problems with screen rez

Forum: X and Fluxbox
Topic: problems with screen rez
started by: thedogsavapour

Posted by thedogsavapour on Feb. 11 2004,01:37

i posted something about this in another of the forums -

i cant seem to get my screen rez set correctly, no matter what i select, and what colour rate i select, everything is always just a bit too big for my screen, and i cant change it. the windows take over the entire viewing area and i cant access any of the toolbars.

im a total noob so if anyone can throw me a bone, itd be appreciated. system is an old compaq presario 7470, AMD k6 533mhz with 312mb ram, and an old dell ultrascan monitor!

Posted by hawki on Feb. 11 2004,16:31

It looks to me like the xserver settings are stored in /opt/xsetup. If you are not logged on as root the setup script does not seem to be changing the file but does not display any errors. Try this:

CTRL ALT BKSPACE
that will kill the xserver
at the console prompt
sudo xsetup.sh
change the settings as you want
startx
that will restart the xserver with the new settings.
good luck

Posted by Jeremy on Feb. 11 2004,23:20

You can't hack this easilly, the x server is not xfree in this version, so if it doesn't work ... it doesn't work.

I got a similar problem (well we all do i suppose) with refresh rate, impossible to set it, i think it is set by the hardware.

You may have to try another distrib then ... not flonnix since it uses the same x server, like a lot of small distrib because it is lightweight.
If you find something, tell me

Posted by thedogsavapour on Feb. 11 2004,23:50

Quote (Jeremy @ Feb. 11 2004,18:20)

You may have to try another distrib then ... not flonnix since it uses the same x server, like a lot of small distrib because it is lightweight.
If you find something, tell me

damn. i was afraid you were going to say that. sad.

well, thanks to J for what is otherwise a totally slick distro. if this problem is ever fixed, ill come back!

Posted by Jeremy on Feb. 12 2004,08:15

In fact i am working on a remaster with a different x server like xfree. So if you really like dsl you can still do it the hard way to.

Posted by skaos on Feb. 12 2004,12:46

Are you using a resolution less than 1024x768? If so, some of the application do fill more than the screen (e.g. abs, at least in version 0.4.8) - I don't think there is much you can do about this, except using a higher resolution and/or asking John to fix it in the next release.

Posted by hasty on Feb. 12 2004,18:47

Hate to say this ......
......but try feather linux <featherlinux.berlios.de/>which is another small DSL/knoppix clone (very similar) but retains the knoppix xserver.
With the current xdrive that John is using I can't get a radeon 9700 to run, but feather can.
Normal knoppix cheat codes should then apply.

Posted by Jeremy on Feb. 12 2004,22:46

Quote (hasty @ Feb. 12 2004,13:47)

Isn't it a DSL clone ?

Quote

also changed the standard XFree86 server to the XVesa and XFbdev servers, which are quicker and much smaller.

Which exactlly the same as DSL.

Posted by hasty on Feb. 13 2004,16:50

Have a look at his site to see the differences also the user feedback forum about halfway down...DSL Clone?

DSL has switched to smaller Kdrive Xvesa and Xfbdev servers, while feather is still using knoppix standard.

Whatever works

Posted by TyphoonMentat on Feb. 13 2004,20:26

Feather Linux uses Kdrive, doesn't it (well, it has a choice of Xvesa and Xfbdev in the X setup routine)? I assume that by "Knoppix standard" you mean the usual XFree86 servers.
Seems odd though - they're probably identical to the DSL servers, so it should be no different. Perhaps it's just because Feather Linux is based on Knoppix 3.3 or something.

Posted by hasty on Feb. 13 2004,23:14

Curiouser & curiouser......
Rattle a cage and look what appears

Didn't clock that you'd also switched to the kdrive (too much of a hurry as usual) since you weren't working to such a tight 50mb limit.

Feather runs without any cheat codes on my radeon9700 & boots into X, but the latest DSL needs knoppix -txt to see the boot menu and fails completely to run the xserver. Assume it is the 3.3 version that makes the difference, but don't really have a clue as to why and by the time I work it out you guys will have released new versions

Anyway they are both excellent little distros - hats off all round.

Posted by Jeremy on Feb. 13 2004,23:39

Hmm interesting ...
DSL fail to boot my GF4 too, perhaps il will give it a try.

What refresh rate can you get ? are you till stuck on eyes killing 60 HZ ?

Posted by Jeremy on Feb. 14 2004,00:54

Ok, i'am under FL.

Good points :
I don't have to boot in tet mode anymore.
It includes MPlayer

))

Bad :
Still can't have more than 60 Hz even though there is a dialog in xsetup for that. Setting refresh rate with xvesa depends of the hardware i suppose.
I got the mouse pointer stuck (!), had to go to console and play with insmod.

I just have to add GCC and it will be near perfect or me

Posted by hasty on Feb. 14 2004,09:15

Yeah Shame about the res, but glad your working OK.

The truth is we expect too much from these mini distros & should be gratefull for whats available

Personally I'm not wedded to the idea of the mini disc and the 50mb limit, as I never use them, but like many I have old machines with small hard drives that benefit by a pared down distro.

p.s. Love the DVD burner 4.5 in one hit

Posted by Jeremy on Feb. 14 2004,17:25

Yeah, but 50 / 64 Mb is very small, but there is no distro that weight 80 / 100 which would be good for an average USB key (128 / 256 M).