[SOLVED] video card / Resolution install problem

[Diwin]

I know very little about computer hardware and operating systems.
I just installed ubuntu 8.10.
I got a blank screen.
With help from a Newbie post in this forum and from reading xorg.conf on the live CD, I was able to edit installed copy of xorg.conf so that "vesa" enabled me to get visuals at VERY LOW RES---EVERYTHING IS TOO BIG ON THE SCREEN.
How do I get my computer to allow me to use a higher resolution?

[MikeTbob]

Hello and good day!
You probably need to change the resolution for your monitor. If you could reboot the machine with the LiveCD again, open a terminal window from the system menu and issue this command and post the results:

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

If you want to install the correct video driver, issue this command and post the results.

lspci |grep VGA

[Diwin]

Thanks MikeTbob

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
	Driver		"vesa"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Monitor		"Configured Monitor"
	Device		"Configured Video Device"
EndSection

lspci |grep VGA

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01)

[MikeTbob]

Ok, try this.
Boot the LiveCD again and issue this command

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

You need to add this to the Monitor Section.

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor0"
        VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
        ModelName    "Monitor Model"
        HorizSync    30-107
        VertRefresh  48-120
EndSection

You'll need to use the manual that came with your monitor to find the correct values for HorizSync and VertRefresh.
If all goes well, save the file (Press Ctrl X, then press Y, then press Enter) and reboot.

[Diwin]

for my Dell M782p monitor with Intel 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics controller, I fount these values in the manual. Are these the HorizSync and VertRefresh I need???

Horizontal scan range 30 - 85 kHz (automatic)
Vertical scan range 50 - 160 Hz (automatic)

How do I determine what to put for VendorName and ModelName?

[Diwin]

No improvement yet. After searching some forums I tried this...

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier      "Monitor0"
        VendorName      "Plug 'n' Play"
        ModelName       "Plug 'n' Play"
        HorizSync       30-85
        VertRefresh     50-160
EndSection

[MikeTbob]

for my Dell M782p monitor with Intel 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics controller, I fount these values in the manual. Are these the HorizSync and VertRefresh I need???

Horizontal scan range 30 - 85 kHz (automatic)
Vertical scan range 50 - 160 Hz (automatic)

How do I determine what to put for VendorName and ModelName?

Yes. that it correct,,,, the vendor and model name can be the name/vendor of the monitor or anything you like.

Did this not work? You need to restart X or reboot for the changes to take affect.

[Diwin]

Thanks.

Ya I rebooted and have booted a couple times again since. I see many xorg.conf examples in posts all over the web with many more variables than mine. Do I need to add some more??? Could it be the Intel Graphics controller?

[MikeTbob]

I think the less variables, the better, at least until we can get this sorted out.
I doubt it's the controller itself, maybe we aren't using the right module or something.
Check this thread and see if you can get anything with this.
[SOLVED] desktop effects could not be enabled (Intel Corporation 82845G/GL Chipset) [Archive] - Ubuntu Forums

[Diwin]

I'll have a look.