widescreens for n00bs?

Sounds like the wrong resolution. Right click on your desktop and choose Configure Desktop and then Display and choose a different resolution.

Wayne

thats what i figured, so i had tried this before. but i just went back in and my only options are...

1024x768 < what im currently using >
800x600
640x480

-jes

I checked around on the net and you probably should have one of the following 1280x800 1280x768 1400x1050.

Here is a page l looked at:
http://linuxmint.com/content/view/212/52/

Wayne

Here is a copy of my /etc/X11/xorg.conf . It won't work for you as is but you can compare it to your file to see what l did to get 1680x1050 on my Gateway FPD2185W 21" wide screen desktop monitor. Under Section "Monitor" l put in my proper refresh rates and both the SubSection "Display" areas l made changes for the resolution itself. DO NOT mess with /etc/X11/xorg.conf without first copying it to place such as your home director where you can access it with your live CD to put it back to it's original state in case you make a mistake and aren't able to boot up again. And l wouldn't guess at the proper refresh rates but make sure you know them before hand. Mine came in my manual with my monitor.

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
#Screen 0 "ATIScreen" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "PS/2 Mouse" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "USB Mouse" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "Touchpad" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "Stylus" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "Eraser" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "Cursor" "CorePointer"
#InputDevice "Serial Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection

Section "Files"
# Xorg 7.0 font paths
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/util"

# Legacy font paths
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/util"

# Other font paths
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-lucida"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/arphic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/freefont"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/kochi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/latex-xft-fonts"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/openoffice"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-bitstream-vera"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/type1/gsfonts"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"

EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "GLcore"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "record"
Load "type1"
Load "v4l"
Load "vbe"
Load "synaptics"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XKbOptions" ""
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Serial Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Microsoft"
Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "LeftEdge" "1700"
Option "RightEdge" "5300"
Option "TopEdge" "1700"
Option "BottomEdge" "4200"
Option "FingerLow" "25"
Option "FingerHigh" "30"
Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
Option "MaxTapMove" "220"
Option "VertScrollDelta" "100"
Option "MinSpeed" "0.06"
Option "MaxSpeed" "0.12"
Option "AccelFactor" "0.0010"
Option "SHMConfig" "on"
Option "Repeater" "/dev/input/mice"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "PS/2 Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USB Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Stylus"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Mode" "Absolute"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Endsection

# Settings for wacom eraser
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Eraser"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Mode" "Absolute"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Endsection
# Settings for wacom cursor (mouse)
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Cursor"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Mode" "Absolute"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Endsection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Gateway"
ModelName "FPD2185W"
#Option "DPMS" "true"
HorizSync 65.30 # Warning: This may fry old Monitors
VertRefresh 60 # Very conservative. May flicker.
Modeline "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525 #60Hz
Modeline "800x600" 40.12 800 848 968 1056 600 601 605 628 #60Hz
Modeline "1024x768" 75 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "1024x768" 85 1024 1056 1152 1360 768 784 787 823
ModeLine "1152x864" 65 1152 1168 1384 1480 864 865 875 985 Interlace
Modeline "1152x864" 92 1152 1208 1368 1474 864 865 875 895
Modeline "1152x864" 110 1152 1240 1324 1552 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 135 1152 1464 1592 1776 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 137.65 1152 1184 1312 1536 864 866 885 902 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x768" 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795
ModeLine "1280x800" 80.58 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 827 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 80 1280 1296 1512 1568 1024 1025 1037 1165 Interlace
Modeline "1280x1024" 110 1280 1328 1512 1712 1024 1025 1028 1054
Modeline "1280x1024" 126.5 1280 1312 1472 1696 1024 1032 1040 1068 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1456 1712 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1416 1664 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 181.75 1280 1312 1440 1696 1024 1031 1046 1072 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1440x900" 106.47 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1400x1050" 129 1400 1464 1656 1960 1050 1051 1054 1100 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 189 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 220 1600 1616 1808 2080 1200 1204 1207 1244 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1680x1050" 147.14 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087
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
Modeline "1920x1200" 230 1920 1936 2096 2528 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Gamma 1.85 1.85 1.85 # created by KGamma
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "ATIMonitor"
VendorName "Gateway"
ModelName "FPD2185W"
#Option "DPMS" "true"
HorizSync 65.30 # Warning: This may fry old Monitors
VertRefresh 60 # Very conservative. May flicker.
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "nvidia"
BoardName "unknown"

#BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
#Option "sw_cursor" # needed for some ati cards
#Option "hw_cursor"
#Option "NoAccel"
#Option "ShowCache"
#Option "ShadowFB"
#Option "UseFBDev"
#Option "Rotate"
Option "UseInternalAGPGART" "no"

# savage special options, use with care
#Option "NoUseBios"
#Option "BusType" "PCI"
Option "DmaMode" "None"

# nvidia special options, use with care
Option "CursorShadow" "1"
Option "CursorShadowAlpha" "63"
Option "CursorShadowYOffset" "2"
Option "CursorShadowXOffset" "4"
Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = native"
Option "NoLogo" "false"
Option "IgnoreEdid" "true" # needs to be true for some nvidia cards
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultColorDepth 16

SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768"
EndSubSection

# Only the official NVIDIA driver supports twinview
# these setting are an example
Option "TwinView" "false"
Option "SecondMonitorVendorName" "unknown"
Option "SecondMonitorModelName" "unknown"
Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-75"
Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50-70"
#Option "MetaModes" "1024x768, 1024x768"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "dfp,dfp"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "ATIScreen"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "ATIMonitor"
DefaultColorDepth 24

SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

find out what the proper resolution for your monitor is. 1280x768 sounds very plausible, but it could be something else.

Then, start the PC with the live CD and press F3 in the Grub boot menu to choose correct resolution.

Boot the CD and login as root, then use mepis utilities to reinstall X config. Reboot with CD ejected. All should be fine now.

In future, use F3 before you do an install, to make sure the monitor is set to the correct resolution.

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

toyarmy, I just wrote up my experiences getting 1280x800 resolution set on my Dell Inspiron B130 here:
Setting 1280x800 Resolution on Dell B130 [SOLVED] | MEPIS
http://www.mepis.org/node/11276

Please check it and see if it solves your problem. But as carlops and Wayne pointed out, you must first find out what your screen is capable of. If you currently have Windows on the box (or some printed documentation) you should be able to find the information.

Jon

Hi toyarmy

video is intel852GME ( integrated )
2d hardware acceleration
3d rendering

Monitor
14" active matrix ( TFT ) LCD color screen
resolution 1280 x 768 maximum
maximum color depth 16.7 million 32-bit @ 1280 x 768
supported video mode is WVGA
Maximum refresh rate is 60 Hz
There is a generic lcd panel setup i think but maybe Jon ( cleverer than me by a long shot with video and laptops ) Du Quesne maybe able to do something with these figures.

HEHE Hi Jon from the Limey Fragger

Cheers
Jacko

Well toyarmy, with all this info you should be able to fix things in a matter of moments

Jacko, thanks for the additional input. Toyarmy, you may want to use the info of maximum resolution (1280x768) along with the fix I found using the 915resolution tool. Refer back to the link I gave you above. But the changes you'll need to do here are (log in as root):

# 915resolution -l  # that's a lowercase letter "L"

You will probably find that "mode" 49 is still the one you want. Make a backup copy of the /etc/default/915resolution file and then modify it with the following settings:

MODE=49
XRESO=1280
YRESO=768

Make the startup link in /etc/rc5d:

# ln -s ../init.d/915resolution /etc/rc5.d/S12915resolution
# /etc/init.d/915resolution restart  # Force a reload

Now restart X window by pressing ctrl+alt+backspace

Let us know how it works, 'cause there are many of us who are curious about the outcome and we don't want to have to come out there and beat up your laptop

Jon

Right click on the desktop and choose "configure desktop", goto display and you should change your resolution to 1280x800. That is the ideal resolution for most widescreens.
SAM

---

Play Savage for Linux! MEPIS Knowledge Base Articles
MEPIS Quick-Start Guide

sam, that doesn't work, whether it is supposed to or not.
best wishes.

this. worked beautifully. thank you.

i did nothing more/nothing less. then what is listed here and everythings "normal" again.

now to get used to things not being squished
-jes

ok, so, everything looks fine, but when i go to the display properties it says the refresh rate is 70. yet according to the post here, my maximum is 60.

???

-jes

Glad to hear that the 915resolution, um, resolved things. Glad I could help.

Yes sag47, that's what I thought too. I wanted to do that in the first place, but KDE didn't have 1280x800 as an option. It only showed me "1024x768" and 1024x768 was nowhere to be found. My /etc/X11/xorg.conf file had no reference to the 1024x768 size that it was portraying. So it obviously was getting that information from somewhere else. I tried making changes in /boot/grub/menu.lst, /etc/X11/xorg.conf, sacrificing rubber chickens, and nothing helped. That's when I stumbled upon the 915resolution thing. I had no reason to care for that tool before because I had an old laptop that didn't need it.

My next thing is to see if my laptop will suport the 3D effects for my occasional fix of eye candy. Since my Dell laptop appears to have an Intel video driver ('cause the 915resolution is for that card) do I need to load any other drivers to get the 3D stuff to work?

Jon

so this works. but just as the help file within says, you have to run it every time < it dosnt hold through a reboot > it gives directions on how to change the boot file stuff so that itll run every time. but i dont entirely understand it.

so using these links.. can someone help me?

http://www.geocities.com/stomljen/

http://www.geocities.com/stomljen/readme.html

-jes

Question did you modify the /etc/default/915resolution file to MODE=49
XRESO=1280
YRESO=768 ? That should have made it permanent. You need to do that with file manager superuser mode to make it stick.

jim

toyarmy and Jim, after you modify the /etc/default/915resolution file you need to modify or create "links" to start and stop the application. If you open up a konsole and enter the command below, you should see these results:

$ ls -lad /etc/rc*d/*915*  # this is the command and the results are below
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-18 18:59 /etc/rc0.d/K12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-18 18:59 /etc/rc1.d/K12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-18 18:59 /etc/rc2.d/S12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-18 18:59 /etc/rc3.d/S12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-18 18:59 /etc/rc4.d/S12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-18 18:59 /etc/rc5.d/K12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-26 06:23 /etc/rc5.d/S12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 2006-09-18 18:59 /etc/rc6.d/K12915resolution -> ../init.d/915resolution
$     

I found that all of them existed, but the important one that was at run-level 5. toyarmy, do you understand what "links" are and how the "run-level" process works?

You can create the missing link by entering the command as root

# ln -s ../init.d/915resolution /etc/rc5.d/S12915resolution

Oh, to make the command "take" the first time you must issue the command "/etc/init.d/915resolution start" as user root.

If you would like an explanation of what that whole thing means, or if you need more help in getting things configured, please let me know and I'll be happy to give you more info

Jon

This method worked on my Presario c301nr
http://www.mepis.org/node/11276
and I'm moving the file onto my Sabayon install to see if I can finally get native resolution there. I'm b.coston.googlepages.com if your interested in multi boot results and my bandwidth gets good enough for more posting .