Resolution problem with possible kernel connection [Solved]

[dunsurfin]

Not sure if this is a Window Manager, Hardware or other topic.

Intel video, on a Dell studio 17 with Pentium Dual CPU T3400 @ 2.16GHz 3 GB and Wide Screen display 1440x900 LDVS. Running SL 5.2 (probably) x86K fully updated to 5.5 but with kernel 2.6.35.

As soon as I try and update to either kernel 2.6.36 or 2.6.38 the resolution goes to 1024 x 768. The boot process runs OK until XDM starts and then the resolution changes. kdesu systemsettings doesn't list the correct resolutions.
Just as an experiment I tried loading a live DVD of SL 5.5 and the same thing happened. These 2 lines in the live DVD Xorg.0.log indicate a problem:

[ 82.809] (II) intel(0): Modeline "1440x900"x0.0 109.50 1440 1510 1550 1974 900 901 904 912 -hsync -vsync (55.5 kHz)
[ 82.810] (II) intel(0): Not using mode "1440x900" (vrefresh out of range)

I can provide logs but would appreciate knowing which ones to provide.

The installed version is using grub legacy.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Looks like you have the same problem as ReemZ and his Intel GPU: Graphics problems on the laptop, 64-bit.

[dunsurfin]

I did consider posting in that thread but ReemZ mentions about "falling back" to the incorrect resolution. I can't get it all. What puzzles me is that it works perfectly with kernel 2.6.35 and below. The problem has been there since 2.6.36 but I just ignored it and kept 2.6.35. Now I'm interested to know what the problem is.
I also didn't add to that thread because I don't have a problem with the backlight dimming.
PS If you feel it is a connected issue I'd be happy for you, or any other mod, to merge the topic.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Have you tried changing anything in xorg.conf? Looks like that would be the place to start. If you still have a copy of a SL LiveDVD from an earlier version you could boot it, copy the xorg.conf (assuming it works) and try it with your installation.

The xrandr command by itself in a Konsole/Terminal window will tell you what screen is connected, what resolutions are possible and what refresh rates are possible with your hardware. For example, on one of my laptops the output is:

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$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1680 x 1050, maximum 1680 x 1680
VGA-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
LVDS connected 1680x1050+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1680x1050      60.6*+
   1400x1050      60.0     60.0
   1280x1024      59.9     60.0
   1440x900       59.9
   1280x960       60.0     59.9
   1280x854       59.9
   1280x800       59.8
   1280x720       59.9
   1152x768       59.8
   1024x768       60.0     59.9
   800x600        60.3     59.9
   640x480        59.9     59.4
DVI-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Try the following command to change resolution and refresh rate:

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xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1440x900 --refresh 60

(On my above-mentioned laptop, LVDS is the built-in screen and VGA-0 is the VGA port. So if I wanted the command to apply to the external monitor I would replace "LVDS" with "VGA-0".)

You will probably need to add a Modeline to the Monitor section in xorg.conf. To create this, use KDE's Kickoff > System Settings > Display & Monitor > Size & Orientation to set the resolution and refresh rate you want (if you're using GNOME or another DE then use that DE's tool to do it). Then run an old (but still useful) X.Org utility named xvidtune from a Konsole/Terminal window under your normal user account. You will probably need to install xvidtune first. Click 'OK' in the WARNING pop-up window, and click on 'Show' (bottom row) in the xvidtune pop-up window. That will output a current modeline in the Konsole/Terminal window. Then you just need to add it to the Monitor section in xorg.conf.

[dunsurfin]

I don't think I made myself quite clear. I have both 2.6.35 and 2.6.38 kernels on the machine. If I boot into 2.6.35 I have no problem. The xorg.conf stays the same when I boot into 2.6.38 but I cannot achieve the correct resolution. I had already tried adding the correct resolution to xorg.conf but that makes no difference.
You gave the xrandr commands in another thread and I have tried those. With 2.6.35 I get:

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robin@robin-portable ~ $ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1440 x 900, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
LVDS1 connected 1440x900+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 367mm x 23000mm
   1440x900       60.8*+
   1024x768       60.0 
   800x600        60.3     56.2 
   640x480        59.9 
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
robin@robin-portable ~ $

and with 2.6.38 I get:

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robin@robin-portable ~ $ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 8192 x 8192
LVDS1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 367mm x 23000mm
   1024x768       60.0*
   800x600        60.3     56.2 
   640x480        59.9 
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

If I try to use xrandr to set a different resolution in 2.6.38 I get:

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robin@robin-portable ~ $ xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1440x900 --refresh 60
xrandr: cannot find mode 1440x900
robin@robin-portable ~ $

With 2.6.38 running, systemsettings will not allow any resolutions other than the 3 above.

[Fitzcarraldo]

What happens when you apply the change given by lxnay in Comment 1 of Bug Report No. 2287?

[Fitzcarraldo]

Also, try adding Option "NoDDC" to the Device section for the video card in xorg.conf to see what happens.

[dunsurfin]

I shall give the "NoDDC" a try. I'm using legacy grub so lxnay's comment would have no effect (AFAIK).

[dunsurfin]

Sadly that made no difference. BTW, when running 5.5 live DVD I made sure that res=1440x900 refresh=60 was added to the boot codes.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Have you tried turning off kernel mode setting? If not, edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and add the boot parameter nomodeset to the end of the kernel boot line.