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02/09/2009 (9:46 pm)

Fixing screen resolution in Linux Mint 6 / Ubuntu 8.10

Filed under: linux, linux mint, ubuntu ::

I installed Linux Mint on my parents’ computer today, replacing Mandrake 10.2. (Yes, grandparents can use Linux.) This older computer has a motherboard with a built-in VGA adapter by Trident, connected to an ancient CRT display with a maximum resolution of 1024×768. But for some reason, Linux Mint set the resolution to 800×600, and the Screen Resolution tool in the Control Center would not allow it to be set higher.

After some Google searching, I came across some Ubuntu forum posts that suggested various fixes that did not work, or which required programs that were not available on the live CD. Finally, the thing that worked was quite simple: I edited /etc/X11/xorg.conf, and in the “Monitor” section added the following line:

HorizSync 28 - 60

After restarting X with Ctrl-Alt-Backspace and logging back in, the Screen Resolution tool now showed a number of newly available screen resolutions, including the desired 1024×768. Apparently, the Trident display driver (or some other piece of X) wasn’t able to detect the monitor capabilities automatically (perhaps due to the monitor’s extreme antiquity), and the new line in xorg.conf provided just enough of the required information.

6 Responses to “Fixing screen resolution in Linux Mint 6 / Ubuntu 8.10”

  1. Adrian Leishman ad Says:
    March 24th, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    DUDE! FINALLY!

    Your solution worked for me. Thank you SO MUCH!!!

  2. Nate Says:
    May 15th, 2009 at 11:54 am

    You are the man. This worked perfect.

    I was jumping through hoops trying to get this to work on the internal Trident card. Yet it was so simple.

    Thanks!

  3. malcolm Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    I was experiencing this problem. I have Linux Mint Felicia running in VirtualBox on my MacBook.

    The VirtualBox setup was hiding my video card, so the generic fail-safe options were the only ones available. After I hit Ctrl-Alt-Backspace the screen resized immediately!

    thanks

  4. atorus Says:
    July 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    I was having a similar problem with an older CRT monitor connected to an eee pc 701 (using Mint 7). This solution has fixed it, thank you. :)

  5. Michael Says:
    August 27th, 2009 at 9:41 am

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    This worked like a charm for me on an old acer travelmate laptop running Linux Mint 6 Felicia. You’ve finally saved me from 800×600 limbo!

    Thank you!

  6. marc Says:
    October 18th, 2009 at 9:43 am

    Hi, this little addition saved me from hours of tweaking frustration. Thank you, Marc.

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