How to Monitor resolution

[ ] by Koos @ 07.04.2007 09:14 CET

For NVidia Drivers: http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Latest_Nvidia_Dapper

First, just in case, make a back up of you current file:


sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.org
For restoring:
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf.org /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Step 1.

First, try a quick fix. It may not work, but if is does you are done.

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
  • The -phigh option selects the defaults for everything but the screen resolution.
  • To select a resolution, use the arrow keys to move up and down, hit the "Space bar" to select/unselect a resolution.
  • You will recieve a message indication your old file was backed up.

If that fails you will need to know the specifications of your monitor and video card.

Step 2.

Monitor information
Google search your monitor by make and model. You are looking for the technical specifications for the horizontal and vertical refresh rates.

Videocard information In a terminal run this command:

lspci | grep VGA

Next step is editing the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file

If you have Gnome running:

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
If you have no video and are stuck at the CLI:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

You are looking for the following sections:

Monitor:

Quote:
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor1"
VendorName "DEL"
ModelName "DELL P1110"
HorizSync 29-121
VertRefresh 50-180 EndSection

Enter you monitors horizontal and vertical refresh rates:
If you do not know what they are, google search for your monitor.
I put an entry in my xorg.conf with my monitors web site for reference:
Section "Monitor"Identifier "Generic Monitor"HorizSync 30.0 - 70.0VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0Option "DPMS"EndSection

After editing your xorg.conf you need to re-start X: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
This will bring you to the log-in screen (GDM).

Step 3.
Screen section

If this fails, next reduce the color depth:
Again open xorg.conf with an editor (vi, nano, gedit)

This time you are looking for the "Screen" section:
Quote:
Section "Screen"
Identifier "twinviewscreen"
Device "twinview"
Monitor "Monitor1"
DefaultDepth 24
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 "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubsection
EndSection
  1. Reduce the DefaultDepth (this is color depth, 16 is more then adequate for most people and 24 may be excessive).
    Change it to 16:
    Code:
    DefaultDepth 16    Subsection "Display"        Depth       16        Modes "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"    EndSubsection
  2. Make sure the Subsection "Display" lists your desired resolution.
    On occasion I have "fooled" X into giving me my desired resolution by setting the resolution 1 step higher.
    If you are not sure, you can use "1600x1200" and reduce it later.

After editing your xorg.conf you need to re-start X: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace
This will bring you to the log-in screen (GDM).

Comments (1)  Permalink

Comments

r4i @ 07.12.2009 12:00 CET
It's a really nice information. I am an ubantu user. and it increase knowledge about ubantu operating system.thanks for sharing information with us.

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