- if so, STF for

kms

mode switch

etc.)

--
Alan.

Squall90 · 10-15-2010, 02:46 AM

Perhaps this will help:

Click image for larger version

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acummings · 10-15-2010, 04:10 AM

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...77/#post683276

Post #5 there and subsequent posts down to bottom of that page looks highly likely it has your answer.

But, Post #6 there might do it for you, as in

vga = normal

put in the correct place into your lilo.conf save the changes then as root run /sbin/lilo

that is your 0 mode (or 80 x 25

http://www.google.com/linux?hl=en&q=...er&btnG=Search

--
Alan.

acummings · 10-15-2010, 04:48 AM

This looks to be what is called a "boot parameter"

(essentially, a boot parameter is told/issued to the kernel on the kernel command line [the command that boots the kernel])

From what I know either the vga = line (preferably) in lilo.conf

But, an append line appending vga = my_mode in lilo.conf should also work for it appends boot parameter onto the command that boots the kernel.

I'd stick with the vga = my_mode

You can have only one line as such -- all others must be commented out (have a # at the very front of the line)/.

Code:

(Slackware 12.2, using a kernel (2.6.28.8) that I compiled)

al@P5Q:/usr/src$ lsag linux
lrwxrwxrwx  1 root root    14 2009-03-24 21:32 linux -> linux-2.6.28.8/

--------------------------------

(need to find the kernel-parameters.txt)

al@P5Q:/usr/src/linux/Documentation$ pwd
/usr/src/linux/Documentation
al@P5Q:/usr/src/linux/Documentation$ lsg kernel-
kernel-doc-nano-HOWTO.txt
kernel-docs.txt
kernel-parameters.txt

--------------------------------

al@P5Q:/usr/src/linux/Documentation$ cat kernel-parameters.txt | grep vga=
        vga=            [BOOT,X86-32] Select a particular video mode
                        Use vga=ask for menu.
al@P5Q:/usr/src/linux/Documentation$


	vga=		[BOOT,X86-32] Select a particular video mode
			See Documentation/x86/i386/boot.txt and
			Documentation/svga.txt.
			Use vga=ask for menu.
			This is actually a boot loader parameter; the value is
			passed to the kernel using a special protocol.

--------------------------------

(svga.txt)

al@P5Q:/usr/src/linux/Documentation$ cat svga.txt | grep "*"
   **  Short intro for the impatient: Just use vga=ask for the first time,
   **  enter `scan' on the video mode prompt, pick the mode you want to use,
   **  remember its mode ID (the four-digit hexadecimal number) and then
   **  set the vga parameter to this number (converted to decimal first).
al@P5Q:/usr/src/linux/Documentation$

--
Alan.

user100 · 10-15-2010, 07:45 AM

Thanks.

Code:

vga = normaal
/sbin/lilo

Did it for me.