[SOLVED] Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Locked
msj305

[SOLVED] Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by msj305 »

Hi,I recently installed Linux Mint Mate 19 32bit on an old windows vista machine.It initially looked good as a live disk so I installed & replaced vista.
Now it only gives a small screen resolution which can't be changed.I have since found that the graphics card isn't supported which is a SIS graphics card.
I have used it a few times,and strangely a higher resolution option became available.I selected that but upon restarting it didn't hold.Is there a way to fix this screen problem.
Last edited by SMG on Thu Mar 17, 2022 10:00 am, edited 3 times in total.
Reason: Locked old, solved topic to prevent new questions from being added.
User avatar
Pierre
Level 21
Level 21
Posts: 13182
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:33 am
Location: Perth, AU.

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by Pierre »

from Control Centre - Administration - Driver Manager:
- is there any indication of any Drivers now being Available ?

from Terminal, type in this:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz
and copy the result, back here on your reply.
Image
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] - when your problem is solved!
and DO LOOK at those Unanswered Topics - - you may be able to answer some!.
msj305

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by msj305 »

There weren't any drivers available.Here is result from terminal:

Aspire-SA90:~$ inxi -Fxz
System: Host: Aspire-SA90 Kernel: 4.15.0-20-generic i686
bits: 32 gcc: 7.3.0
Desktop: MATE 1.20.1 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1)
Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine: Device: desktop Mobo: Acer model: F671CR v: R01-B1 serial: N/A
BIOS: Phoenix v: R01-B1 date: 03/28/2007
CPU: Dual core Intel Pentium D (-MCP-)
arch: Netburst Prescott rev.5 cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3) bmips: 12000
clock speeds: max: 3000 MHz 1: 2400 MHz 2: 3000 MHz
Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter
bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
drivers: fbdev (unloaded: modesetting,vesa)
Resolution: 640x480@73.00hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.0-rc5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio: Card Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] Azalia Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:0f.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-20-generic
Network: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 191 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
driver: sis190 v: 1.4 port: fe00 bus-ID: 00:04.0
IF: enp0s4 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 160.0GB (5.1% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST3160812AS size: 160.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 146G used: 7.7G (6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: 30.0C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 136 Uptime: 6 min Memory: 240.0/1249.1MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56
Hoser Rob
Level 20
Level 20
Posts: 11762
Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:57 am

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by Hoser Rob »

msj305 wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 12:21 am Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter
bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
drivers: fbdev (unloaded: modesetting,vesa)
Resolution: 640x480@73.00hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.0-rc5 Direct Render: Yes
Ugh. That card was never very well supported in Linux, and since old hardware support has been cut back a lot in Mint 19, even cards that did have decent Linux support don't work very well any more. This isn't Mint or Ubuntu's fault, it's happening at kernel level.

So I'd look at this (written by a frequennt poster here) ...

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/sis

... and seriously consider doing a data backup and clean reinstall of MInt 18.1, as suggested in that link.
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong - H. L. Mencken
msj305

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by msj305 »

Thanks for the response but it is only for 64 bit,mine is 32 bit so I can't proceed.Are there any other possible workarounds.
Or does it require pulling out the graphics card.What graphics cards are supported these days.
HaveaMint
Level 6
Level 6
Posts: 1088
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:56 pm

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by HaveaMint »

msj305 wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:00 pm Thanks for the response but it is only for 64 bit,mine is 32 bit so I can't proceed.Are there any other possible workarounds.
Or does it require pulling out the graphics card.What graphics cards are supported these days.
Nvidia seems to be popular
"Tune for maximum Smoke and then read the Instructions".
msj305

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by msj305 »

Normally the 640x480 resolution is the only option available and cannot be changed but strangely some higher resolution options became available.
I've seen this happen once before but when I rebooted it didn't hold and was back to 640x480.Can you guys take a look at the specs again.
Is there a way to make it stick.


System: Host: Aspire-SA90 Kernel: 4.15.0-20-generic i686
bits: 32 gcc: 7.3.0
Desktop: MATE 1.20.1 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1)
Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine: Device: desktop Mobo: Acer model: F671CR v: R01-B1 serial: N/A
BIOS: Phoenix v: R01-B1 date: 03/28/2007
CPU: Dual core Intel Pentium D (-MCP-)
arch: Netburst Prescott rev.5 cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3) bmips: 12000
clock speeds: max: 3000 MHz 1: 2400 MHz 2: 2400 MHz
Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter
bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
drivers: vesa (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev)
Resolution: 640x480@0.00hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.0-rc5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio: Card Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] Azalia Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:0f.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-20-generic
Network: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 191 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
driver: sis190 v: 1.4 port: fe00 bus-ID: 00:04.0
IF: enp0s4 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 160.0GB (5.1% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST3160812AS size: 160.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 146G used: 7.7G (6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0C mobo: 32.0C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 146 Uptime: 6 min Memory: 272.9/1249.1MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by roblm »

Try removing the fbdev driver with this command, so the vesa driver is loaded: sudo apt remove xserver-xorg-video-fbdev

Log out and back in. If there is a problem getting back to the desktop, then press Ctrl+Alt+F1 to enter the virtual console tty1. Login and then use this command to re-install fbdev and reboot:
sudo apt install --reinstall xserver-xorg-video-fbdev; reboot
msj305

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by msj305 »

Thank you for the response,this has resolved the screen resolution problem.It now has a 1280x1024 resolution.
Done a few test restarts and looks to be holding firm,so this has done the trick.
Mrabeau

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by Mrabeau »

Hoser Rob wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2018 7:57 am Ugh. That card was never very well supported in Linux, and since old hardware support has been cut back a lot in Mint 19, even cards that did have decent Linux support don't work very well any more. This isn't Mint or Ubuntu's fault, it's happening at kernel level.

You are right, ... in principle.

But what remains totally inconsistent with Linux Mint is that when booting with the LiveCD (LinuxMint 19 xfce) everything is ok.

How to explain to a user that his graphics card is not exploitable, while the LiveCD that allows you to create the installation, it is able to display the correct resolution.

I have the same problem.

Via the LiveCD:

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Gx
Graphics:  Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
           bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 ) 
           drivers: vesa (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev)
           Resolution: 1024x768@61.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.0-rc5 Direct Render: Yes
After installation:

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Gx
Graphics:  Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
           bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: fbdev (unloaded: modesetting,vesa)
           Resolution: 640x480@73.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Render: Yes
there is really a management problem between the fbdev driver and the vesa.
This is my first use of linux mint, and I am perplexed that what the LiveCd offers me is impossible after installation.
In "general" could expect the opposite (more possibilities after installation)

No?

ps: adding "xforcevga" in the grub don't change anything (!)
Mrabeau

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by Mrabeau »

roblm wrote: Fri Oct 26, 2018 8:58 am Try removing the fbdev driver with this command, so the vesa driver is loaded: sudo apt remove xserver-xorg-video-fbdev
Wow it actually rules the problem. :D

In a process of understanding, do you know why it seems impossible to "force" the vesa mode, instead of the fbdev?
I tried, comparing the options of the LiveCD vs Installation result grub-level configuration, to add "xforcevesa" and "nomodeset", but without success. :(

:arrow: said otherwise, why with the LiveCD the problem does not exist and it is impossible to "configure" once the installation made (without having to go through the "hack" you propose) :?

Thank you for your solution that allows to use the version "19" with this kind of graphics cards.
User avatar
roblm
Level 15
Level 15
Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:41 pm

Re: Screen resolution problem for linux mint 19

Post by roblm »

Mrabeau wrote: In a process of understanding, do you know why it seems impossible to "force" the vesa mode, instead of the fbdev?
I tried, comparing the options of the LiveCD vs Installation result grub-level configuration, to add "xforcevesa" and "nomodeset", but without success. :(

:arrow: said otherwise, why with the LiveCD the problem does not exist and it is impossible to "configure" once the installation made (without having to go through the "hack" you propose) :?

I think the xforcevesa parameter was only executed in the past with older kernels and is now obsolete. I think the vesa driver would have been used in your Live Session even if that parameter was not used. It has never worked when I tested it and it’s not on this list of kernel parameters:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentatio ... meters.txt

You would have to ask the developers who work with X.Org X Server to completely answer your questions. If you read enough topics, then you will sometimes see that what you get in the Live Session is not what you get after the actual installation, and graphics related settings seem to be at the top.

The vesa driver is very basic and does not provide for hardware acceleration of the graphics, so expect some slowdown and other glitches in desktop performance and trying to run full screen videos.
Locked

Return to “Graphics Cards & Monitors”