topic Re: Cant change monitor resolution in Operating System - Linux

Cant change monitor resolution

Antony Wright — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 11:17:36 GMT

Hi all,
Im running Debian on a Proliant ML370 but Im having problems with screen resolution. The monitor is a Compaq SVGA (472p). I cannot get anything other than a screen resolution of 640x480. I know its capable of more as when I tested the server with fedora 4 I could happily get 800x600 on the same monitor. Can anyone help? Please make the answer nice and easy to follow as Im still a newbee to Linux :) The following is a copy of the relevant part of the script from the XF86Config-4:

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies, Inc. 3D Rage IIC 215IIC
[Mach64 GT IIC]"
Driver "ati"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Compaq SVGA"
HorizSync 28-33
VertRefresh 43-72
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Compaq SVGA"
Device "ATI Technologies, Inc. 3D Rage IIC 215IIC
[Mach64 GT IIC]"
Monitor "Compaq SVGA"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Compaq SVGA"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Steven E. Protter — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 13:37:51 GMT

Shalom,

Try using the GUI on the menu.

SEP

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Bill Thorsteinson — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 14:42:04 GMT

Check the output in /var/log/Xfree86.0.log
This will tell you what is happening during
startup of the x-window system.
I believe ctrl-alt-kp+ will switch available
resolutions.

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Rick Garland — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 14:48:16 GMT

The GUI menu choices should have an option for 'System Settings' Drill down and you should find 'Display'

Invoke this option, supply the root passwd, do the mods.

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Antony Wright — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 02:14:49 GMT

Hi,
Ive already tried Rick and Steves suggestions. Unfortunatley the on ly option that I have there is for 'screen resolution' and while this is the correct item - it only give me the option of 640x480 - on other option is present - hence my problem.
AS for Bills suggestion - although I can view the file - it has very little meaning to me at the moment so I dont even really know what Im looking for there. (Due to my lack of understanding of linux in general).So I guess I need know what that file is telling me. I'll put up another post shortly and attach the file so you good folk can advise me further :) (Im running this from a workstation not from the server concerend). Thanks anyway for your suggestions.
Antony

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Antony Wright — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 02:56:48 GMT

ok - heres the file (added as an attachement)

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Claudio Cilloni — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 03:01:16 GMT

you can try deleting all the SubSection "Display" and leaving just one like this:

SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "800x600"
EndSubSection

this should give no choice to X about the screen resolution and depth.

remember to restart the X server.

hth!

ciao
Claudio

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Pau Garcia i Quiles — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 04:11:23 GMT

Oh my! I answer this question *every* week here.

You need to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and add a new modeline. You'll have to use a modeline calculator for that. Look at these threads to find a step-by-step procedure:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1014637
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1013122

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Antony Wright — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 14:00:04 GMT

I havent yet deleted anything from the file as suggested but Just checking in the /etc/X11/ folder I do not have a xorg.conf file to alter so therin lies a problem unless its hidden away in one of the subdirectories. I'll take a peek.

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Antony Wright — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 14:05:57 GMT

Doing a search of the harddrive comes up negative the file is not on the system.

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Pau Garcia i Quiles — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 16:31:03 GMT

OK, you are still using the old X11 server (XFree86 instead of X.Org), so your file is /etc/X11/XF86Config-4.

Perform the changes I advised on XF86Config-4 instead of xorg.conf (both files are 99% identical).

Re: Cant change monitor resolution

Antony Wright — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 06:12:45 GMT

Tried that already.

BUT I have solved the problem. The horzontal was set to a default setting. I finally managed to find specs for the monitor on the web and set accordingly. I now have 800x600.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

Antony