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zorro2b
June 11th, 2008, 09:40 PM
I have installed Ubuntu 8.04 on an old Dell PC with a Diamond V700D graphics card. The max resolution I can get is 800x600. I have gone through all the suggestions here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FixVideoResolutionHowto

The only one I could not do was "sudo nvidia-settings" as the nvidia-settings command couldn't be found. Why would this be so?

Any other suggestions on what I could try would be helpful as 800x600 is a painfully small.

thanks

Pumalite
June 11th, 2008, 10:22 PM
Is your video card an Nvidia card?

zorro2b
June 12th, 2008, 01:00 AM
It is a Diamond V770D which uses an nVidia TNT2:
http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=33949

iaculallad
June 12th, 2008, 01:06 AM
It is a Diamond V770D which uses an nVidia TNT2:
http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=33949

Try posting your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

SoloSalsa
June 12th, 2008, 01:24 AM
I have an Asus TNT2, and I had (have) the very same problem (with 7.10—I have not bothered trying with 8.04). I tried the automatic driver dialogue, and tried installing the drivers myself, and reconfigured xorg a bunch; never got above 800*600, even with reduced colours. Someone suggested setting screen sync rates, so I did this twice. Both attempts resulted in some xorg server error, and I totally lost GUI. Even when I restored my backup settings, and uninstalled the drivers, the GUI never came back.
I will never try proper TNT2 drivers again. I would rather put up with stuttery frameskipping Flash and overall awful video performance than use SVGA.
This person had the same issue. (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=753868)

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 01:31 AM
I'm still getting the same 800x600 and the print is huge. Pages go below the bottom of the screen and I'm not able to use them. The resolution should be 1440x900.


Try posting your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

GNU nano 2.0.7 File: /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# xorg.conf (X.Org 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 xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man 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 "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"

^G Get Help ^O WriteOut ^R Read File ^Y Prev Page ^K Cut Text ^C Cur Pos
^X Exit ^J Justify ^W Where Is ^V Next Page ^U UnCut Text^T To Spell

iaculallad
June 12th, 2008, 01:35 AM
I'm still getting the same 800x600 and the print is huge. Pages go below the bottom of the screen and I'm not able to use them. The resolution should be 1440x900.



GNU nano 2.0.7 File: /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# xorg.conf (X.Org 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 xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man 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 "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"

^G Get Help ^O WriteOut ^R Read File ^Y Prev Page ^K Cut Text ^C Cur Pos
^X Exit ^J Justify ^W Where Is ^V Next Page ^U UnCut Text^T To Spell

Post the entire xorg.conf file.

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 01:44 AM
Post the entire xorg.conf file.

That's all that is there.


This person had the same issue. (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=753868)

The same thing has happened to me twice.

iaculallad
June 12th, 2008, 01:52 AM
That's all that is there.



The same thing has happened to me twice.

Re-issue the command below on your terminal and answer the questions with your "best" knowledge to re-config your xorg.conf file.


sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 01:59 AM
john@john-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
xserver-xorg postinst warning: overwriting possibly-customised configuration
file; backup in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.20080611175802
john@john-desktop:~$


Okay. There is nothing there to configure.

Pumalite
June 12th, 2008, 02:51 AM
In Hardy; the command is this:
gksudo displayconfig-gtk
(no assurance it will get you good graphics with your driver)

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 03:35 AM
In Hardy; the command is this:
gksudo displayconfig-gtk
(no assurance it will get you good graphics with your driver)

Thanks for your response. I've selected plug & play, and/or 1440x900 wide screen. Another screen pops up highlighted to the desktop with an "import" button to click, but then nothing shows up.
Maybe the drivers are not on the computer?

john@john-desktop:~$ gksudo displayconfig-gtk
Failed to get preferred width, height, or rate - Assuming none. IndexError: list index out of range
john@john-desktop:~$ gksudo displayconfig-gtk

Pumalite
June 12th, 2008, 03:49 AM
Get all your monitor specs in there. Consult your Manual if you have to.

tenmoi
June 12th, 2008, 03:51 AM
On the NVidia website there's both a 32 bit and 64 bit driver for just this kind of chipset. THis is the link to the 32 bit driver if you don't mind http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/71.86.04/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-71.86.04-pkg1.run
And the 64 bit one http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/71.86.04/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-71.86.04-pkg2.run
this is the thread to help you install it.

bie

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 05:41 AM
On the NVidia website there's both a 32 bit and 64 bit driver for just this kind of chipset. THis is the link to the 32 bit driver if you don't mind http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/71.86.04/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-71.86.04-pkg1.run
And the 64 bit one http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/71.86.04/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-71.86.04-pkg2.run
this is the thread to help you install it.

bie

Thank you, Bie.
Is that the same as the one in system > administration > hardware drivers?
I am wondering because, when I got that one the computer locked up twice afterwards, gave me a black screen and then I had to reinstall ubuntu from the disk. Or if that happens again, is there a way to bypass the black screen?

Thanks very much.

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 06:22 AM
Get all your monitor specs in there. Consult your Manual if you have to.

I keep adding them, and the terminal keeps saying they are out of range.

tenmoi
June 12th, 2008, 07:48 AM
Thank you, Bie.
Is that the same as the one in system > administration > hardware drivers?
I am wondering because, when I got that one the computer locked up twice afterwards, gave me a black screen and then I had to reinstall ubuntu from the disk. Or if that happens again, is there a way to bypass the black screen?

Thanks very much.

I don't know but since 6.10 I have only installed the driver provided by Nvidia.

Now when your xorg.conf is corrupted you can, in a console, do a

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

to get back to GUI.

zorro2b
June 12th, 2008, 11:40 AM
Hi, I originated this post - just following up now. How do you install the drivers from the nvidia site? I didn't see a link to the instructions. I tried running the script but it would not install with the x server running. How do I shut it down.

In case its helpful, here is one of the xconfigs I have been using:
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 30-80
VertRefresh 50-120
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection

EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "false"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
EndSection

PmDematagoda
June 12th, 2008, 11:44 AM
To stop the X-Server, execute:-

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

tenmoi
June 12th, 2008, 12:55 PM
Hi, I originated this post - just following up now. How do you install the drivers from the nvidia site? I didn't see a link to the instructions. I tried running the script but it would not install with the x server running. How do I shut it down.

In case its helpful, here is one of the xconfigs I have been using:
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 30-80
VertRefresh 50-120
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection

EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "false"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
EndSection

Sorry! I didn't post the thread. However this is the way:

remove all traces of Linux-restricted-modules*
sudo apt-get install build-essential libxft-dev.
Alt + Ctrl + F1
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
sudo sh path to your driver.run --uninstall # skip this step if you did not install it.
sudo sh /path to your driver.run
hit accept/yes all the way.
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart.

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 04:31 PM
when your xorg.conf is corrupted you can, in a console, do a

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

to get back to GUI.

When the screen went black, I was having trouble getting to a console.
I got to grub> from recovery mode, and thought I got to the console from there, but the sudo commands didn't work. Is there an easier way to get to the console from startup? Thanks very much.

The terminal is blank, the first thing this morning. There was nothing in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file before. The terminal shouldn't be blank, should it? I'm going to "applications > accessories > terminal". How can I get it back?

rogier.de.groot
June 12th, 2008, 04:43 PM
If you're using the nvidia driver, the restricted one, why isn't there a line that says:
Driver "nvidia"
somewhere in your xorg.conf? Should be there, or X will revert to the "nv" driver. As for nvidia-settings not being there, you install it via "sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings".

tenmoi
June 12th, 2008, 05:05 PM
When the screen went black, I was having trouble getting to a console.
I got to grub> from recovery mode, and thought I got to the console from there, but the sudo commands didn't work. Is there an easier way to get to the console from startup? Thanks very much.

The terminal is blank, the first thing this morning. There was nothing in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file before. The terminal shouldn't be blank, should it? I'm going to "applications > accessories > terminal". How can I get it back?

if you can get a login window, then you can always do an Alt + Ctrl + F1 to get to the console.

And have you installed the Nvidia driver the way I described previously?
Or are you experiencing problems with windows so you cannot remove the linux restricted modules from synaptics?

bie.

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 05:11 PM
if you can get a login window, then you can always do an Alt + Ctrl + F1 to get to the console.

And have you installed the Nvidia driver the way I described previously?
Or are you experiencing problems with windows so you cannot remove the linux restricted modules from synaptics?

bie.

When the screen went black, I got to "grub >" but didn't get to a login window before. I tried the "alt-ctrl-f1" and nothing happened. I did type something at "grub >" that then said "console" but the sudo commands didn't work.

I haven't installed the Nvidia driver yet, as I'm trying to make sure of getting back in if the screen goes black again. Regarding problems with windows, the terminal is totally blank right now, nothing is showing inside it at all, nothing. I'm concerned about that and wondering how to get the terminal back. Previously, all that showed up in xorg is what I posted previously.

I wonder if xorg is empty and that's why the terminal is blank. :(

johnlvs2run
June 12th, 2008, 06:52 PM
I did a search for "blank terminal" in ubuntuforums on google, and the blank terminal is apparently an issue that occurs with changes in resolution in ubuntu. No particular remedies were given except to change back the resolution and try again.

As the terminal is empty, no menu or anything, and perhaps the xorg file is empty, I've been loath to reboot or download the driver and have to do another reinstall. At this point there seems to be nothing else to try, so I'll go ahead and download the driver, reboot, and then see what happens.

Update: I've downloaded the driver, now the top panel doesn't work. I'm going to reboot.. brb or see you tonight. :)

Update: I'm back, yippee! The terminal is working again. No change in the choices under "system > preferences > screen resolution". I clicked the Nvidia icon on the desktop and got the following message:


Nvida-linux-x86-71.86.04-pkg1.run
Could not open the file /home/john/Desktop/NVIDI…nux-x86-71.86.04-pkg1.run using the Unicode (UTF-8) character coding.

Please check that you are not trying to open a binary file.
Select a different character coding from the menu and try again.

Pumalite
June 12th, 2008, 10:18 PM
Try to follow post # 20 to install your driver.

johnlvs2run
June 13th, 2008, 12:10 AM
I'm back, followed the directions on the Nvidia site and get this response from the terminal.

john@john-desktop:~$ sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg#.run
sh: Can't open NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg#.run
john@john-desktop:~$
Now proceeding with directions in msg#20.

Pumalite
June 13th, 2008, 12:17 AM
sudo chmod 777 /path/to/driver/NVIDIAxxx.run

johnlvs2run
June 13th, 2008, 01:06 AM
sudo apt-get install build-essential libxft-dev
Done.

Alt + Ctrl + F1
This took me to a command prompt, so I came back to write the rest of the instructions, then repeated.

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
Done.

sudo sh nvidia-linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg.run --uninstall
I haven't installed it but did this anyway.
Result: "sh: can't open nvidia-linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg.run
Be sure when doing this that you have the latest run from Nvidia here:
http://www.nvidia.com/download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

sudo sh nvidia-linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg.run
Result: "sh: can't open nvidia-linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg.run

hit accept/yes all the way.
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart.
This last one is a nice command so don't have to reboot.


sudo chmod 777 /path/to/driver/NVIDIAxxx.run
The prompt was already on the desktop, but perhaps this was the issue.

surfer57
June 13th, 2008, 01:15 AM
I noticed this after the last update....don't know if it had anything to do with it or not, just followed Y'alls advise and as usual....Ubuntu ROCKS!!!

Thanks!
surfer57

johnlvs2run
June 13th, 2008, 02:25 AM
sudo chmod 777 /path/to/driver/NVIDIAxxx.run


sudo chmod 777 /home/john/desktop/nvidia-linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg.run

"chmod: cannot access"

Pumalite
June 13th, 2008, 02:47 AM
sudo chmod 777 ~/Desktop/NVIDIAxxx.run

johnlvs2run
June 13th, 2008, 03:15 AM
john@john-desktop:~$ sudo chmod 777 ~/desktop/nvidia-linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

chmod: cannot access `/home/john/desktop/nvidia-linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run': no such file or directory

The case of the letters don't matter do they, i.e. NVIDIA or nvidia.

Pumalite
June 13th, 2008, 03:27 AM
They do

tenmoi
June 13th, 2008, 03:34 AM
brb

You do not have to chmod the .run file, for it is a self-extracted file.

Be NOTED that you must give the CORRECT PATH to the file. To be sure, you should cd to where the file is located, for example

cd /media/home/john/Desktop # Linux is case-sensitive
dir # assuming that your file.run is on desktop.

and you can see the file without the waste of some paper and ink. Now

sudo sh file.run

ANd there you go.

SECOND NOTE:

If you want to uninstall the driver, you must use the one with the exact driver verion.

So you do this to uninstall:
cd /media/home/john/Desktop
dir # skip this if you remember the file name

sudo sh file.run --uninstall.

To sum up.

YOU MUST BE IN THE FOLDER WHERE THE FILE IS LOCATED TO OPERATE IT.

ELSE

YOU MUST GIVE YOUR COMMAND THE PATH TO THE FILE SO IT KNOWS WHERE TO FIND THE FILE.

johnlvs2run
June 13th, 2008, 04:50 AM
Bingo! Now it is working! Thanks to you both for sticking with this.
These are the commands that worked:


cd /home/john/Desktop/
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.14.05-pkg1.run

"No precompiled kernal interface was found for your kernal. Would you like the installer to download a kernal interface for your kernal from the NVIDIA ftp site." OK

"No matching precompiled kernal interface was found on the NVIDIA ftp site. This means that the installer will need to compile a kernal interface for your kernal." OK

Now there are lots of choices at "system > preferences > screen resolution" and they work. :)
Circles are circles again!!!! Images are clear and sharp.
Print was very small at 1440x900, there were split and double lines and images.
I changed to 1280x800 and wow what a difference, much better. :)

The Nvidia accelerated driver under "system > administration > hardware drivers" is unchecked.
That's the one that gave me the spewed colors and black screen before. Do I need that one or is it better to let it be?

Thanks much for your helpfulness!

tenmoi
June 13th, 2008, 07:49 AM
Glad to hear you have done it!

just a side note. If you want to KEEP your setting, you must:

sudo nvidia-settings

Else you're not allowed to save your xorg.conf file. Only root has the right to modify the system files, don't you?

zorro2b
June 13th, 2008, 12:30 PM
I'm glad that guy who hijacked my thread is happy now...

I have also managed to get my system running with the nvidia driver, but I still don't have any higher res available. I think the root of the problem is this from the x server log file:
(II) NVIDIA(0): Configured Monitor: Using default hsync range of 31.50-37.90 kHz
(II) NVIDIA(0): Configured Monitor: Using default vrefresh range of 50.00-70.00 Hz

I don't understand why it is using defaults when I have provided specific values. Here is my current xorg.conf. Any suggestion appreciated:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Boardname "Diamond Viper 770"
Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
Driver "nvidia"
Screen 0
Vendorname "Diamond"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Vendorname "Plug 'n' Play"
Modelname "Plug 'n' Play"
modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
Gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Virtual 1024 768
Modes "1024x768@60" "800x600@60" "640x480@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
Load "v4l"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

johnlvs2run
June 13th, 2008, 05:53 PM
Glad to hear you have done it!

just a side note. If you want to KEEP your setting, you must:

sudo nvidia-settings

Else you're not allowed to save your xorg.conf file. Only root has the right to modify the system files, don't you?

Thanks! I will do that with the setting (though don't understand it yet).
I have rebooted though. Does that mean I need to do them over again.

Firefox went totally bonkers last night, due to some incompatibility with the resolution, and still doesn't work as the screen is all black or 1/2 black and no print. Email and Pidgin are fine. I finally managed to load Epiphany somehow through the terminal this morning, am using this for my browser and it is much faster than Firefox. Any suggestions to get Firefox working again much appreciated, otherwise I am done with this thread and will post elsewhere about that. Also there are still some issues with double split lines, and I have to page up and down to get rid of them.
Thanks much to Tenmoi and Pumalite. :D

rogier.de.groot
June 13th, 2008, 07:37 PM
This may be the dumbest suggestion yet - but it worked for me (after unsuccessfully consulting this forum for an answer). I just installed LinuxMint 5, got X working right on that, saved the xorg.conf file, reinstalled hardy, imported the xorg.conf from mint, and all was good again.
Anyway, why is the only "modeline" entry in your xorg.conf for 640x480? That ain't right.
BTW, I seem to recall modelines from waaaayy back, like redhat 9 or something; they went away. Why are they back?

avtolle
June 13th, 2008, 07:43 PM
This may be the dumbest suggestion yet - but it worked for me (after unsuccessfully consulting this forum for an answer). I just installed LinuxMint 5, got X working right on that, saved the xorg.conf file, reinstalled hardy, imported the xorg.conf from mint, and all was good again.
Anyway, why is the only "modeline" entry in your xorg.conf for 640x480? That ain't right.
BTW, I seem to recall modelines from waaaayy back, like redhat 9 or something; they went away. Why are they back?
Well, I was going to suggest he install an earlier version of Ubuntu to get to a working /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, and copy it over to 8.04. Since Mint5 has a relationship to Hardy, likely your suggestion is better, anyway.

johnlvs2run
August 4th, 2008, 12:52 AM
Be sure you're using the latest driver from Nvidia
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_177.13.html

Thanks to Jualin for the part in bold, the resolution is finally staying put.

sudo apt-get install build-essential libxft-dev
alt-cntr-F1
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm/ stop
cd /home/loginname/Desktop/downloads/
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-177.13-pkg1.run
yes, ok, yes, ok
cd ... (optional)
cntr-alt-del ... (or sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart)

> applications > accessories > terminal
sudo nvidia-settings
This didn't work from the command prompt previously.

back to the desktop
> applications > system tools > nvidia X server settings
> X server display configuration
> "tab" to resolution
> "space bar" to open
> "arrow" to 1280x800 or whatever you want
> apply > save to X > quit.

pepaman
August 12th, 2008, 04:58 AM
Thanks allot