Desktop is not full size.

[capitalIrony]

Hello all. I'm new to Kubuntu [and Linux in general], and have partitioned my hard drive so that I dual boot with Windows XP & Kubuntu. For some reason, when I boot with Windows, the desktop displays the full size of my laptop screen, but when I boot with Kubuntu, the display is about half the size and centered, like when you boot Windows in Safe Mode. Is there any way I can get my Kubuntu desktop to display the full size of my screen?

I'm terribly sorry if this question has already been asked. I went back about three pages in forum trying to find something similar, but I couldn't.

Thanks & Happy New Year!

[Snowhog]

Re: Desktop is not full size.

Open a console and type:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

If you don't know the answer to questions, accept the default. If you don't know the make/model of your video card, or it is not listed, choose VESA.

[Hitsuji]

Re: Desktop is not full size.

I had this exact same problem when i fist installed, first thing I had to do was to get Kubuntu to recognise and use a driver for my graphics card, secondly I had to tell Ubuntu my display resolution for my LCD display on my laptop.

You should check if your installation is having the same problems as mine.
my issue first was the fact that I had to use a proprietary graphics card driver which *Ubuntu doesn't like.
goto K Menu -> System Settings then click on the 'Advanced Tab' then click 'Restricted Drivers'.
If any of the devices are marked with a big red X then the default driver for it is probably a proprietary graphics driver (which *Ubuntu hates) and you either have to find a decent open source driver or install the propriety driver.

If this isn't your problem then it could be your screen size. The easiest way for me to fix it on my machine was to edit the xorg configuration file manually(MAKE A BACKUP! modifying is never a good idea for a beginner like myself) , located in /etc/X11/xorg.conf, and under the section 'Section "Screen"' (watch out there could be multiply ones, hopefully if there is you'll recognize your one) there should be a sub section 'SubSection "Display"', and in this subsection is the display resolutions your screen should be capable of under 'Modes'. Make sure this states the actual resolution of your LCD display. after a quick restart if your display doesnt correct itself it should at least be an option in K Menu -> System Settings -> Monitor and Display.

If your still stuck, post back here again with your graphics card vendor and model, and what kind of laptop you have and someone will get round to you as quickly as possible. Now since I'm quite drunk, I think I better go to bed now. Night Night.