I've added the resolution 1280x1024 in this file but it still defaults to 1024x768. is there something else i need to change too?

How did you add it or where in the file did you add it? If you can post your file, we can maybe tell you what is wrong, or if its placed in the wrong location, etc.

you probably have 1024x768 as the first resolution to try ie.

"1024x768" "1280x1024"

nope i have them with 1280x1024 first.

i guess i'll just post my file lol

need to boot up in linux first

This is probably a really stupid question.....


# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

Section "Device"
Identifier "VESA Framebuffer"
Driver "vesa"
#VideoRam 4096
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Screen sections
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of screen sections may be present. Each describes
# the configuration of a single screen. A single specific screen section
# may be specified from the X server command line with the "-screen"
# option.
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "VESA Framebuffer"
Monitor "NEC LCD1701"

# If your card can handle it, a higher default color depth (like 24 or 32)
# is highly recommended.

# DefaultDepth 8
# DefaultDepth 16
DefaultDepth 24
# DefaultDepth 32

# "1024x768" is also a conservative usable default resolution. If you
# have a better monitor, feel free to try resolutions such as
# "1152x864", "1280x1024", "1600x1200", and "1800x1400" (or whatever your
# card/monitor can produce)

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection

EndSection

noone can help?

Have you tried editing your XF86Config-4 file? I believe that with XFree86 4.x uses that file, while the XF86Config file is kept around for backwards compatibility with XFree86 3.x.

at the moment you are using the "Vesa frame buffer" as your driver. If you use this driver the maximum resolution available is 1024x768. If you want a better resolution than this you will need to install the correct driver for your graphics card. For nvidia cards look on their website for "Linux and Free BSD drivers" in the driver download page, download and run the correct one (probably "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-4496-pkg2.run") then adjust you xf86config file as instructed by their readme. I have limited knowledge of other cards but generally the proceedure is essentially the same.

In Slackware 9, XF86Config is the correct file for XFree86 4.3.0. Slack 9 doesn't include any 3.x versions of XFree86, so there is no need to maintain two files. LinFreak! is correct about where the problem lies. You need to use the correct driver for your video card to get the resolution that you want instead of the generic VESA frame buffer. However, most video cards work with drivers that come with XFree86, so it is probably not necessary to download a driver to get it to work. You just need to figure out which driver to use. If you do have an nVidia card, you should download the binary driver from their site in order to get the best performance. Some ATI cards can also use a binary driver from ATI, but not all can. If it is another kind of card, you should most likely stick with the driver that comes with XFree86. If you are unsure which driver to use, post what model video card you have and we can probably help you.

Ah yes, Rodrin is right. If you are using an nvidia card, it might be simpler to use "nv" instead of "Vesa frame buffer" (hi res desktop but no 3d acceleration). No downloads needed - just change the xf86 config.

well i used the drivers from the nvidia site and changed the

Driver "vesa" to
Driver "nvidia"

now an nvidia picture flashes up before X starts.

should i be using

Driver "nv" instead?

No, if you have an nVidia based card, the "nvidia" driver will give you the best performance. I was just pointing out that you may have a card that is not based on an nvidia chipset and that the "nv" driver would also work for the resolution problem. The "nv" driver will not give you any 3D performance to speak of though.

if the section looks like this


# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

Section "Device"
Identifier "VESA Framebuffer"
Driver "nvidia"
#VideoRam 4096
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection


and i've loaded the drivers off the cd i got with the card. and the nvidia thing comes up when i start X i'm running with the nvidia drivers right?

now how do i get 1280x1024?

Uh, will your vid card support 1280x1024??
your video RAM shows 4096-------
your card is only 4 megs??
might not be enough memory to support it.

QUOTE---------------
# DefaultDepth 8
# DefaultDepth 16
DefaultDepth 24
# DefaultDepth 32

# "1024x768" is also a conservative usable default resolution. If you
# have a better monitor, feel free to try resolutions such as
# "1152x864", "1280x1024", "1600x1200", and "1800x1400" (or whatever your
# card/monitor can produce)

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
QUOTE------------
your set up for 1280x1024@24 bit depth as shown above, but
your card appears not to have enough ......mojo to achieve this........

<edit/> you might try changing to 16 bit and see if your card will
render your settings.

Notice the video ram line is "hashed" out (has a # before it) so it is ignored by xf86
Now is a good time to read the xf86config file thoroughly and also find the online "HOWTO" for xf86.