Trouble changing screen resolution

[paramax55]

I am using SUSE11 on a toshiba laptop. The native resolution of the screen is 1280x800. The screen is being stubborn at 1024x768. I really want to change to 1280x800. This non-native resolution is really making things look goofy.

I tried using sax2. It says that the resolution is at 1280x800, but when I go to the test screen, it won't let me go above 1024x768.

Even the xrandr is contradicting itself. It says that the current resolution is 1280x800, but the star is by 1024x768.

This is the output of xrandr:

linux-k4fq:/etc/X11 # xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 800, maximum 2048 x 2048
VGA disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
LVDS connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 304mm x 228mm
   1024x768       60.0*    60.0     58.8
   1024x600       60.0     58.7
   800x600        60.3     60.0     56.2     58.7
   768x576        60.0     58.6
   640x480        59.9     60.0     58.8
TMDS disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
  1280x800_60.00 (0x10b)   83.0MHz
        h: width  1280 start 1352 end 1480 total 1680 skew    0 clock   49.4KHz
        v: height  800 start  803 end  809 total  831           clock   59.5Hz
linux-k4fq:/etc/X11 #

I tried to issue the command

xrandr --mode TMDS --output 1280x800_60.00

and nothing changed. Terminal just put me at the next command prompt.

I am pretty sure my xorg.conf is set up to use 1280x800. Here is the output of that:

# /.../
# SaX generated X11 config file
# Created on: 2009-11-19T01:06:04-0500.
#
# Version: 8.1
# Contact: Marcus Schaefer <xxxxxxxxxxx>, 2005
# Contact: SaX-User list <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
#
# Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)
# PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!
#

Section "Files"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/local"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/URW"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Speedo"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/PEX"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/kwintv"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/CID"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/xtest"
  FontPath     "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
  InputDevices "/dev/gpmdata"
  InputDevices "/dev/input/mice"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option       "AIGLX" "on"
  Option       "AllowMouseOpenFail" "on"
  Option       "ZapWarning" "on"
EndSection

Section "Module"
  Load         "extmod"
  Load         "dbe"
  Load         "glx"
  Load         "dri"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  # Driver "kbd" will be disabled unless 'Option "AutoAddDevices" "off"' 
  # is set in "ServerFlags" section. 
  Driver       "kbd"
  Identifier   "Keyboard[0]"
  Option       "Protocol" "Standard"
  Option       "XkbLayout" "us"
  Option       "XkbModel" "microsoftpro"
  Option       "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection


Section "InputDevice"
  # Driver "mouse" will be disabled unless 'Option "AutoAddDevices" "off"' 
  # is set in "ServerFlags" section. 
  Driver       "mouse"
  Identifier   "Mouse[1]"
  Option       "Buttons" "5"
  Option       "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option       "Name" "PS/2 Mouse"
  Option       "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
  Option       "Vendor" "Sysp"
  Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
  DisplaySize  304 228
  HorizSync    29-50
  Identifier   "Monitor[0]"
  ModelName    "CPT LCD MONITOR"
  Option       "DPMS"
  Option       "PreferredMode" "1280x800"
  VendorName   "CPT"
  VertRefresh  43-60
  UseModes     "Modes[0]"
EndSection


Section "Modes"
  Identifier   "Modes[0]"
EndSection


Section "Screen"
  DefaultDepth 24
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      15
    Modes      "1280x800" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
    Virtual    2048 1200
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      16
    Modes      "1280x800" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
    Virtual    2048 1200
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      24
    Modes      "1280x800" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
    Virtual    2048 1200
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      8
    Modes      "1280x800" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
    Virtual    2048 1200
  EndSubSection
  Device       "Device[0]"
  Identifier   "Screen[0]"
  Monitor      "Monitor[0]"
EndSection


Section "Device"
  BoardName    "855 GM"
  Driver       "intel"
  Identifier   "Device[0]"
  Option       "EXANoComposite"
  Option       "monitor-LVDS" "Monitor[0]"
  Screen       0
  VendorName   "Intel"
EndSection



Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier   "Layout[all]"
  InputDevice  "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice  "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
  Option       "Clone" "off"
  Option       "Xinerama" "off"
  Screen       "Screen[0]"
EndSection


Section "DRI"
    Group      "video"
    Mode       0660
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
  Option       "Composite" "on"
EndSection

Am I missing something really simple???

[whych]

Try running sax2 from a terminal in runlevel 3.
(If you are in X, open a terminal and as root, type: init 3)
When you get to the login prompt, login as root and run sax2.
Set up the monitor capabilities and resolution and then exit sax2 and try running X again.
If it works, exit X and type init 5 or reboot to go back to a normal login.

[paramax55]

I got pretty much the same result as before. The main screen let me change the resolution to 1280x800, but when it went to the test screen, it wouldn't let me change it from 1024x768. Neither the increase nor the decrease buttons did anything. When I came back to the main scren from the test screen, it still said my resolution was 1280x800. xrandr is also now showing a lot of 1280xXXX settings under TMDS.

[whych]

So you ran sax2 in runlevel 3 and set the monitor as being able to do 1280X800.
You then set the resolution to 1280x800 and you got the test screen, which still defaulted to 1024x768.
Now exit yast and start x. You should be able to change the resolution now if you run yast again in the x window.

[paramax55]

I ran sax2 by typing "sax2" in a terminal widow. Under YAST, I don't have any options for a graphics card, or monitor, or anything like that. The closest thing I have is a TV card under hardware settings and that is not for the monitor. I still had the same result.

Whan I ran sax2, I got a "swirley" thing while it started. Then the sax2 GUI came up and showed me the options of resolution and color under properties. "Resolution' says that I am at 1280x800 (because of my last sax2 session) even though I know I am not. I clicked the "down" arrow under "resolution" and selected 1280x800 and clicked "OK". Then a pop-up window came up that gave me the option to test my settings. I clicked 'test". Then the screen went black and a swirly pattern came up with a setting box in the middle. The box said I am at 1024x768 (which matches the poor picture quality I am getting) and I clicked on the "resolution" tab. I clicked on both "increase" and "decrease" buttons and nothing changed. The numbers didn't change and the resolution didn't change. I clicked OK to get out and the screen is the same as it was before.

[whych]

Did you configure sax in runlevel 3?
If not, reboot and at the grub menu type a 3 and then enter to boot.
Also, are you running 11.0 or a different version?

Also, look at this link:
Intel 855GM graphics problems w/openSUSE-11.2s 2.6.31 kernel

[paramax55]

I am using open SUSE 11.2... I rebooted into run level 3 and ran sax2. I had pretty much the same result, but now I have another situation. The OS appears to be trying to display items at 1280x800, but the screen is only showing items at 1024x768. The task bar is in the correct place at the bottom of the screen (thank goodness), but Firefox, the cursor, other windows, etc... go beyond the screen edges and disappear. Is the driver itself fighting me or something?

I started to read the other link, but I will need to go through it slowly. While I am not new to computers (I have written a lot of code in C and I do some minor development for microcontrollers), I am new to Linux and what I was reading was a little confusing for me. I have not compiled or installed anything on Linux yet.

[whych]

Did a bit more digging on the opensuse forum.
Look at:
Getting the right screen resolution (Intel 855 GM)

and in the Advanced FAQ Graphics - Intel section:
openSUSE Graphic Card Practical Theory Guide for Users

What desktop are you using - kde or gnome?
Once you have logged in, there should be a screen icon in the taskbar that allows you to set the resolution for the session.
You should also be able to configure it from the user Control Center in gnome (don know the kde equivalent.)

[paramax55]

You inspired me to do some more checking and I found the desktop tool. I am using KDE. It appears that it pulls the information from the same place that xrandr pulls it from. It is listing three different modes; VGA, LVDS, and TMDS. I have been trying to --addmode 1280x800, but it keeps adding it to TMDS. Apparently my monitor is LVDS and, therefore, I can't use the TMDS settings. It just shows as being disconnected.

I did some reading on the internet and It everything tells me that If 1280x800 is in the xorg.conf file, I should be able to use it. It is in the xorg.conf file, but I can't use it for some reason.

I tried adding the mode to LVDS using the following command and this was my output:

linux-k4fq:/etc # xrandr --addmode LVDS 1280x800_60.00
X Error of failed request:  BadMatch (invalid parameter attributes)
  Major opcode of failed request:  149 (RANDR)
  Minor opcode of failed request:  18 (RRAddOutputMode)
  Serial number of failed request:  25
  Current serial number in output stream:  26

It would appear that, if it isn't a valid mode, I can't use it. How do I force this mode?

[whych]

Try starting from fresh.
First check that you x does not have any screen definition files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf directory (I think thatś the right place. They will be listed as 50-monitors.conf or some such.)
If it does, delete them.

Now go to runlevel 3 and type:
sax2 -r -m 0=intel

Configure the monitor from the monitor tab so that it is the correct resolution and then set the resolotution.
When you next run X, use the desktop tool to set the display.

sax2 has usually worked for me. I found with an older monitor and nvidia card 11.3 gives me similar problems, so I´ve stayed with sled11.