How do I install windows drivers?

[Davka]

Ok, this is a bit odd.

I installed Kubuntu 8.04 Alternate on this box yesterday. (Homebuilt from spare parts: Biostar P4 compatible MoBo with Celeron chip, think it's a 1.4ghz, 512MB of RAM)

When I did the install, I used a funky old 17" VGA monitor propped up on 2x4s that I have setup as a second workstation next to my primary machine (I fix Win machines for a living). Everything worked great, even the ancient wireless-b card is up and running. I set the screen resolution to 1024x768, tweaked a few more things to my specs (autologin and whatnot) and shut down the box. Then I moved it to its new home in the living room, where I want it to run as an internet access box for the whole family. So far, so good.

This morning I boot up the box only to find that I'm stuck with 640x480 screen resolution. System Settings -> Monitor and Display won't give me any higher resolution. So I start to Google while ripping clumps of hair out, and wind up editing Xorg.conf as follows: I change this:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Vendorname "Plug 'n' Play"
Modelname "Plug 'n' Play"
modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
Gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 640 480
Modes "640x480@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

to this:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Vendorname "Plug 'n' Play"
Modelname "Plug 'n' Play"
modeline "1280x1024@80" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
Gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 1280 1024
Modes "1280x1024@80"
EndSubSection
EndSection

...and restart the machine. Presto! I can go into System Settings -> Monitor and Display and change the settings to 1024x768, and it works! Happy clam, that's me.

Until I shut down and restart.

And I'm back where I started. Even weirder, xorg.conf shows no sign of my edits. It's back to 640x480@60. I've tried a bunch of alternate settings, but no dice. It's like I've entered a parallel universe where I am stuck in an endless loop, shoving the Resolution Rock up the hill forever alongside Sysiphus.

So here's what I'm thinking: It's got to be the monitor. Windows Upgrade has tried to install drivers for this particular monitor on other boxes, so i went searching for Linux drivers. Of course i didn't find any, but I *did* manage to download a couple windows drivers, one .zip file and one .exe file.

So now all I need to know is: What the heck do I do with these files on a Linux machine?

Did I mention that I'm having a lot of fun? 8)

[nowshining]

Re: How do I install windows drivers?

sorry windows drivers won't work on a linux machine you'll need linux specific drivers (if any), however there is no need to install anything as X handles all the drawing, etc..

in terminal run the following:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

and follow the directions and u can try using the defaults.

also do u use a Nvidia Graphics card if not then what is your graphics card?

if so ubuntu should ask you to install the proprietary driver from the repos.

[Davka]

Re: How do I install windows drivers?

That did the trick, shining! Thanks.

Note to other N00BZ: When navigating Terminal-based programs, make sure you're not automatically using Windows or DOS keyboard shortcuts. Some of them work (ctrl-c, ctrl-x, ctrl-v - yippee!) but others don't. I got stuck for a while due to MStupidity.

*smacks self in forehead*

Wow! I could've had a Kubuntu-8!

[nowshining]

Re: How do I install windows drivers?

That did the trick, shining! Thanks.

Note to other N00BZ: When navigating Terminal-based programs, make sure you're not automatically using Windows or DOS keyboard shortcuts. Some of them work (ctrl-c, ctrl-x, ctrl-v - yippee!) but others don't. I got stuck for a while due to MStupidity.

*smacks self in forehead*

Wow! I could've had a Kubuntu-8!

ur welcome and lolz yeah ctrl+c is to stop the current process.

u'll just have to get used to the new shortcuts or so. or even change them.

[Detonate]

Re: How do I install windows drivers?

Linux keyboard shortcuts.

http://blog.i64.pl/PiosBlog/200610/2...ld-know-about/