[SOLVED] Issue with video drivers

[natharas]

Hey I'm running Ubuntu 11.04 and have a nVidia based card. I am currently running at a resolution of 640x480. I have tried installing the latest nvidia drivers but it makes no difference. Where am I going wrong, how do I fix this any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[MikeTbob]

Hello and Welcome. Glad you could join us.
We just solved this problem, or rather it has been solved anyhow. Give it a read and see if it helps you. Let us know how it goes, please.
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/deb...d-monitor.html

[natharas]

Hey thanks, I have had a crack at modifying the xorg.conf and adding the extra lines but still no luck. I have attached it below to be checked, I can set it to 1280x1024 but it shows as 640x420 with panning.

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 270.29  (buildd@allspice)  Fri Feb 25 14:42:07 UTC 2011

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 290.10  (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-07.nvidia.com)  Wed Nov 16 18:47:40 PST 2011

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

	# generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "CRT-1"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 33.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 72.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 8600 GT"
    Option         "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "1280x1024 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
	Modes		"1680x1050" "1280x1024"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

[MikeTbob]

Check the monitor for the specs. Are you sure it's capable of higher resolutions? Also see if adding different settings to HorizSync and HorizSync.

[Rubberman]

When the Nouveau (open sourced nVidia driver) is installed on the system (default these days), you cannot just install the nVidia proprietary drivers, whether via apt-get, synaptic, or running the nVidia installation script. You ALSO have to 1) remove it (not always possible), and 2) blacklist it so the kernel will NOT load it by default. I have run the nVidia drivers on my system with Ubuntu 9.04, 10.04, 10.10, and 11.04 (not tried 11.10 yet), and I had to do that every time.

[natharas]

When the Nouveau (open sourced nVidia driver) is installed on the system (default these days), you cannot just install the nVidia proprietary drivers, whether via apt-get, synaptic, or running the nVidia installation script. You ALSO have to 1) remove it (not always possible), and 2) blacklist it so the kernel will NOT load it by default. I have run the nVidia drivers on my system with Ubuntu 9.04, 10.04, 10.10, and 11.04 (not tried 11.10 yet), and I had to do that every time.

Yes the TV can run higher resolutions, it supports Full HD which means it can do 1980x1020, when it was connected to a windows box it was doing 1680x1050 with no issues using the same video card.

I ended up removing the xorg.conf file and am now at 1024x768 a marginal improvement but still not good enough.

[Rubberman]

So, did you blacklist the Nouveau driver? If you didn't, then it, and not the nVidia driver will be controlling the output.

[natharas]

Sorry rubberman, thought I made it clear that I removed the nvidia drivers. I am currently using the nouveau driver at the moment. I would like to use the nvidia driver, is there a correct procedure to follow to ensure it doesn't screw up again?

[Rubberman]

Sorry rubberman, thought I made it clear that I removed the nvidia drivers. I am currently using the nouveau driver at the moment. I would like to use the nvidia driver, is there a correct procedure to follow to ensure it doesn't screw up again?

Ah! Thanks. Much clearer now!

1) Remove the Nouveau driver.
2) Boot into text mode
3) Blacklist Nouveau driver (in case it is built into the kernel and not just a loadable module)
4) Install the nVidia driver
5) Test the nVidia driver, manually executing the startx command
6) Reboot into graphics mode

Unfortunately, if you update the kernel, you will have to re-install the driver (steps 2, 4-6), but I find that this generally only adds about 15 minutes to the kernel update process. Something I can live with once every couple of months or so!

Does this help? Or do you need more help with the blacklisting process? I try to point people in the right direction, and then let them figure out the details, rather that providing "cookbook" procedures - it helps them become more self-sufficient in the longer term I find. Then, they know how to help others in turn!

Just remember, Google is your friend!

[natharas]

Thanks rubberman, I will give it a try when I get home. You guys are extremelly helpful, once I get this sorted I will have some more questions for sure.

I will let you know how I go