Monitor resolution

From MEPIS Documentation Wiki

1 Settings in KDE
2 Using the Live CD to change the resolution
3 The "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg" way
4 Edit X config file by hand (in case the other tries failed)
5 Useful Links

Settings in KDE

Make sure you select the correct resolution when you install from CD. MEPIS will use that resolution as its default. You'll be able to change monitor settings by: right-click on Desktop -> Configure Desktop -> Display tab, there you'll be able to change screen size and refresh rate. If the desired option is not available read about fixes below:

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Using the Live CD to change the resolution

If the resolution is not detected automatically, or if you changed your video card, reboot the CD and choose the appropriate resolution by pressing the F3 key at the CD boot screen.

If you already installed MEPIS you don't need to reinstall it, you only need to copy the X configuration file from the CD to the harddisk installation:

Boot CD and pick up the right resolution by pressing F3
Once booted, open MEPIS X-Windows Assistant and supply the root password
On the Repair tab, select the drive and partition where MEPIS is installed from the pull-down menus
Click Apply

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The "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg" way

A command line tool (graphical), easier than manually editing your X config file but you will need your monitor/keyboard/mouse info to use this. Detailed how-to

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Edit X config file by hand (in case the other tries failed)

Gather monitor information: vertical and horizontal frequencies. Look in the monitor manuals if you still have them or search on the internet.
On K Menu, click Run Command...
Type "kdesu kwrite".
Input the root password.
Open /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Scroll down to Section "Monitor".
Change HorizSync and VertRefresh to the values found in the monitor manual.
Scroll down to Section "Screen".
Add the desired resolution to the "Modes". You should have something like this:

Modes "1280x800""1024x768""800x600"

("1280x800" is presented here only as an example, use your desired resolution -- make sure you change the all the Modes lines. It may be helpful to use the "Find" function under the "Edit" menu to be sure you have located all instances of the Modes lines and/or a particular resolution you wish to disable. For example, if you wish to eliminate 1280x800 as a usable resolution, select edit>find 1280x800 and delete all occurrences in the file.)

Save the file, close all open applications. Restart X with Ctrl-Alt-Backspace.

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