suse 9.1 and widescreen

zepp

i'm running suse 9.1 on a dell inspiration 8600 with a widescreen mointor with a res of 1600*1200. however the mointor is a 1900*1200 res so im left with black stripes on either side of the screen. is there away to change the resouution. there isn't an option to in the configure desktop. and i added a line from someone on lines dell insipation 8600 suse linux install. but that didn't change a thing .

any help. this problem is making me re think my hate of windows(i have perfect res in windows)

the graphics card is a evida fx5200 go. or something similar.

Fenster

Edit your xorg.conf file (or is it xfree86.conf in Suse?) to the resolution that you want it at and then restart X.

The file is located in /etc/X11/. Just open it in a text editor as root and locate the following section:

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth 24
	Subsection "Display"
		Viewport  0 0
		Depth     16
		Modes "1024x768" "800x600 "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Set whatever resolutions here that you want and then restart X.

In this section you can select what resolutions you can change your monitor to. I'd advise that you use resolutions that it will support.

zepp

no that didn't change anything .do i need to restart x server by a method other then rebooting the machine

Fenster

/sbin/init 3

And then

startx

pickarooney

I think this article says Suse 9.1 uses XFRee86. If that's true, the file to edit is /etc/X11/XFree86Config-4

nadir

Im just guessing, but If you have a funky monitor, with non standard display you could always try setting a larger virtual.

like Fenster says

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth 24
	Subsection "Display"
		Viewport  0 0
		Depth     16
		Modes "1024x768" "800x600 "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

but try changing something like this to this

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth 24
	Subsection "Display"
		Viewport  0 0
		Depth     16
		Modes "1600x1200"
                Virtual     1900 1200
	EndSubSection
EndSection

maybe

zepp

tried that but no luck my xconfig file is like this
# /.../
# SaX generated XFree86 config file
# Created on: 2004-10-06T20:25:14+0100.
#
# Version: 4.8
# Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2002
#
# Automatically generated by [ISaX] (4.
# PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!
#
Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/URW"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/PEX"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/kwintv"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/truetype"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/uni:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/xtest"
FontPath "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS0"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS1"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS2"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS3"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS4"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS5"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS6"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS7"
InputDevices "/dev/ttyS8"
InputDevices "/dev/psaux"
InputDevices "/dev/logibm"
InputDevices "/dev/sunmouse"
InputDevices "/dev/atibm"
InputDevices "/dev/amigamouse"
InputDevices "/dev/atarimouse"
InputDevices "/dev/inportbm"
InputDevices "/dev/gpmdata"
InputDevices "/dev/mouse"
InputDevices "/dev/usbmouse"
InputDevices "/dev/adbmouse"
InputDevices "/dev/input/mice"
InputDevices "/dev/input/event0"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer0"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer1"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer2"
InputDevices "/dev/pointer3"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "v4l"
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "dbe"
Load "speedo"
Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "Keyboard"
Identifier "Keyboard[0]"
Option "Protocol" "Standard"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "mouse"
Identifier "Mouse[1]"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Name" "Autodetection"
Option "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
Option "Vendor" "Sysp"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Option "CalcAlgorithm" "CheckDesktopGeometry"
DisplaySize 360 270
HorizSync 46-85
Identifier "Monitor[0]"
ModelName "1600X LAPTOP DISPLA PANEL"
VendorName "DELL"
VertRefresh 40-90
UseModes "Modes[0]"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
Modeline "1024x768" 61.89 1024 1080 1184 1344 768 769 772 794
Modeline "1024x768" 73.89 1024 1080 1192 1360 768 769 772 799
Modeline "1024x768" 86.18 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 803
Modeline "1024x768" 97.84 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 808
Modeline "1920x1200" 193.16 1920 2048 2256 2592 1200 1201 1204 1242

EndSection

Section "Screen"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1920x1440"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1900x1200"
EndSubSection


SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
Device "Device[0]"
Identifier "Screen[0]"
Monitor "Monitor[0]"
EndSection

Section "Device"
BoardName "GeForce FX Go5200"
BusID "1:0:0"
Driver "nv"
Identifier "Device[0]"
Screen 0
VendorName "NVidia"
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

pickarooney

Maybe run this to get the right Modeline?

1900x1200 isn't a normal widescreen (16:9) ratio

dahamsta

Easiest way to restart X is CTRL+ALT+Backspace. Just found that out the other day.

adam

scojones

The other day? I love your sarcasm

dahamsta

Who's being sarcastic?

(Well, I am, now. But I wasn't then.)

scojones

Hah, sure. Anyway back on topic, zepp how did you get on?

pickarooney

dahamsta wrote:

Easiest way to restart X is CTRL+ALT+Backspace. Just found that out the other day.

adam

Only works if your kdm/equivalent thingummy is set up that way. I love the way I'm so precise...

zepp

nothing working yet. tried reinstallinnng video drivers but it just kept giving errors about "cc is not in your path"

so i havve 2 solutions
one back to windows.

or
two . another distro. will i have the same problem with fedora or mandrake.(i ain't going to debian i have priniciples about hard work :-) )

pickarooney

Throw Knoppix/Morphix or whatever into the drive and let it work its magic.
Bit odd that you don't have (g)cc installed and in your path.

zepp

i thought so too. and the yast online update says i have it aswel grr it is annoying.

i'll leave knoppix as i want to winne myself off windows and need something with a floppy drive(old physics computers). at same time. and only have i drive bay.

Celt1

zepp wrote:

i'm running suse 9.1 on a dell inspiration 8600 with a widescreen mointor with a res of 1600*1200. however the mointor is a 1900*1200 res so im left with black stripes on either side of the screen.

I have good news for you, and bad. The good news is that you can almost certainly get the display working at the resolution you want. The bad news is that it's likely to be very fiddly.

First thing, I'm not a SuSE user, so I don't know exactly where the config files and log files I'm referring to are kept under SuSE. Shouldn't be hard to find them, though.

The very first thing you need to do is see whether your video driver even recognises the resolution that your screen can handle.

The way to do this is by looking in your XFree86 log file, which is probably named /var/log/XFree86.0.log. Take a look in there for a long list of probed video modes. You should find resolutions like 1600x1200 and so on, no problem. Don't know about the higher resolution.

If the higher resolutions appear, you can just edit your XFree86 config file as other people have suggested, and it should "just work".

If not, you have a few options. YaST (the SuSE config program) may let you choose a higher resolution that is appropriate to your monitor; in fact, it may even have an entry for your monitor model.

If YaST doesn't help, you're in for some big-time fun. Basically, you'll have to teach X exactly how to communicate with your monitor, by adding a Modeline entry to your config file. This requires some detailed technical specs for the monitor, which you can usually find at the back of the user manual or data sheet. You'll need the horizontal and vertical refresh rates, the max bandwidth, and the dot clock (aka pixel clock) rate.

Do a Google search for "xfree86 modeline generator" for a few web pages that will help you to automatically set up some modelines that you can test. Be aware that they're unlikely to be perfect out of the gate, and may require some manual tuning with a program called xvidtune. There's also a FAQ on writing XFree86 modelines, which should be easy to find, but it's very confusingly written.

Anyway, the upshot of all this is that if you have to manually configure X to talk to your monitor at 1920x1200, expect it to be a very painful, fiddly process. I had to do this twice recently for two HDTV televisions, and it took hours each time. Once, I didn't even succeed in getting the max resolution, and had to settle for less.

I don't normally read this board, so drop me a line at bos@serpentine.com if you need any further help, and I'll do what I can.

Cheers.

zepp

update

ahh still going mad using fedora core 3 now and still no go

ressem

http://infolinux.de/blog/XF86Config.txt?PHPSESSID=028af2b5482d8b1ad4f2045e8d3ffd85

This guy has an XF86Config in Suse for his Dell WUXGA panel, uses ATI card but the modes lines provided may have a better chance of working.

So replace Modes, Monitor and Screen Sections.

Alternatively:

Sax2 doesn't seem to help by default as there is no matching entry in
/usr/X11R6/lib/sax/api/data/cdb/Monitors

If you want to try a few modelines then it might be worth adding entries to this file.

WARNING I have not verified these settings myself so take with a grain of salt. Copied from link above. You may want to use your existing settings instead, as they seem more commonly reported

Like
#===================================================
# 1920X1200@60Hz
#

---

--> LCD:1920X1200@60Hz {
Option=DPMS
Hsync=31.5-110
Modeline="1920x1200" 161.75 1920 2020 2052 2184 1200 1202 1208 1235
Vsync=28-90
}

and selecting the new monitor entry from SAX2, then adding a custom desktop to suit.

----
For Fedora, most setups I see have your modeline in the xorg.conf file
http://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-list/2004-November/msg05110.html

---

And if it continues to drive you up the wall, supposedly this resolution was patched into mandrakes xfdrake in the middle of this year. Don't ask me why the others didn't follow suit.

zepp

ya i have tryed a few different modes off the net . but it has never given me the option to accutally change to thoses modes for 1920x1200. when i went in Sax or configure resoulution in suse or fedora. all i get is 1920x1440(which is too big) as an option. along with 1600x1200 1024x754 etc down the line.

ressem

As mentioned Suse didn't include this entry in the sax database, so you have to add it yourself. Otherwise it'll overwrite it with the available entry that you choose.

To clarify the last post.
If you want to use sax to choose the monitor and desktop size then you have to add entries to sax's monitor list,
/usr/X11R6/lib/sax/api/data/cdb/Monitors
prior to running sax2.

Then that resolution will be available under
Monitor-> Change Configuration
Properties
Monitor Model
-->LCD

Select your new 1920x1200 entry, and finish.
Then under Colour and resolution
Change Config
Properties
Expert
Add the new 1920 x 1200 , and it'll become available in the "resolutions for [x bit] colors" tab.
Then hit OK.

zepp

tried to install the new Nvidia driver . but this has corrupted my kernal, so linux wouldn't boot. using the rescue option on the fedora core 3 disk to get a promt. then tryed to recomplie the kernal. but make menuconfig is giving me a pile of errors.

zepp

it is al solved i have my life again.

got the mode lines from here
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~rbirdman/configs/xorg.txt

got the driver from
nvidia
and the soution to the above prob from
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=40622

any questions about this feel free to contact me