One way to "Fix" the Screen Resolution

[tlyons]

I love KDE4, but this is a seriously annoying bug. It never remembers my screen resolution, and I can't be bothered to reset my desired settings with Display Settings or KRandRTray each time I login (like a lot of users seem to still be doing, given the answers I've read on this site for this question).

Do this instead:

sudo nano /etc/kde4/kdm/Xsetup

Add this line:

xrandr --output default --mode 1280x1024

Substitute your desired mode. It's possible you might have to specify the output (my "default" is VGA-1) but I use the above line as-is.

^O to save. Reboot.

Still works with 10.10. I've done 2 installs this month (x86 and x86_64).

[sithlord48]

Re: How to Fix the Screen Resolution

this should really be moved to the "How To" section (mods...)
also that xrandr command might not work for all i have to use

xrandr --output DVI-0 --auto --output DVI-1 --right-of DVI-0 --auto

this is because i have two screens with different native resolutions. and kdm likes to set them both the the higest common size

also quick note you don't have to restart.. run the command
[code=run in konsole]
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart
[/code]
to restart start kdm (its quicker then a reboot:P)

[tlyons]

Re: One way to "Fix" the Screen Resolution

True, but this "fix" can "solve" the problem for the majority of users... those with just one screen.

It just found it sad how the posts that I'd read on this forum were largely flavoured with "Nothing works, so just reset your video each time you login." No fix there.

[lowey23]

Re: One way to "Fix" the Screen Resolution

Thanks, tlyons, that has fixed an annoying little problem I've had for some time.

[sithlord48]

Re: One way to "Fix" the Screen Resolution

True, but this "fix" can "solve" the problem for the majority of users... those with just one screen.

It just found it sad how the posts that I'd read on this forum were largely flavoured with "Nothing works, so just reset your video each time you login." No fix there.

xrandr can set multi screen setups also.. this is how i used to get my dual monitor set up to use different resolutions on each screen. (check out man xrandr)

[oshunluvr]

Re: One way to "Fix" the Screen Resolution

IMO the move toward xorg.conf-less setups for linux is due to the move toward laptops. Where a desktop computer user would never expect to be able to plug a 2nd or 3rd monitor in and just have it come on and start working the way you want it to, a laptop user has exactly this expectation. The developers have to weigh the best possible default and hope the user can change it when desired.

[rant]
I am forced to use a Windows laptop for work. I dock this laptop at the office with a second monitor attached that is a different size and resolution than the built in one. I use it as an "Extended" desktop rather than replacement or clone. To do this, I have "helping" me - Windows desktop manager, nVidia drivers and settings software, and a program called Multi-Mon which is supposed to make the connection of a second monitor "smarter." Even with all this non-free software, about once a week my setup gets wacky - one of the monitors will display the resolution of the other, it will attempt clone rather then extended desktop, the second monitor won't come on at all...the list goes on. Throughout all this no matter what I do - If I open a window on the second monitor and close it there, I cannot use that program again until I reconnect to the external monitor because the window "remembers" to open on it. Meaning I watch the window fly off to the right side of my laptop screen into nothing.

My point is: On-the-fly monitor switching and setup isn't quite as simple as popular public opinion would have you believe. If you're using linux, it least you have the chance to create a script or commands to achieve your own goals instead of some developers idea of how your computer should work.

I've been using multiple monitors for a decade have never had the trouble most people claim to have. I suspect most of this trouble relates to user expectation and lack of knowledge rather than a failure of the OS. They expect their OS to anticipate their desired setup and lack the knowledge to change it when it invariably does not.
[/rant]

It just found it sad how the posts that I'd read on this forum were largely flavoured with "Nothing works, so just reset your video each time you login." No fix there.

I agree with the characterization that this is sad - mostly because there are thousands of post relating to this issue that include solutions - both here on this forum and out there on the internet.

The proper steps to finding solutions here are; Search, Read, Attempt, Report, Ask. Most of these "sad" posters skip 1 through 4.