[Cross-posted to the linux-newbie and linux-apps listserv for FYI if
anyone else is running the same problem]
To give you somewhere to go, I manually went in and messed with the
XF86Config file after it was generated. If you're not dealing with an
external monitor, the world will be a much easier place for you. If you
are, it will depend on the exact model of the monitor and it's frequency
rates.
To solve my problem on my laptop (Dell Latitude), I read a lot of the man
pages, but for a single display (assuming internal panel display), I went
in and changed the resolution rates:
[snippet of my XF86Config file, toward the bottom]
Section "Screen"
Driver "svga"
# Use Device "Generic VGA" for Standard VGA 320x200x256
#Device "Generic VGA"
Device "Default SVGA"
Monitor "Default Monitor"
DefaultColorDepth 16
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
# Omit the Modes line for the "Generic VGA" device
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
# Use Virtual 320 200 for Generic VGA
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection
[This is the snippet of the "active" video card, the "Device" keyword
tells X which sections to use--there are other "Screen" sections besides
this one after it, this one is active because I have my card labelled as
"Default SVGA" in the chipset definition earlier in the config file]
I don't have my laptop available right now, but the section is similar.
Eliminate the "320x200" in the Modes lines (if any), and put in
resolutions that you want (and the card can handle). The section for
depth is the number of bits for each color (24-bit is Win9x's "true
color", and 8 is "256" color). Within that same subsection is the modes
line:
Modes "800x600" "640x480" "1024x780"
tells X that you prefer to use 800x600, but if you hit CTRL-ALT-+ or
CTRL-ALT-- (minus) you can move thru any other resolutions that appear on
the same line (640x480 or 1024x780).
If X detects anything invalid with the video card (too high a resoultion
for the number of colors (like 1124x780 on 32-bit color) and there are not
any other fall back resolutions on the same Modes line), X will default to
320x200. You can specify a default color depth with the DefaultColorDepth
line (I selected 16-bit color (65k colors)).
For the Neomagic 256 card, your driver will likely be SVGA and if you're
using X version 3.x, you will be using the SVGA X server, but the card
definitions (and chipset name) setup by the configurator will suffice.
Neomagic is not a great card, but it's in a lot of laptops, I have not
tried Mandrake 7.0 on a laptop yet.
My problem is that Slackware and RedHat 6.x's X Windows (version 3.x)
configurators leave a LOT to be desired when it comes to video card setup.
I have since played a little with Mandrake (RedHat with a different
installer frontend), and Mandrake's X installer for the screen resolutions
seems to work great on at least 2 machines, but ended up locking up the
machine if it was started in X mode (starting in text mode via the inittab
file) works better. I still prefer RedHat (Slackware a close 2nd). I'm a
glutton for punishment, but I love the command line when I can use it
over a GUI.
Good luck.
-------------------------------------------------------
Jim Roland, President
Roland Internet Services, "The host with the most"
Offering premier web, email and CGI custom programming.
Ask us about Frontpage98 Extensions!
http://www.roland.net/ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-------------------------------------------------------
On Mon, 17 Jul 2000, Jon Mormino wrote:
> Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 00:30:11 -0700
> From: Jon Mormino <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: neomagic 320x200
>
> Hello,
>
> I noticed that you posted a message in January
> indicating that you were having trouble with the Linux Xconfigurator and
> NeoMagic. I have tried (many times) to properly configure the X
> server. Still, it loads with a 320x200 resolution. Were you ever able
> to resolve your problem (I know it was a while ago.)?
>
> Thanks for your time.
>
> -Jon
>
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