Screen Resolution

[duke66]

I'm running Ubuntu 32bit in a virtaulbox. It's working great but I want to manually change the screen resolution because the options listed don't have 1200x900. I've been using xrandr -s 1200x900 and it tells me that is not an option. What am I doing wrong here?

[MichaelSammels]

OK. First of all, if you are using the graphical version of Ubuntu you can go to System -> Preferences -> Monitor.

Secondly, have you installed the VirtualBox Tools and are you sure that your computer supports the resolution that you are trying to switch to?

[duke66]

Sorry the computer resolution is 1600x900 and that is not listed in the monitor options. So my question is can you change the resolution manually in bash?

And yes I installed the tools because that was how I was able to get out of the 800x600 little window I was stuck in before.

[Hansholz]

Good post. I've seen this same message when I was trying to add new resolutions.


xrandr --addmode VGA1 1024x600
xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1024x600

It worked the first time I did it, and I added 1440x900, then adding new resolutions after that using xrandr --addmode didn't work and I got the same message as you.

I wondered if there was a maximum number of resolutions I could have ('cos I had about 12 of them) but the --delmode function didn't work. I'm subscribing to this thread as I'm interested to know why I can't add customised resolutions above what's already in my xrandr output.

[avtolle]

Venturing into an area where I have little knowledge or experience is dangerous, but a question: what resolutions are supported by the host system drivers? IIRC, this is a potential limiting factor.

[duke66]

what was the actual code you used to add a different resolution?

[duke66]

Venturing into an area where I have little knowledge or experience is dangerous, but a question: what resolutions are supported by the host system drivers? IIRC, this is a potential limiting factor.

System -> Monitor->
1600x1200 (4:3)
1440x1050 (4:3)
1280x960 (4:3)
1024x768 (4:3)
800x600 (4:3)
640x480 (4:3)

[avtolle]

Take a look at http://www.linuxformat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6438

@duke66, thanks for the information. There is a suggestion in the above link that increasing your virtual screen size gives additional resolution options. Disclaimer: I have little experience w/this , but a quick read of the link seemed to indicate an idea or two. Good luck.

[duke66]

Thanks for the help guys but still no dice. I read through the tutorial and I could not access the CD. Nothing seems to work. If I figure it out I'll post the what I did.

[wildmanne39]

Thanks for the help guys but still no dice. I read through the tutorial and I could not access the CD. Nothing seems to work. If I figure it out I'll post the what I did.
Hi, have you installed guest additions for virtualbox then it will let you change the resolution. Also install the expansion pack for virtualbox.):P