Ubuntu 9.1 screen resolution stuck at 800x600..:|

[fishnuke]

After much searching around and many failures, I have added new resolutions to the System->Preferences->Display GUI in Ubuntu 9.1. It now defaults to 1024x768 60Hz. I have an old computer with an integrated Intel 3D "Extreme" Graphics chip, and the 800x600 was maddening!

Preface: there is no xorg.conf anymore, and adding one doesn't do the trick for these crappy integrated chips. There is no obvious way to add new graphics modes to the GUI, and using xrandr on the command line is not persistent after a reboot.

Solution:

1) Edit gdm Default file (likely back it up if you're scared).
sudo nano /etc/gdm/Init/Default

2) insert these lines, or something similar
xrandr --newmode "1024x768 60Hz" 60 1024 1072 1176 1328 768 771 775 798 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode VGA1 "1024x768 60Hz"
xrandr --mode "1024x768 60Hz"

(put them before this line)
initctl -q emit login-session-start DISPLAY_MANAGER=gdm

3) Since this seemed to have lost res after logging in, I repeated the last line one more time, right before the end.

xrandr --mode "1024x768 60Hz"

(put this before this line)
exit 0

The refresh rate min and max used above were from someone using 75Hz, with my display, it comes out as 57Hz in the GUI. Close enough for me to use this computer for work instead of dealing with 800x600. man xrandr has more information, but I have other things to do than this!

This isn't elegant, but it works and is concise. Please ubuntu, put 1024x768 as a default, instead of just 800x600 and 640x480!

Thanks to a combination of these posts:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1319491&page=2
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution
http://heatware.net/linux-unix/how-t...n-ubuntu-9-10/
http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/sh....php?t=1221226
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Xorg_RandR_1.2
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1388543
and of course, this one!

[hnaqvi46]

Please help me I'm a complete ubuntu noob. I was wondering if you could do an IM chat with me to walk me through the steps. I have the same problem. My monitor isn't detected by ubuntu, so I'm also stuck with 800x600 resolution and it's really annoying.

I know it might be some trouble for you, but I'm completely new to linux so I have a hard time following written instructions in a forum..it would really help me if I could talk to you in real time in IM. I really want to try ubuntu and give linux a fair chance, but I need help from intermediate-advanced users like you.

Please email me at hnaqvi46@gmail.com
I'd really appreciate it.

After much searching around and many failures, I have added new resolutions to the System->Preferences->Display GUI in Ubuntu 9.1. It now defaults to 1024x768 60Hz. I have an old computer with an integrated Intel 3D "Extreme" Graphics chip, and the 800x600 was maddening!

Preface: there is no xorg.conf anymore, and adding one doesn't do the trick for these crappy integrated chips. There is no obvious way to add new graphics modes to the GUI, and using xrandr on the command line is not persistent after a reboot.

Solution:

1) Edit gdm Default file (likely back it up if you're scared).
sudo nano /etc/gdm/Init/Default

2) insert these lines, or something similar
xrandr --newmode "1024x768 60Hz" 60 1024 1072 1176 1328 768 771 775 798 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode VGA1 "1024x768 60Hz"
xrandr --mode "1024x768 60Hz"

(put them before this line)
initctl -q emit login-session-start DISPLAY_MANAGER=gdm

3) Since this seemed to have lost res after logging in, I repeated the last line one more time, right before the end.

xrandr --mode "1024x768 60Hz"

(put this before this line)
exit 0

The refresh rate min and max used above were from someone using 75Hz, with my display, it comes out as 57Hz in the GUI. Close enough for me to use this computer for work instead of dealing with 800x600. man xrandr has more information, but I have other things to do than this!

This isn't elegant, but it works and is concise. Please ubuntu, put 1024x768 as a default, instead of just 800x600 and 640x480!

Thanks to a combination of these posts:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1319491&page=2
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution
http://heatware.net/linux-unix/how-t...n-ubuntu-9-10/
http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/sh....php?t=1221226
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Xorg_RandR_1.2
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1388543
and of course, this one!