Problems with video? It's your X settings! [15][16]

[MintRainbow]

Only if downgrading the kernel produces errors

I recently discovered while playing around in Ubuntu that I can get a decent widescreen setting to work via xrandr. So to make things simple and understand what's going on, I'll create an example for people using LVDS on their laptops to mirrror to HDMI in a "Safe" widescreen resolution.

Now mind, this is a temporary fix until you tamper with your X config file, but I am keeping things simple for now for the sake of brevity -- There are enough guides online that teach you how to modify the X video config. This will vary from TV to TV, but this is a baseline I am establishing using a Vizio 50" TV and a Toshiba Satellite. To begin is simple enough;

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xrandr

That command will output a lot of information about connected devices, which means if what you see isn't there, plug it in or check the wire for shorting. To get the resolution you want;

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cvt 1360 768

Which will output the following;

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# 1360x768 59.80 Hz (CVT) hsync: 47.72 kHz; pclk: 84.75 MHz
Modeline "1360x768_60.00"   84.75  1360 1432 1568 1776  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync

Now mind, that resolution isn't "True" 16:9, but it is divisible by 8, so it should work. The stuff in quotes is what you'll be looking for when you use other programs to change the configuration. What it says in Modeline, copy it; "1360x768_60.00" 84.75 1360 1432 1568 1776 768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync

We're now going to add a new mode.

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xrandr --newmode "1360x768_60.00"   84.75  1360 1432 1568 1776  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync

What you need now is further pared down to what you want to use; 1360x768_60.00

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xrandr --addmode HDMI1 1360x768_60.00

You should -- if an error was not output -- see the screen blank out, then return with the resolution you had specified. In our case, 1360x768. Now look under monitors, and you should see a new option when mirroring displays -- The resolution you specified. If using arandr in favor of the default MATE monitor settings, then the new option will be in the bottom of available resolutions for HDMi1, labelled as 1360x76860.00. Just set your resolutions and drag the square for LVDS1 over HDMI1, and apply changes.

If you need to make a desktop shortcut, then here's the command, using some old trickery that's more often used for Windows apps in WINE;

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sh -c 'xrandr --newmode "1360x768_60.00"   84.75  1360 1432 1568 1776  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync && xrandr --addmode HDMI1 1360x768_60.00'

For Ubuntu users, to make a desktop shortcut is a little more complicated;

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gnome-desktop-item-edit --create-new ~/Desktop