Thread: Ubuntu screen resolution

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    Ubuntu screen resolution

    I am running Ubuntu on a live disk right now and the screen resolution is terrible. Currently, the highest setting is 800x600. Running Windows it could get much higher. It's also not widescreen format so the pixels are very stretched. Is there anyway to get the resolution higher?

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    Yes, you need to set up your XWindows correctly. Exactly how you go about that in Ubuntu I'm not sure. The lowlevel configurations are in XF86Config, but there are usually more clever ways to configure than to edit that file... [And if you edit that wrong, you end up with BAD things - worst case you'd blow up your monitor, although that is fairly unlikely].

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    Sounds fun. Anybody here ever tried doing something like that on Ubuntu? I wouldn't even know where to begin.

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    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lruc View Post
    Sounds fun. Anybody here ever tried doing something like that on Ubuntu? I wouldn't even know where to begin.
    Which is why I dont like Linux, its user unfriendly in the extreme, plus every yahoo that write a package thinks he needs to reinvent the wheel. It has great potential, but honestly if not for its free nature I dont think as many people would still use it. I mean Windows Server is competing against a product that is free and still holding market share, theres something to be said about that.

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    Quote Originally Posted by lruc
    Sounds fun. Anybody here ever tried doing something like that on Ubuntu? I wouldn't even know where to begin.
    Have you tried asking in Ubuntu's own community support forums?

    abachler, this thread is not about Linux versus Windows. If you wish to start a debate on Linux versus Windows, start a new thread.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
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    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    Have you tried asking in Ubuntu's own community support forums?

    abachler, this thread is not about Linux versus Windows. If you wish to start a debate on Linux versus Windows, start a new thread.
    Yes I have. The only response I got there was somebody saying to try using the propriety drivers. The only problem is, to install those, you need to reboot the system. Everything gets erased though because I'm using the live cd.

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    Quote Originally Posted by lruc View Post
    Yes I have. The only response I got there was somebody saying to try using the propriety drivers. The only problem is, to install those, you need to reboot the system. Everything gets erased though because I'm using the live cd.
    Yes, you may find that this is one of the few working solutions, however. Perhaps offering up a small portion of your hard-disk to install Linux on would be a nice idea...

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    I was just considering that. I also asked on their forums how reliable the proprietary drivers are. Someone responded with identical specs to me who said they worked great. Can you keep Ubuntu and Windows on the same hard drive?

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    Quote Originally Posted by lruc View Post
    I was just considering that. I also asked on their forums how reliable the proprietary drivers are. Someone responded with identical specs to me who said they worked great. Can you keep Ubuntu and Windows on the same hard drive?
    Yes, you can have Linux and Windows on the same drive - you need to check which you should install first, as things go pretty bad if you get it wrong way around [like you have to re-install stuff]. I'm 80% sure it's Windows first, then Linux, but check it first - I'm sure there are 600 websites that tell you how to do that in google.

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    Quote Originally Posted by matsp View Post
    Yes, you can have Linux and Windows on the same drive - you need to check which you should install first, as things go pretty bad if you get it wrong way around [like you have to re-install stuff]. I'm 80% sure it's Windows first, then Linux, but check it first - I'm sure there are 600 websites that tell you how to do that in google.

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    Is there a way to do it by getting rid of Windows? I hardly use it now as it is.

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    Quote Originally Posted by lruc View Post
    Is there a way to do it by getting rid of Windows? I hardly use it now as it is.
    Sure, just install straight on top of Windows, formatting the Windows partition. Just make sure you've saved any files that you really want to keep (Browser Bookmarks, E-mail address book, etc).

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    Cool. Thanks for everybody's help.

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    Chinese pâté foxman's Avatar
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    Still, I wouldn't erase my Windows partition if I were you, it can be handy sometimes. Plus, if you erase it, you basically lose your Windows license (and if you paid for it, well, common sense says to keep it). Especially if you have a large drive.

    You can install a lots of operating system on a single drive, especially if you install Linux-based OS, since they can be installed in extended partitions (something Windows OS don't tolerate IIRC). Don't mind if you install it after or before installing Windows; the boot loader coming with Ubuntu will find your Windows OS (simplification) and will actually let you choose which operating system you want to boot when you start your computer. Try creating a new partition on your disk (you can do this with tools coming with the live CD, like gparted or cfdisk, preferably after defragmenting the partition you will split) and install your new OS there (you'll also need another partition for the swap partition).

    Here's a link that might interest you, talking about how to install a large number of OS on the same system: http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showt...hreadid=143973
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    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by foxman View Post
    Still, I wouldn't erase my Windows partition if I were you, it can be handy sometimes. Plus, if you erase it, you basically lose your Windows license (and if you paid for it, well, common sense says to keep it). Especially if you have a large drive.

    You can install a lots of operating system on a single drive, especially if you install Linux-based OS, since they can be installed in extended partitions (something Windows OS don't tolerate IIRC). Don't mind if you install it after or before installing Windows; the boot loader coming with Ubuntu will find your Windows OS (simplification) and will actually let you choose which operating system you want to boot when you start your computer. Try creating a new partition on your disk (you can do this with tools coming with the live CD, like gparted or cfdisk, preferably after defragmenting the partition you will split) and install your new OS there (you'll also need another partition for the swap partition).

    Here's a link that might interest you, talking about how to install a large number of OS on the same system: http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showt...hreadid=143973
    Too late. I just installed Ubuntu to my hard drive and erased all of Windows. Good decision too. I now have WLAN and amazing screen resolution. At this point, I wouldn't even use Windows even if I had it.

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