help with ubntu

damien c · 22-03-2009, 09:02

i have installed ubuntu 8.10 last night but because of my monitor or graphics, cards i can't see anything other than a thin white line at the top of the screen and the bottom.

i can't access any buttons or programs and i need to change the resolution of the screen, which this is where i need the help does anyone know how i could do this.

i have downloaded the lastest nvidia drivers for linux 64bit but when i try running them i get the message that they need to run as root, when i try running in a terminal when i click just on th erun button it does nothing.

thanks in advance

xpod · 22-03-2009, 09:17

Where did you download the drivers from.What kind of card do you have?
You should be able to use the built in "hardware drivers" utility to install any propriety drivers you need.
You`ll find it in your menus under System>Administration>hardware drivers.
Although you cant see buttons ....mmmm

But then how are you running a terminal if you cant see any buttons???
Either way if you can use a terminal you could try installing envyng which will download the latest nvidia/ati drivers for you.

Code:

sudo apt-get install envyng-core

damien c · 22-03-2009, 09:23

thanks for the quick reply xpod i have done that but now i need to change the resolution is there anyway to change the resolution in the terminal.

i got the terminal up by pressing alt+f2 and finding the terminal there but i can't see anything for changing the display.

xpod · 22-03-2009, 09:24

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Run that............accept all the default till you come to screen res.

damien c · 22-03-2009, 09:35

i did but it didn't mention anything other than the keyboard setting and framebuffer drivers iirc.

xpod · 22-03-2009, 09:45

Yeah.i forgot we lost that ability a version or two ago...it`s too early ok

Can you try and run the restricted drivers manager from the terminal or ALT-F2

Code:

gksu jockey-gtk

You never mentioned what card you have.

EDIT:
I have to go drop the hoards off at their nans but hopefully this might help for now.
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubu..._Ubuntu_way.22

damien c · 22-03-2009, 10:05

i have got 2 nividia gtx280's

i have managed to get to the sreen resolution bit by enabling the orca and the screen maginfier but all option's still only show part of the bars and not the full bars.

now it is stuck in 640x480 and i can't get it back to normal or atleast how i was before

---------- Post added at 11:05 ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 ----------

o problem solved i switched to a vga lead rather than dvi-hdmi and it is sorted full screen can been seen including all menus.

xpod · 22-03-2009, 10:45

Let us know how you go now that you have some menus.

If you do still need to manually install you driver
Download nvidia driver,if you aint already,and execute following commands:

Logout ... Ctrl-Alt-F1 and switch to a tty and login

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

Code:

sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64*******1.run

Ctrl-Alt-Del for PC restart

You should`nt need to do any of that now that you can see what your doing though.
Not sure why the cable would be so problematic for you.
My own PC screeen`s only do vga so i use DVI>VGA leads but my kids all have HD Monitors/TV`s and their dvi/hdmi leads all work fine with *buntu.

Good luck either way.

damien c · 22-03-2009, 10:56

i think it is more of the monitor than anything it is a acer 26" but it always messes up the resolutions for everything.

just need to wait till the end of the month when i get my normal tv back.

xpod · 22-03-2009, 11:10

Quote:

i think it is more of the monitor than anything it is a acer 26" but it always messes up the resolutions for everything.

It should be fine once you have the relevant drivers installed.
I often plug this into the 42" through the wall without problems and i`m only using a relatively crappy 7 series card.
Did you manage to install them yet?
System>Administration>Hardware drivers.

Or install envyng from synaptic....or stick with that terminal if you want

damien c · 22-03-2009, 11:21

just downloading the one's that it says to use.

xpod · 22-03-2009, 11:26

Is the drivers manager working then?

EDIT:Ignore me.You are using it eh.....