I am still very much a Linux Newbie, so I have tried searching through help files and such before complaining, but I still cannot find a solution to my problem. I knew I would have to do certain things myself, but the fact that I can't seem to get this simple issue resolved, is rather annoying, and even an unnecessary step in Linux. I cannot get the screen in Xwindows correclty centered. I have played with vxidtune and xorgconfig , but I cannot get the screen to center correctly, nor can I get the refresh rate that I want. In windows I work in 1024x768 at 100Hz refresh. My monitor is a Gateway VX700 , and I have an ATI Radeon 7500. The specs on my monitor are....

Scanning Frequency: Horizontal: 30.0 to 86 kHz , Vertical: 50 to 130
esolution: 1,600 dots maximum horizontal, 1,200 lines maximum vertical

P.S. Changing the settings on my monitor is NOT an option, because I refuse to have to change the settings each time I boot into Linux or Windows. I would just like to keep my settings AS IS , and get Linux to correctly display itself in XWindows, I mean, I would have thought that I wouldn't have to change my monitor settings each time , since I assumed that Linux can just as easily perform well in hardware , as windows, now Im not so sure.

As root type xf86config
Have all the data for your monitor, card etc. ready. Use the vert/horiz refresh rates you have (choices 11 &5) and you should be ok.

tried that, and in 10 , it is now xorgconfig

you will need to find all the modelines for your monitor, these are sometimes in the manual but you may have to search the forums for "modeline" or such.

here is a good example:

What file is that from? As for the manual, I don't have the manual, and i've checked on gateway's site, and their manual is not helpful , in fact all i got from there is the specifications. And as for this modline business, I am even more confused now

Sorry, that is a part of /etc/X11/xorg.conf in slack 10 (or XF86Config for 9.1). Open this file and have a look at the "screen" section and compare it with the one I posted.

Note how something marked with a "#" is ignored by xorg. This config file controls all things to do with the "X server".

This is all I have in my xorg.conf file, nothing close to that........So what exactly am I supposed to do?

# **********************************************************************
# 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 "** ATI (generic) [ati]"
Monitor "My Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

Add the corresponding modelines to your config file

Ok, I did that, and I looked under the control center, to see if anything is different under the monitor settings, and nothing changed, so what now?

I did restart xwindows by the way

try this:


and let us know what happens (press ctrl+alt+F1~6 quick if the monitor doesnt like it!).

Hrm, ok , I added that too, but now I can't even get into Xwindows, I get an error.......This is from the xorg.0.log file

Release Date: 18 December 2003
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.7
Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.26 i686 [ELF]
Current Operating System: Linux slacker 2.4.26 #6 Mon Jun 14 19:07:27 PDT 2004 i586
Build Date: 05 June 2004
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.X.Org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Aug 6 14:12:11 2004
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
Parse error on line 550 of section Screen in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf
"ModeLine" is not a valid keyword in this section.
(EE) Problem parsing the config file
(EE) Error parsing the config file

Fatal server error:
no screens found

And here is what I have now in my xorg.conf , perhaps I screwed up somewhere. (most likely)





# **********************************************************************
# Monitor section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of monitor sections may be present

Section "Monitor"

Identifier "My Monitor"

# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified.
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY. REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

HorizSync 30-86

# HorizSync 30-64 # multisync
# HorizSync 31.5, 35.2 # multiple fixed sync frequencies
# HorizSync 15-25, 30-50 # multiple ranges of sync frequencies

# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified.
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY. REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

VertRefresh 50-130

EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
Option "DPMS" "true"
# HorizSync 28.0 - 78.0 # Warning: This may fry very old Monitors
HorizSync 28.0 - 96.0 # Warning: This may fry old Monitors
VertRefresh 50.0 - 75.0 # Very conservative. May flicker.
# VertRefresh 50.0 - 62.0 # Extreme conservative. Will flicker. TFT default.
# Default modes distilled from
# "VESA and Industry Standards and Guide for Computer Display Monitor
# Timing", version 1.0, revision 0.8, adopted September 17, 1998.
# $XFree86: xc/programs/Xserver/hw/xfree86/etc/vesamodes,v 1.4 1999/11/18 16:52:17 tsi Exp $
# 640x350 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 37.9kHz
ModeLine "640x350" 31.5 640 672 736 832 350 382 385 445 +hsync -vsync
# 640x400 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 37.9kHz
ModeLine "640x400" 31.5 640 672 736 832 400 401 404 445 -hsync +vsync
# 720x400 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 37.9kHz
ModeLine "720x400" 35.5 720 756 828 936 400 401 404 446 -hsync +vsync
# 640x480 @ 60Hz (Industry standard) hsync: 31.5kHz
ModeLine "640x480" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -hsync -vsync
# 640x480 @ 72Hz (VESA) hsync: 37.9kHz
ModeLine "640x480" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -hsync -vsync
# 640x480 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 37.5kHz
ModeLine "640x480" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -hsync -vsync
# 640x480 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 43.3kHz
ModeLine "640x480" 36.0 640 696 752 832 480 481 484 509 -hsync -vsync
# 800x600 @ 56Hz (VESA) hsync: 35.2kHz
ModeLine "800x600" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
# 800x600 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 37.9kHz
ModeLine "800x600" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
# 800x600 @ 72Hz (VESA) hsync: 48.1kHz
ModeLine "800x600" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
# 800x600 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 46.9kHz
ModeLine "800x600" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
# 800x600 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 53.7kHz
ModeLine "800x600" 56.3 800 832 896 1048 600 601 604 631 +hsync +vsync
# 1024x768i @ 43Hz (industry standard) hsync: 35.5kHz
ModeLine "1024x768" 44.9 1024 1032 1208 1264 768 768 776 817 +hsync +vsync Interlace
# 1024x768 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 48.4kHz
ModeLine "1024x768" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
# 1024x768 @ 70Hz (VESA) hsync: 56.5kHz
ModeLine "1024x768" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
# 1024x768 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 60.0kHz
ModeLine "1024x768" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
# 1024x768 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 68.7kHz
ModeLine "1024x768" 94.5 1024 1072 1168 1376 768 769 772 808 +hsync +vsync
# 1152x864 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 67.5kHz
ModeLine "1152x864" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
# 1280x960 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 60.0kHz
ModeLine "1280x960" 108.0 1280 1376 1488 1800 960 961 964 1000 +hsync +vsync
# 1280x960 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 85.9kHz
ModeLine "1280x960" 148.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 960 961 964 1011 +hsync +vsync
# 1280x1024 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 64.0kHz
ModeLine "1280x1024" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
# 1280x1024 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 80.0kHz
ModeLine "1280x1024" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
# 1280x1024 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 91.1kHz
ModeLine "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +hsync +vsync
# 1600x1200 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 75.0kHz
ModeLine "1600x1200" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
# 1600x1200 @ 65Hz (VESA) hsync: 81.3kHz
ModeLine "1600x1200" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
# 1600x1200 @ 70Hz (VESA) hsync: 87.5kHz
ModeLine "1600x1200" 189.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
# 1600x1200 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 93.8kHz
ModeLine "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
# 1600x1200 @ 85Hz (VESA) hsync: 106.3kHz
ModeLine "1600x1200" 229.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
# 1792x1344 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 83.6kHz
ModeLine "1792x1344" 204.8 1792 1920 2120 2448 1344 1345 1348 1394 -hsync +vsync
# 1792x1344 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 106.3kHz
ModeLine "1792x1344" 261.0 1792 1888 2104 2456 1344 1345 1348 1417 -hsync +vsync
# 1856x1392 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 86.3kHz
ModeLine "1856x1392" 218.3 1856 1952 2176 2528 1392 1393 1396 1439 -hsync +vsync
# 1856x1392 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 112.5kHz
ModeLine "1856x1392" 288.0 1856 1984 2208 2560 1392 1393 1396 1500 -hsync +vsync
# 1920x1440 @ 60Hz (VESA) hsync: 90.0kHz
ModeLine "1920x1440" 234.0 1920 2048 2256 2600 1440 1441 1444 1500 -hsync +vsync
# 1920x1440 @ 75Hz (VESA) hsync: 112.5kHz
ModeLine "1920x1440" 297.0 1920 2064 2288 2640 1440 1441 1444 1500 -hsync +vsync
# Additional modelines
ModeLine "1800x1440" 230 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 250 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
# Extended modelines with GTF timings
# 640x480 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 50.90 kHz; pclk: 43.16 MHz
ModeLine "640x480" 43.16 640 680 744 848 480 481 484 509 -HSync +Vsync
# 768x576 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 35.82 kHz; pclk: 34.96 MHz
ModeLine "768x576" 34.96 768 792 872 976 576 577 580 597 -HSync +Vsync
# 768x576 @ 72.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 43.27 kHz; pclk: 42.93 MHz
ModeLine "768x576" 42.93 768 800 880 992 576 577 580 601 -HSync +Vsync
# 768x576 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 45.15 kHz; pclk: 45.51 MHz
ModeLine "768x576" 45.51 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 602 -HSync +Vsync
# 768x576 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 51.42 kHz; pclk: 51.84 MHz
ModeLine "768x576" 51.84 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 605 -HSync +Vsync
# 768x576 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 61.10 kHz; pclk: 62.57 MHz
ModeLine "768x576" 62.57 768 816 896 1024 576 577 580 611 -HSync +Vsync
# 800x600 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 63.60 kHz; pclk: 68.18 MHz
ModeLine "800x600" 68.18 800 848 936 1072 600 601 604 636 -HSync +Vsync
# 1024x768 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 81.40 kHz; pclk: 113.31 MHz
ModeLine "1024x768" 113.31 1024 1096 1208 1392 768 769 772 814 -HSync +Vsync
# 1152x864 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 53.70 kHz; pclk: 81.62 MHz
ModeLine "1152x864" 81.62 1152 1216 1336 1520 864 865 868 895 -HSync +Vsync
# 1152x864 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 77.10 kHz; pclk: 119.65 MHz
ModeLine "1152x864" 119.65 1152 1224 1352 1552 864 865 868 907 -HSync +Vsync
# 1152x864 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 91.50 kHz; pclk: 143.47 MHz
ModeLine "1152x864" 143.47 1152 1232 1360 1568 864 865 868 915 -HSync +Vsync
# 1280x960 @ 72.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 72.07 kHz; pclk: 124.54 MHz
ModeLine "1280x960" 124.54 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1001 -HSync +Vsync
# 1280x960 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 75.15 kHz; pclk: 129.86 MHz
ModeLine "1280x960" 129.86 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -HSync +Vsync
# 1280x960 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 101.70 kHz; pclk: 178.99 MHz
ModeLine "1280x960" 178.99 1280 1376 1520 1760 960 961 964 1017 -HSync +Vsync
# 1280x1024 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 108.50 kHz; pclk: 190.96 MHz
ModeLine "1280x1024" 190.96 1280 1376 1520 1760 1024 1025 1028 1085 -HSync +Vsync
# 1400x1050 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 65.22 kHz; pclk: 122.61 MHz
ModeLine "1400x1050" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -HSync +Vsync
# 1400x1050 @ 72.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 78.77 kHz; pclk: 149.34 MHz
ModeLine "1400x1050" 149.34 1400 1496 1648 1896 1050 1051 1054 1094 -HSync +Vsync
# 1400x1050 @ 75.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 82.20 kHz; pclk: 155.85 MHz
ModeLine "1400x1050" 155.85 1400 1496 1648 1896 1050 1051 1054 1096 -HSync +Vsync
# 1400x1050 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 93.76 kHz; pclk: 179.26 MHz
ModeLine "1400x1050" 179.26 1400 1504 1656 1912 1050 1051 1054 1103 -HSync +Vsync
# 1400x1050 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 111.20 kHz; pclk: 214.39 MHz
ModeLine "1400x1050" 214.39 1400 1512 1664 1928 1050 1051 1054 1112 -HSync +Vsync
# 1600x1200 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 127.10 kHz; pclk: 280.64 MHz
ModeLine "1600x1200" 280.64 1600 1728 1904 2208 1200 1201 1204 1271 -HSync +Vsync
EndSection


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

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

# Standard VGA Device:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Standard VGA"
VendorName "Unknown"
BoardName "Unknown"

# The chipset line is optional in most cases. It can be used to override
# the driver's chipset detection, and should not normally be specified.

# Chipset "generic"

# The Driver line must be present. When using run-time loadable driver
# modules, this line instructs the server to load the specified driver
# module. Even when not using loadable driver modules, this line
# indicates which driver should interpret the information in this section.

Driver "vga"
# The BusID line is used to specify which of possibly multiple devices
# this section is intended for. When this line isn't present, a device
# section can only match up with the primary video device. For PCI
# devices a line like the following could be used. This line should not
# normally be included unless there is more than one video device
# intalled.

# BusID "PCI:0:10:0"

# VideoRam 256

# Clocks 25.2 28.3

EndSection

# Device configured by xf86config:

Section "Device"
Identifier "** ATI (generic) [ati]"
Driver "ati"
#VideoRam 65536
# 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 "** ATI (generic) [ati]"
Monitor "My Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24

#1024x768 @ 100.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 81.40 kHz; pclk: 113.31 MHz
ModeLine "1024x768" 113.31 1024 1096 1208 1392 768 769 772 814 -HSync +Vsync

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

Hi

That is the first time I see a /etc/X11/xorg.conf like this, are you realy sure that all
these ' ModeLine ' lines are needed ?

Say if you want 1024x768 at 100Hz, what is the output for :

I have no idea, Im just following advice given to me, and my issue is not just running at 1024x768 , my problem is also getting xwindows to display itself correctly, without having to readjust the monitor