Just installed Ubuntu this evening and am using Linux for the first time in my life. Not really sure yet about just what the hell I'm doing (LOL).

The native resolution for my monitor is 1920 x 1600 but I'm only able to get 1600 x 1200. I've Googled the problem and realize that I've got a couple of changes to make, but how do I get to wherever I need to go to make the changes??? And, yes, I do know that I'm dumb as a rock. Thanks.

Edit: Found the terminal, and at another forum, a command which was supposed to allow me to change to the proper resolution. However, it's now at something like 600 x 400. Everything else seems to be working well, but I've only made the resolution problem worse. Brilliant, I am! LOL

I was about to ask when the heck you started using linux

OK a few keystrokes for you to get familiar with in case you ever need them.

CTRL+ALT+F?

Where the question mark can be 1-12 or however many Function keys you have, so CTRL+ALT+F7 is one example. Doing this will page through a variety of virtual consoles. Your Graphical subsystem will be on one(Aka the Gui or Desktop) usually F7 sometimes F10, sometimes just an odd number

If you are looking at your graphical subsystem, you can page through availiable resolutions with the keystrokes..

CTRL+ALT+'+'
CTRL+ALT+'-'

Note that these are obviously without the quotes, and also this is the + and - on the numberpad.

Ok that being said, here is what we would need. In the console, type 'lspci -v' without the quotes obviously, and paste the output in a CODE block here. Also paste up the file located at /etc/X11/xorg.conf

'lspci -v' will give information about the PCI hardware subsystem and what is attached to it. In other words it will give us the video card being used

The /etc/X11/xorg.conf is the configuration file for your graphical subsystem. This will be where you do all sorts of things, like enable a proprietary driver, enable using multiple monitors, change resolutions availiable, etc. The low level stuff only though, things like appearance and similar are handled by whatever window manager you are using(In your case Gnome) and its config files.

It is confusing to get used to, but once you do, it is amazingly easy to do much more advanced things and customize to your hearts desire.

Seablade

PS Is this running on a x86 or PPC based machine out of curiosity?

Thanks for the reply, seablade. Following is what I hope you've asked for - I'm really not quite sure.

I tried using the keystrokes Ctrl+Alt+F. . . but nothing happened - no response at all. Something probably was installed incorrectly, I suppose. Odd, because I used F2 in order to access the screen which shows both Windows and Ubuntu. Is that normal, btw? When I reboot, both systems now show up, fortunately.


/etc/X11/xorg.conf
bash: /etc/X11/xorg.conf: Permission denied
kelly@kelly-desktop:~$


:~$ lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82875P/E7210 Memory Controller Hub (rev 02)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82875P/E7210 Memory Controller Hub
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Memory at f8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82875P Processor to AGP Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 32
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=32
I/O behind bridge: 00009000-00009fff
Memory behind bridge: ff700000-ff7fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: d6b00000-f6afffff

00:03.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82875P/E7210 Processor to PCI to CSA Bridge (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 32
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000a000-0000afff
Memory behind bridge: ff800000-ff8fffff

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 177
I/O ports at cc00 [size=32]

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 185
I/O ports at d000 [size=32]

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 169
I/O ports at d400 [size=32]

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 177
I/O ports at d800 [size=32]

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 193
Memory at ffaffc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev c2) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=32
I/O behind bridge: 0000b000-0000bfff
Memory behind bridge: ff900000-ff9fffff

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) IDE Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 169
I/O ports at <unassigned>
I/O ports at <unassigned>
I/O ports at <unassigned>
I/O ports at <unassigned>
I/O ports at ffa0 [size=16]
Memory at 50000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]

00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801EB (ICH5) SATA Controller (rev 02) (prog-if 8f [Master SecP SecO PriP PriO])
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 169
I/O ports at ec00 [size=8]
I/O ports at e800 [size=4]
I/O ports at e400 [size=8]
I/O ports at e000 [size=4]
I/O ports at dc00 [size=16]

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 425a
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 3
I/O ports at c800 [size=32]

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc R480 [Radeon X850Pro] (prog-if 00 [VGA])
Subsystem: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 0312
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 11
Memory at e8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
I/O ports at 9800 [size=256]
Memory at ff7f0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
Expansion ROM at ff7c0000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: <access denied>

01:00.1 Display controller: ATI Technologies Inc R480 [Radeon X850Pro] (Secondary)
Subsystem: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 0313
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32
Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
Memory at ff7e0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
Capabilities: <access denied>

02:01.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82547EI Gigabit Ethernet Controller (LOM)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Unknown device 3025
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 169
Memory at ff8e0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
I/O ports at ac00 [size=32]
Capabilities: <access denied>

03:02.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Audigy (rev 04)
Subsystem: Creative Labs SB Audigy 2 ZS (SB0350)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 201
I/O ports at b800 [size=64]
Capabilities: <access denied>

03:02.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Audigy MIDI/Game port (rev 04)
Subsystem: Creative Labs SB Audigy MIDI/Game Port
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32
I/O ports at bc00 [size=8]
Capabilities: <access denied>

03:02.2 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Creative Labs SB Audigy FireWire Port (rev 04) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Creative Labs SB Audigy FireWire Port
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 169
Memory at ff9ff800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Memory at ff9f8000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: <access denied>

kelly@kelly-desktop:~$

In Linux, there are similar things to Administrator in Windows. In Linux, we have root. This is where you can make any change to your system. However, Ubuntu automatically makes you a user without root priveledges. But, most people need to be in root to install programs or access files such as the xorg.conf. To do this you run this command:

As you can see, the /etc/X11/xorg.conf is the file you are trying to open, however there are 2 other commands present. The sudo command is what allows you to run in root, you use it to access restricted files or use apt-get (install programs). Gedit is the command for the editor similar to notepad in Windows except more features. this should open the file. Highlight the entire file and post it here.

Here it is, BIGEE. Thanks for the help.

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# 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 "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbOptions" "lv3:ralt_switch"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 28-51
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Ok so what is happening, you have a dual-head ATi card, but are using a generic VESA driver to run it. So that you are aware, in both pieces you posted these are the sections that tell me this, and an example of a CODE block as well, itll come in handy...

Ok this tells me what you are probably aware of, you have an ATi Radeon X850 Pro. The fact there are two addresses for it means it is almost certainly a dual-head card. However the capabilities being <access denied> and the subsystem showing Unknown Device both indicate to me that something may not be right here, later to be confirmed by your xorg.conf....

This is the part of your xorg.conf that describes your video card. As you can see, it is a generic video card accordig to your xorg and it is using the VESA drivers.

Now I am going to take a quick moment to answer other questions you brought up...

In as far as the CTRL+ALT+Fkey thing I mentioned, try adding SHIFT to that combination. Note that all keys have to be pressed at one time, though I have a feeling you did this anyways. I doubt it is not installed, in fact I am certain it is, it is just some distros will customize the exact keypress in a way I can't remember how to do right now

In as far as your boot menu, where you say both Windows and Linux show up, that is in fact a good thing That is GRUB, which is a bootloader, that is very common on linux in fact. The fact it shows both Windows and Linux means that your Windows partition was correctly detected and the installer for Ubuntu took care of setting up the bootloader for you.

IN as far as why things failed the first time BigE was dead on, but so that you are aware, that 'sudo' he added on to the beginning of the command allows you to run the command as the super-user (Aka Administrator in Windows speak, or root is how you will commonly find it on Unix systems like Linux). As he mentioned by default the root account is disabled by default in Ubuntu, something I particularly like. If you ever need to access it just type...

'sudo su'

Without the quotes of course. This will give you a root prompt. Be careful on what you do as root as you can mess things up in a big way if you are not careful, it is just like the Admin of any other OS, it can do a lot of damage if you aren't careful.

Ok back to the video card. If I remember right, automatix can automatically take care of installing the ATi Drivers for you, though since I don't use ATi, maybe someone else can confirm that? At any rate Automatix is a great thing to look into on Ubuntu due to it taking care of installing a LOT of commonly used componets.

Also here are the instructions on how to set up the drivers by hand in Ubuntu(Check Automatix first and see if it will do this for you, with automatix it may just install the drivers, we may still be swapping XOrg over to using them by hand, it isn't hard though)...

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

Now in case you were wondering, there is some question about the legality of ATi and NVidia binary Blobs in the Kernel, which is part of the reason many distributions do not install it by default.

Also as a side note, if you get bored, or decide you would rather start with a distro that uses the ATi drivers by default, there are a few others out there. One I might reccomend trying out that comes well packaged as an end user system is ELive, though if I remember right things like PCLinuxOS also have ATi version and I think ABF reccomends that one as well, haven't used that one myself though.

But if you decide you want to keep plugging away on Ubuntu, keep posting and we can help you through it if you get stuck in the directions I posted.

Seablade

PS Make a BACKUP of your xorg.conf before you edit it, that way you can always restore it on the console if you need to. And figure out that key combination I mentioned earlier, you will probably need it to do this.

By the way, you have a Wacom hooked up? Interested to hear how well that is working for you.

Seablade

I don't think he has wacom hooked up. Ubuntu seems to have drivers for it activated even if you don't have it. It's activated in my system as well even though i don't have it.
Or maybe he does have it hooked up XD

Ok, guys, first, thanks for the quick answers and information. I appreciate the help.

Next, I'm going to look into Automatix and the keystroke situation, but probably not until tomorrow. My mind is fried tonight. lol

BTW, the video drivers were updated just a few days ago. It didn't occur to me that I might need different drivers for a different OS, despite knowing that a system must be chosen when updating. What a n00b!

Hehe, yeah bmw, I hope you take seablade's suggestion and use Automatix.
http://www.getautomatix.com/
just click installation for ubuntu (follow instructions for whichever versino of ubuntu you have, im assuming edgy eft).
The great thing about automatix is that it will get you your codecs (to play mp3's and restricted formats) and it will also install an ati driver (dont quote me on that, it installs my nvidia driver, ive never tried it with an ati card)

good luck and let us know what happens.

I have a wacom tablet. It works, but it has issues with my laptop's wide screen. It's very frustrating to work with. I find that I have to constantly lift the pen so that it re-orientates itself.

Like bigee1212 said, ubuntu loads the driver by default for some reason.

How annoying it installs the driver by default... Things I don't miss on Gentoo

Speaking of which, seriously considering making my PPC laptop into another linux machine, realised today I use a total of one software program not availiable on Linux on a regular basis. So dualbooting is definitly an option, but I gotta look into what is availiable in as far as disk space, might have to upgrade the HD.

Seablade

what i see is you need to install fglrx, and under the resolutions type in the right options for your screen (and remove junk like 800x600 since you're never gonna use it). also you can remove the walcom if it bothers you....it doesn't do anything though so there is no use, just risk screweing something up.

btw...welcome to the dark side.

Thats what I saw too.

Since when is linux the dark side? I though M$ was the dark side

I'm not having any luck with making changes to this OS. Nothing seems to work as it should, at least with respect to screen resolution; everything else is fine.

The site getautomatix.com seems to have gone down (of course! ) on the 14th. Changing the resolution seems to be beyond my mental capabilities, so I'll probably wait 'til the site is back up before trying again. Can't remember ever before spending so much time trying to make such a minor change to a system.

Ubuntu seems to fly on this machine. Is my imagination in overdrive, or is the OS really fast?