resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

[terrordrone]

i could not find a sub forum for intrepid so am posting this here..

on my office desktop (kubuntu 8.10).. the resolution has been reset to 800x600

and xrandr gives :

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 800 x 600, maximum 800 x 600
default connected 800x600+0+0 0mm x 0mm
 800x600    60.0*  56.0
 640x480    60.0
 400x300    60.0  56.0
 320x240    60.0

That is my xorg.conf

....
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Monitor		"Configured Monitor"
	Device		"Configured Video Device"
EndSection

i also notice that 945resolution app in synaptic is nowhere to be seen..

how do i get it back to 1024x768 or higher ?

please do let me know if i have to provide more information

[Duggeek]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

i could not find a sub forum for intrepid so am posting this here..

on my office desktop (kubuntu 8.10).. the resolution has been reset to 800x600

how do i get it back to 1024x768 or higher ?

please do let me know if i have to provide more information

The make/chipset of your video card... or the make/model of your PC (laptop?) would give us a place to start. Many of the *buntu versions will do "failsafe" video on a card they cannot recognize.

Off-handed prognosis: It looks like xserver-xorg (the 'engine' for the GUI desktop) has reset to defaults and there's no hardware-specific driver being loaded. It then auto-detects your hardware to determine the desktop resolution. Without a more-specific hardware driver, it seems that 800x600 is as far as it can go.

You say it's "been reset"... any ideas as to what caused that?

Was this an upgrade, or has your "office desktop" been running 8.10 for some time?

Have you tried 9.04? (I actually recommend it over 8.10... many fixes)

[terrordrone]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

hi

thanks for the reply.

i havent done anything.. i just check for updates through synaptic.. (dont like adept)

this is an installation of 8.10 and its still 8.10 .. i dont want to risk upgrading to 9.04

it would help me a lot if you can give me some commands i can run on the shell to identify the video card .. pardon my ignorance

[dibl]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

lspci

in the console will list the make and model of your graphics chip.

[terrordrone]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

here is the output of lspci

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82875P Processor to AGP Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV18GL [Quadro NVS 280 SD] (rev c1)

ive removed those which are not related like audio controller.. etc

was not sure of these..

[dibl]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

So it's an Nvidia Quadro NVS 280 SD. I believe that you are going to have to learn to like the "nv" driver -- I think that is the only one that is supported with the new Xorg version that came with 8.10. Check out the release notes here:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/810

[terrordrone]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

ok.. so there is no fix ?

but why all of a sudden ? it was 8.10 from the beginning and i haven't upgraded to jaunty :|

[dibl]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

Hmmm - well, those are the 8.10 release notes -- that is when the Xorg version changed.

So, if your only concern is the display resolution, the nv driver should handle that. Try doing these two things:

1. Open Adept (or Synaptic) and make sure you have the package xserver-xorg-video-nv installed.


2. Ctrl-Alt-F1 to exit the GUI, then shut down the X server with

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

then

sudo dpkg-reconfigure --phigh xserver-xorg

then

startx

Post back and let's see what changed.

[terrordrone]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

when i tried to stop kdm.. they display went into console mode.. but i didnt get a prompt.. waited for some 5 mins.. then restarted system.. when i got to login screen again.. i did ctrl+f1 and then logged in to the console mode.. and then stopped kdm..

after that i keyed in the command .. it said

$sudo dpkg-reconfigure --phigh xserver-xorg
Unknown option: phigh
Usage: dpkg-reconfigure [options] packages
 -a, --all          Reconfigure all packages.
 -u, --unseen-only      Show only not yet seen questions.
    --default-priority    Use default priority instead of low.
    --force         Force reconfiguration of broken packages.
 -f, --frontend        Specify debconf frontend to use.
 -p, --priority        Specify minimum priority question to show.
    --terse         Enable terse mode.

[terrordrone]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

this is what i get when i run nvidia-settings :

You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run `nvidia-xconfig` as root), and restart the X server.

on running nvidia-xconfig :

Using X configuration file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf".

VALIDATION ERROR: Data incomplete in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
         Device section "Configured Video Device" must have a Driver
         line.

sh: pkg-config: not found
sh: pkg-config: not found
Backed up file '/etc/X11/xorg.conf' as '/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup'
New X configuration file written to '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'

i restarted the system.. but when it reboots.. i dont even get kdm..
luckily i had backed xorg.conf file and replaced it.. then im back to 800x600 mode

[dibl]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

OK, one thing at a time.

Whenever you get that "black screen with blinking cursor" result after exiting the GUI, you can usually do Alt-F1 (or F2 or F3) and get the console -- no need to reboot.

"nvidia-settings" is only for an installed nVidia proprietary driver, so that's not gonna work with the nv driver. However, the nv driver isn't working either :P

And worst of all, apparently the changes to Xorg have rendered the good old xserver-xorg reconfiguration routine obsolete -- I did not realize that.

The nVidia driver site does not even list the Quadro NVS 280:

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

I tried a NVS 300 and it does not show a driver available.

Did your screen look OK when you ran a Kubuntu Live CD? Apparently you had a good driver and display at one time -- I'm wondering what that setup was? Can you boot a Live CD and then take a look at the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file that is in the running filesystem? It would be interesting to see what that looks like -- potentially you could use that same setup for the installed system.

I dunno -- this is a bit mysterious. I've got to run off to the office -- maybe I can help more later.

[terrordrone]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

1. yea i could get the console by doing ctrl+f1/2 etc .. just mentioned if it helps in debugging

2. it was fine all these days.. i dunno wat happened all of a sudden.. maybe an update from the repo .. coz im so noob i dont know to spoil the system as well

3. I do not have the live cd with me.. will get that from my home tomo and will post it tomo first thing in the morn..

thanks again for the replies

[dibl]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

Here's another thing to try -- install the EnvyNG package, and run it in text mode to install a suitable driver:

1. Exit the GUI with Ctrl-Alt-F1 -- use Alt-F1 if you first get a black screen with no prompt.

2. Log in and shut down the X server with

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

3.

sudo apt-get install envyng-qt

to install it

4.

sudo envyng -t

to run it

5. When you're looking at the EnvyNG menu, first choose the item to "Remove" or "Uninstall" the driver. Then choose #1 "Install" the proprietary driver.

6. When it has finished installing the driver, then run

sudo nvidia-xconfig

7. Now you can issue

startx

and maybe get a GUI screen. If it works, then do Alt-F2 "kdesudo nvidia-settings" with no quote marks, to run the nvidia-settings utility in Super User mode. Set your resolution (leave refresh set to "auto"). When the resolution is right, click the "Save to X Configuration" button, and "OK" or "Save" or whatever.

And then in the future you will not use "kdesudo" to run nvidia-settings -- just use it as a user.

[terrordrone]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

this is what i got when i tried to install the driver :

Please select one of the activities displayed above and press ENTER:

1
 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+                                                                      
 | Number | Candidate Version         | Installed Version | Compatible | Recommended |                                                                      
 |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|                                                                      
 | 0      | 180.11-0ubuntu1~intrepid1 | -                 | -          | -           |                                                                      
 |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|                                                                      
 | 1      | 177.82-0ubuntu0.1         | -                 | -          | -           |                                                                      
 |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|                                                                      
 | 2      | 173.14.12-1-0ubuntu5.1    | -                 | -          | -           |                                                                      
 |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|                                                                      
 | 3      | 96.43.09-0ubuntu1.1       | -                 | +          | +           |                                                                      
 |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|                                                                      
 | 4      | 71.86.04-0ubuntu10        | -                 | +          | -           |                                                                      
 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+                                                                      
Please select the number corresponding to the desired driver and press ENTER  
(or type another number and press Enter to go back to the previous menu):     
3                                                                             

Dowloading the packages...
[>                                   0.0%                                     [>                                   0.0%                                     [>                                   0.0%                                      ]Traceback (most recent call last):                                          
&#160; File "interface.py", line 432, in <module>&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; &#160; a.mainMenu()&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; File "interface.py", line 295, in mainMenu&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; &#160; a.driverMenu('nvidia')&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; File "interface.py", line 333, in driverMenu&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; &#160; self.process(self.abstract.install, package)&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; File "interface.py", line 391, in process&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
&#160; &#160; myFunction(myArgs)&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/abstraction.py", line 155, in install&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
&#160; &#160; self.pkg.install(packages, self.widget)&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
&#160; File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/Envy/packagemanager.py", line 206, in install&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; &#160; self.cacheUi.commit(UiFetchProgress(widget, self.isText), UiInstallProgress(widget, self.isText))&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
&#160; File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/apt/cache.py", line 223, in commit&#160;&#160; 
&#160; &#160; res = self._fetchArchives(fetcher, pm)&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/apt/cache.py", line 181, in _fetchArchives&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
&#160; &#160; return self._runFetcher(fetcher)&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; File "/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/apt/cache.py", line 163, in _runFetcher&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
&#160; &#160; raise FetchFailedException, errMsg&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; 
apt.cache.FetchFailedException: Failed to fetch [url]http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/d/dkms/dkms_2.0.20.4-0ubuntu2.1_all.deb[/url] Could not resolve 'archive.ubuntu.com'&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
Failed to fetch [url]http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/f/fakeroot/fakeroot_1.9.5ubuntu1.1_i386.deb[/url] Could not resolve 'archive.ubuntu.com'&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
Failed to fetch [url]http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/restricted/n/nvidia-graphics-drivers-96/nvidia-96-kernel-source_96.43.09-0ubuntu1.1_i386.deb[/url] Could not resolve 'archive.ubuntu.com'&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; 
Failed to fetch [url]http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/restricted/n/nvidia-graphics-drivers-96/nvidia-glx-96_96.43.09-0ubuntu1.1_i386.deb[/url] Could not resolve 'archive.ubuntu.com'&#160;&#160;

my http proxy is set.. but i still get that error

I booted the system with the live CD .. the display came after a long time.. thought it was hung.. i pressed ctl+alt+backspace and then GUI came..the resolution was 800x600 .. on checking the xorg.conf file.. its the same that is currently running on my system (which ive posted above)

[dibl]

Re: resolution issue on kubuntu 8.10

Hmmmmmm.

Have you had any other problems related to updating or installing software? It sure looks like there was a problem with this one. Sometimes you can have an intermittent problem with a repo, due to it being updated at the same time that you are trying to download updates or a package.

I do think the 96.43.xx driver is the correct proprietary driver version for that Quadro, but, whether you use EnvyNG or install the nvidia-glx-96 package, you gotta have a working connection to the repository.

So, all I can advise at this point is to open a Konsole window and issue

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-96

and post the error message here. If there is an error related to the connection to the repository, then the problem changes from a display resolution to a source list issue AND a display resolution issue. If you can't find a useful thread, you'll have to copy and post the file /etc/apt/sources.list here.