[SOLVED] HP2133 mini laptop and Ubuntu

[Leevi]

I have installed Ubuntu 8.10 to my HP2133 laptop. It works well but the display driver is a problem I haven't got fixed yet. Where can I find a driver for that? The video circuit is VIA Chrome 9 or something like that. What are the available solutions for the problem?
/Leevi

[devils casper]

Execute this in Terminal :

sudo lspci | grep -i vga
grep  -i driver /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Post output here.

[Leevi]

Here is the output:

~$ sudo lspci | grep -i vga
[sudo] password for risto: 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. CN896/VN896/P4M900 [Chrome 9 HC] (rev 01)
~$ grep -i driver /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Driver "vesa"

/Leevi

[Leevi]

Is it so that there is not a solution for that? The VESA driver could be enough for me if I could change the resolution. Now the resolution is 640 x 400 and it cannot be changed. Are the any ideas how to get that changed?
Leevi

[D-cat]

I do believe the vesa driver is the best for the via chipset. Unfortunately this often means the monitor isn't detected. You'll probably have to manually define the valid resolutions for your monitor in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. What's the highest resolution your monitor supports?

https://wiki.edubuntu.org/LaptopTestingTeam/HP2133

The above link has two replacement xorg.conf files for your laptop, choose the one that matches the sub model (and screen size) of your laptop.

[Leevi]

I don't know the maximum resolution, I'm currently using 640 x 400 which cannot be changed. Any resolution higher than that is welcome.
/Leevi

[devils casper]

Post the contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf file here.

[D-cat]

Okay, well, I'll take a deep breath and reccommend one. The following looks to be the more compatible one, set and forget type. Of course, it is 2D only:

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by reidy90, by copying correct settings from
# the xorg.conf that was provided with the SUSE hp 2133.
#
# 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"
  BoardName    "Framebuffer Graphics"
  Driver       "vesa"
  Identifier   "Device[0]"
  Screen       0
  VendorName   "VIA Technology"
  Option "NoDDCValue"
  Option "ActiveDevice" "LCD,CRT"
  Option "PanelID"      "3"
  Option  "DisplayHardwareLayout" "LCD"
  Option  "ForceLCD"
#[<bool>]
  Option  "VideoOnDevice" "LCD"
#  Option "LCDPort" "DVP0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  DisplaySize  250 150
  HorizSync    28-500
  Identifier   "Monitor[0]"
  ModelName    "VIEWSONIC VA912-4SERIES"
  Option       "DPMS"
  VendorName   "VSC"
  VertRefresh  43-60
  UseModes     "Modes[0]"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
  Identifier   "Modes[0]"
  Modeline      "1280x800" 120.33 1280 1368 1504 1728 800 801 804 839
  Modeline      "1280x800" 118.88 1280 1368 1504 1728 800 801 804 839
  Modeline      "1280x800" 116.21 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 838
#  Modeline     "1280x768" 114.53 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 806
#  Modeline     "1280x768" 113.01 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 805
#  Modeline     "1280x768" 111.63 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 805
  Modeline      "1280x768" 80.14  1280 1344 1480 1680  768 769 772 795  -HSync +Vsync
  Modeline      "1024x768" 92.05 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 806
  Modeline      "1024x768" 90.83 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 805
  Modeline      "1024x768" 89.72 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 805
  Modeline      "1280x600" 88.68 1280 1352 1488 1696 600 601 604 630
  Modeline      "1280x600" 87.48 1280 1352 1488 1696 600 601 604 629
  Modeline      "1280x600" 85.59 1280 1344 1480 1680 600 601 604 629
  Modeline      "1024x600" 71.11 1024 1080 1192 1360 600 601 604 630
  Modeline      "1024x600" 69.32 1024 1080 1184 1344 600 601 604 629
  Modeline      "1024x600" 68.48 1024 1080 1184 1344 600 601 604 629
  Modeline      "800x600" 55.22 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 630
  Modeline      "800x600" 54.47 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 629
  Modeline      "800x600" 53.80 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 629
  Modeline      "768x576" 50.62 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 605
  Modeline      "768x576" 49.92 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 604
  Modeline      "768x576" 49.32 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 604
  Modeline      "640x480" 34.80 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 504
  Modeline      "640x480" 34.38 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 504
  Modeline      "640x480" 33.90 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 503
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  SubSection "Display"
    Modes      "1280x768"
  EndSubSection
  Device       "Device[0]"
  Identifier   "Screen[0]"
  Monitor      "Monitor[0]"
EndSection

If you want 3D acceleration, apparently it can be done, but there's a different xorg.conf and bunch of hoops you need to jump through. See the following link.
LaptopTestingTeam/HP2133/DisplayConfig810
And for reference the Via drivers:
VIA Linux Portal

[Leevi]

Post the contents of /etc/X11/xorg.conf file here.

# 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

[Leevi]

I'm quite new in Linux. Could you please give instructions how to get that installed. Is it just to replace the current config file by this file or?
/Leevi