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Trouble changing screen resolution.

Submitted by neko18 on Sun, 2005-05-15 11:15

I have recently purchaced your book, Moving to Linux: Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye, and am having trouble changing the screen resolution.

I followed the instructions provided at http://www.marcelgagne.com/KBSODG/knoppixhelp.html#screenres and typed in "knoppix screen=1024x768" at the "boot:" prompt (without quotations). I also tried "knoppix screen=800x600", but all three (leaving the "boot:" prompt blank, typing "knoppix screen=1024x768", and typing "knoppix screen=800x600") had the exact same results of a 640x480 screen resolution. Windows (the OS) is able to run any of those resolutions on my computer.

Note: I am using the Knoppix Live CD provided with the book.

‹ Dual-Booting Windows XP and Kubuntu linux noob can use some help!! ›
#1Submitted by wftl on Wed, 2006-08-23 09:04.

Re: More Screen res. woes

Hello omzig89,

The short answer is that Knoppix does its best but that it is limited by the fact that a) there are only so many drivers you can fit on the CD, and b) it may not know about your particular video card because it was made after the Knoppix CD was created. So, how can you get around this? Well, every modern card supports VESA mode, so we'll start there. Second, it's possible that your monitor is also too new for Knoppix to know it intimately. Does your panel support 60Hz? 70Hz? For instance . . .

knoppix xmodule=vesa screen=1280x1024 xvrefresh=60 or vsync=60

This particular cheat code will tell Knoppix to use a 60Hz vertical refresh rate.

You didn't say whether you were able to get 1024x768 (kind of a default resolution for reasonably modern hardware). If you don't specify anything at all (other than vesa, maybe), what resolution do you get?

-- Marcel

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