Newbie Question: Display Resolution

[griffinaz]

Sorry if this has been answered before. I cannot seem to find any answers using the search feature.
I installed Mandrake Linux 9.2 on a Compaq Presario 2500 laptop. The OS runs perfectly as does KDE, etc.. (No sound because Linux doesn't like my sound card but everything else is perfect).
The display resolution within KDE can be changed but I cannot seem to locate how to change the resolution for the basic desktop (non-xwindows). The text is in the middle of the screen as if the monitor was only a couple of inches wide and tall.
Does anyone know how to change this so it uses the regular monitor width like <gulp> DOS did?

[elroy]

I had the same problem and there is a key sequence you push to change it but I don't remember what it is. I'm sure someone else here knows.

[HeadBand]

what do you nean like a little screen with a big black border...that can be fixed using you monitors front panel controls...it isnt anything through linux

[griffinaz]

Yes, the entire screen is maybe 5 inches wide and 6 inches high on a 15" monitor.
Unfortunately this is a laptop with no adjustments on the screen itself. I guess I will just have to get stronger glasses.

Thank you both for the responses

[Redwolf]

Does it do this ion KDE too? Or just in the console (non-X windows part)?

[griffinaz]

This happens only in console mode before entering into xwindows. KDE has no problems changing the screen resolution. I can open a console/terminal within KDE and it will adjust as needed so there are work arounds I was just curious if there was a way to "stretch" the console font so it used the whole monitor.

[HeadBand]

if it is a laptop mabey it is one that has to be on the native resolution(thats what happens to my dads old laptop when you change the resolution) i remember doing this a while back when i was trying to change it from 1280x1024 to 1024x768...it took me forever to find though and now i forgot as well

but if you find it set it to the resolution it uses or used to use in windows

[Redwolf]

Sounds like the Framebuffer is messed up or your computer is using the wrong one (or something like that). Unfortunately, the only way I know to fix that is to recompile the kernel. Bummer.

You know, I wonder. Do this for me. Load 'Konsole' and type in 'su' (- quote marks). Type in your root password when prompted. Then type in 'lsmod' and copy/paste the results of that here.

This happened on another machine of mine with Windows...it had messed up video drivers installed. The Framebuffer is pretty much the driver for the console, FYI. So I'm thinking you're having a similar problem.

[griffinaz]

Module Size Used by Not tainted
parport_pc 27752 1 (autoclean)
lp 8864 0 (autoclean)
parport 39592 1 (autoclean) [parport_pc lp]
nfsd 83280 0 (autoclean)
af_packet 16904 2 (autoclean)
sr_mod 20888 0 (autoclean)
floppy 59548 0
natsemi 20800 1 (autoclean)
nls_iso8859-1 3516 1 (autoclean)
ntfs 83724 1 (autoclean)
supermount 87328 3 (autoclean)
ide-cd 36516 0
cdrom 35360 0 [sr_mod ide-cd]
ide-scsi 12624 0
scsi_mod 113344 2 [sr_mod ide-scsi]
usbmouse 3260 0 (unused)
keybdev 3012 0 (unused)
mousedev 5912 0
hid 25668 0 (unused)
input 6272 0 [usbmouse keybdev mousedev hid]
ehci-hcd 21036 0 (unused)
usb-uhci 27824 0 (unused)
usbcore 83468 1 [usbmouse hid ehci-hcd usb-uhci]
rtc 10508 0 (autoclean)
ext3 68720 2
jbd 46696 2 [ext3]

[Redwolf]

Try this. When LILO comes up (the window asking you to select Linux or whatever), pass it kernel option nofb. Basically, type in:

Linux nofb

Or add on 'nofb' to the append depending on if you use GRUB or LILO.

If you don't get a prompt, then edit /etc/lilo.conf as root. Look for the 'default' or first option and next to the append= line, in the quotes, add nofb. It should look something like:

append = "blah blah nofb"

Now still as root, type lilo and press enter, then reboot.