How do I change my resolution?

[nwp]

I have Kanotix installed which normally comes with kde, I changed it to use gnome instead. I have a laptop, asus F3F with an intel GMA 950 GFX grafics chip.
There is an option under System->Settings->resolution, but it only shows 640*480, 800*600 and 1024*768, which sucks for widescreen.
I found the 915resolution tool which lists all available modes, from 640*480 8bit to 1920*1440 32bit. The mode I want is listed also: 1280x1024, 32 bit.
What do I do to make gnome use that resolution?
I tried playing with my /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and deleted all resolutions except the one I wanted, but the x-server failed to load, saying it found no valid/compatible screen mode.

Part of the problem may be that the grafics chip is not installed.

Thanks.

[daark.child]

Try running

#dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

[nwp]

I tried almost all possible combinations of options for dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg, but none of them worked. I always ended up with the same resolution I had, no matter which resolution I chose in dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg. I restarted the xserver with ctrl-alt-backspace, but it didnt change anything. I managed to take away the 1024*768 resolution once, but that didnt help.
Do you happen to know which file the resolution-changer program (System->Settings->resolution) uses? It must use a file similar to /etc/X11/xorg.conf which lists all possible modes.
Another question: I seem to be running a window manager called metacity. I saw a trick once:
$killall metacity
#kills the window manager
$compiz &
#use compiz as the new window manager
I tried that, but metacity seems to run on auto-restart. I can kill it, but it is back instantly. And compiz doesnt start, saying "/usr/bin/compiz.real: No composite extension"
What am I doing wrong? How do I get a composite extension? I downloaded/installed everything that had something to do with compiz.
Maybe compiz solves the resolution problem.
Thanks for the help.

[ibanex22]

make sure you are root when you run it

[nwp]

I was root. I tried the same thing using ctrl-alt-F1 being root, still it didnt change anything.

[devils casper]

in most cases, wrong Refresh Rates creates resolution problems.

check Monitor's Manual and note down supported HorizSync, VertiRefresh rates and Resolutions.
execute

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

accept default options and enter correct VertiRefresh and HorizSync rates when prompted. select correct Resolutions too. reboot your machine.






Casper

[jens]

Non default resolutions can be trivial if don't know the exact sync values.
Simply using the default options will most likely not work (unless you don't get headaches having only 60Hz with it).
In order to get a 1152x864 resolution (on an old CRT monitor) at 75Hz (Debian Etch, without knowing the exact sync values) I had to force it using the metamodes option in section Screen (/etc/X11/xorg.conf):

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "nVidia Corporation NV43 [GeForce 6600 GT]"
Monitor "crappy_monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "metamodes" "CRT: 1152x864_75 +0+0; CRT: 1152x864 +0+0; CRT: 1152x768 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768 +0+0; CRT: 800x600 +0+0; CRT: 640x480 +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

...this should normally work for any resolution (you also don't need to go as low as I did in the above example).
Also see the xorg and xorg.conf man pages and docs.

PS: Use Beryl instead of Compiz:
http://wiki.beryl-project.org/wiki/Install/Debian
(changing window managers in GNOME will not auto solve your resolution problem though)

[nwp]

It was propably stupid of me not to say that I was running it on a laptop. Laptop means I have an LCD-screen, for which 60Hz refresh rate are perfectly ok. EDIT: I did say that I had a Laptop -_-
I got help elsewere. The solution was that I had the standard official i810 driver. There is another one, i810-mod. I installed this one, reran dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg and then it worked. The driver does not actually use my chip, which means that even DVDs run with a very low framerate of 30 or so with 8bit-colors, but the resolution works (for comparison: I can play FarCry with windows on the same machine). The problem is that it is still the wrong driver. Its for a 945GM, I have a GMA950Gfx. The driver kind of works, but without the hardware acceleration.
Is there a way to rip the driver off of windows?
Thanks for the great help though!