Resolution

[nunol]

You can check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_ ... de_numbers

[holesovice]

I must be doing something wrong.

This only seems to change the splash screen resolution. But, the monitor remains the same ...?

[nunol]

That only changes the resolution until X loads...

[AlbertP]

You are using NVIDIA drivers, so you need to set your resolution using NVidia X Server Settings. You can save the resolution to Xorg.conf with that program.

If you don't manage to set the proper resolution, the experimental driver from Additional Drivers in Mint 11 (in Mint 10 it's libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental in the repository) may work better.

[holesovice]

Nope.
Sorry this is losing me.

There was nothing changed and now the resolution is screwed.


I am sorry but I understand none of:
"That only changes the resolution until X loads..."

? then I would need to ask what is the point?

"You can save the resolution to Xorg.conf with that program."
Sorry what?

"experimental driver from Additional Drivers in Mint 11 (in Mint 10 it's libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental in the repository) may work better."


Er. No.
This is what can be called a "mission critical" PC.
I run a couple of businesses through this and a CANNOT start with experimental drivers from a different repository.

It looks like it is time for a reinstall.

I would rather a re install than lose what I have.

[nunol]

I am sorry but I understand none of:
"That only changes the resolution until X loads..."

? then I would need to ask what is the point?

Did it change to the required resolution? If it did then you know it should work with X and you have a driver or X configuration problem and as such you should tale a look at AlbertP suggestion.

If reinstall is an option you should consider dualbooting with the current Mint install, this way you can check if it did solve the problem before erasing the current install. And if it works you can erase the older install and grow the current install or leave the older one as backup.

Please note that Mint, while reliable may not be the best Linux OS for a "mission critical" PC. Debian stable is more stable...

[holesovice]

Any changes I make to
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=" vga=769"

change the splash screen only. The normal screen resolution is not correct.
there does not seem much point wasting your time further.


Re install it is.

I will skip the part about dual boot.
I do not have the time, patience or energy.

Thank your for your time.
But...

Looks like I will busier than i wanted. Will do a re install later this week.

[rich_roast]

By way of explanation the reason for the framebuffer parameter is that not everybody uses an X server, and some of those that don't would like to be able to set the resolution.

[AlbertP]

holesovice: A reinstall is really not needed.

Please first open the 'NVidia X Server Settings' program.
Open X Screen Configuration at the left. Click your monitor, and set a resolution. Press Apply to see if it works.
If you want to keep the setting, click the 'Save to Xorg.conf' button. Type your password and your system will remember the resolution.

And in my opinion, you should really try the experimental driver. It offers a bit less 3D performance but the stability is awesome on the GeForce 8000 series. My resolution problems were solved once and forever. You really don't need to worry about problems; if it works once, it keeps working. This cannot be said of the official driver.
Note that the driver is experimental not because of stability, but because of the way developers used to treat filed bugs and the bad results on the GeForce 400/500 series.
If you don't want to code on the driver and your card is an 8xxx one, you can just run the driver. I'm doing it daily, and my graphics card also has an NV86 chip.

If you do not need 3D or desktop effects, you can run without driver. For a company this might be the best solution.

[holesovice]

Follow up.

To get into grub.

Do not just reboot and hold down the shift key. This will not work.
Switch off the computer and re start, hold down the shift key.


Once there I ran repair broken packages.
(I must be bored and need excitement, since I did that without creating a backup!)

Ran a repair.
Switched computer off. Switched computer back on.
Still the same problem. Bad resolution.

Reboot with Mint CD. Not a problem nice resolution and graphics.

Then followed AlbertPs last post and used
'NVidia X Server Settings'


Yes this does provide decent resolution.
But, 'Save to Xorg.conf' does not save configuration.

After a reboot back to bad resolution.

Went to Main menu>Software Manager.
Did a search for libgl1-mesa-dri- and installed the experimental driver.

So far, nothing.

Went into, 'NVidia X Server Settings'

Swapped settings. Got better resolution with the "wrong settings" 1158 X 864.
Changed back to 1024 X 768.
That left decent resolution.

Saved settings with 'Save to Xorg.conf'.

Now the good part.
When I reopen 'NVidia X Server Settings'
The resolution shown is 1158 X 864.

That is as far as I have got.
Am now going for reboot and will see what happens.

[AlbertP]

You have to uninstall the NVIDIA driver before the experimental one will work.

[holesovice]

You have to uninstall the NVIDIA driver before the experimental one will work.

That worked!

Unistalled the NVidia 3D driver through
Main Menu>All>Additional Drivers>Deactivate

Am using NO Nvidia drivers.

Monitor was not recognised at first. After a reboot monitor is recognised correctly, same as mint CD.

Resolution is back to normal.
Am already creating a system backup.

Thank you all for help.

Have always used Nvidia 3D drivers. I had made no change. Resolution just "dropped" one day for no reason.

Time for a full system backup and offer thanks to the people who spent time on this for me.
Thank you all.