ATI Drivers on Debian Laptop Install

[jdrusmtik9]

I have Debian Installed on my laptop. And I have resolution problems and all I can run is 800X600; well I need 1024 X 768. But anyways Im pretty sure I found it in a RPM packaged but I can't figure out how to actually install the drivers.

Any ideas.

[Vergil83]

first thing first, look at your

 /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

and make sure that resolution are there. If not, add it. It needs to look something like....

 SubSection "Display"
                Depth           24
                Modes          "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        EndSubSection

If you need to convert a rpm to a .deb, use the program alien.

apt-get install alien
alien -i blah.rpm
dpkg -i blah.deb

[KG6KVQ]

Several things can effect what you need to do. Your ATI card, your kernel version, if you are using ATI drivers or xorg drivers, and 64 vs i386.

[antidrugue]

Check this out, it's the way I do it.

http://www.atworkonline.it/~bibe/sarge/index.htm

For installing ATI drivers, there is nothing like building your own package from the "ati-driver-installer-8.18.8-i386.run" file that can be found on ATI's site.

Anyway, check out the site... and don't be afraid, it's fairly simple.

Have fun!

[jdrusmtik9]

Okay sweet I figured it out. Thanks a lot.

I still don't have the ati drivers, but maybe I will wait on that a little until I've got everything running peachy and I have a handle on what Im doing.

Thanks.

[antidrugue]

In your "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file", it's in the section "Screen", so should look like that:

Section "Screen"
        Identifier      "Default Screen"
        Device          "ATI"
        Monitor         "Generic Monitor"
        DefaultDepth    24
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth           24
                Modes           "1024x768" "800x600"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

You can add other resolution as well, like "800x600", but Debian will use the highest one that works...

If you are unsure, just type:

man XF86Config-4