Monitor resolution/aspect ratio and remote control

[chrisjm]

Hi, just registered and trying to set up an acer revo 3600 as Home theatre pc with XBMC. It uses an Nvidia ion. I've loaded mint 12, sorted nvidia graphic video drivers so video playback ok. But I have an ongoing problem with an incorrect aspect ratio, so the desktop is stretched. So, films are squashed. If I change the settings on the TV (only 16:9 and 4:3 options) the 4:3 ratio corrects things but leaves two wasted bands on either side, so I get nothing like full screen. So, I'm just after full screen correct aspect ratio.

I've seen other references to this, but so far unable to work out the solution. The TV is a a samsung (ps42c450 - for what it's worth). Native resolution 1024x768. I've used Nvidia x server settings to try to find an answer, but can't get the right option. Any help would be very appreciated. I'd like to sit back and watch a few films properly

Also wondered if anyone has suggestions for a cheap way of setting up a remote control with Mint 12 for home theatre use, aside from using wireless keyboard/mouse.

As an aside, I've 'flirted' with linux mint before, but not been fully drawn toward it. I've been very impressed with mint 12 though since installed, though. Even my external usb soundcard (EMU 0404) worked without further configuration and an install and forget OS seems to me like the holy grail for widespread OS takeup. Now, if only I can sort my monitor's display.....

Thanks

Chris

[chrisjm]

Can anyone help - perhaps point me to where this has been answered elsewhere?

Chris

[chrisjm]

bump

[chrisjm]

Don't seem to be having much luck here. Am I asking my questions in the wrong place? Please point me in a better direction if I've got it wrong. I'm about ready to give up on linux mint, if I can't even get the aspect ratio sorted with my tv. Then there's getting it to access shares on a Windows 2008 server, but I'll leave that one. I don't want to call it a day on linux mint 12, but at this rate, it would take less time to stick a copy of Windows 7 on it with XBMC which is a pity - as I'm not a fan of MS and its actions.

[vnzjunk]

You are not alone. I too am having the same problem changing display resolutions on my new Mint 12 install. And not a lot of constructive help either in the past 24 hours.

When I go the display settings page I too see very few resolutions listed. The default one like you say is 'squashed'. I cannot change the resolution without fiddling with the fiddling with the Mirror display control. An on screen note says that it must be turned off to get 'more' available resolutions. It is unclear when the mirror of displays is on and when it is off as it reports off but seems to be on and vice versa. At any rate fiddling with the check box and also the on/off toggle it is possible to get more resolutions to display and I have been able to get them to work.........temporarily. I get the higher resolution and am all smiles and after several seconds the display reverts to the default resolution. Nothing I have been able to do, nothing I have been able to click has been able to lock into the changed resolution. I have also been able to get the screen into a lockup situation where I cannot see the entire screen and lose the function to either call up menu's or to click on options.

All very frustrating. I have used various X configuration programs/menus over the years to change screen resolutions with good results. What comes out of the box with Mint 12 just does not seem to be working like the ones of the past did. At least not for me.

Good luck and hope that someone can either straighten out this situation or put us on the right path to setting up the displays so that we can further investigate and use this newest flavor of Mint.

vnzjunk[rimg][/rimg]

[chrisjm]

It's of some comfort, vnzjunk, to know I'm not alone on this. I've got to a solution - found help on the XBMC forum to calibrate within XBMC, and now using a setting of 1280 x 720 in linux mint. To be honest, I'm not sure how I got to that point, but I used nvidia control, which I installed. There is an ongoing problem, though, in that if I try playing HD videos e.g from Vimeo website, they play, then randomly my system seizes up, requiring a hard reboot. I've had several 'false starts' with linux distros over the years, but never got passed the difficulties and frustration of having to work from the command prompt. I've got linux mint 10 on another computer, which seems to work quite well - and hasn't crashed like mint 12. It feels to me, that the newer distros are almost there as viable MS alternatives for end users, but still not user friendly enough, if even seemingly simple problems arise.

Must admit, it's been disappointing that no helpful suggestions have been forthcoming on this forum, when I assume this forum is the best one for all things linux mint.

Now, if only I can sort out why my system freezes and how to access a Windows shared folder using samba or otherwise ...

Good luck with your quest

Chris