resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

tank8465 · 2011-10-05 17:52:21

So, while rifling through my building's trash the other day (rich apartment building, father's the super == really nice free stuff)
I found a an awesome dell monitor with a 1280x1024 resolution with a swiveling and rotating stand.

So I was thinking..... SWEET, VERTICAL BUFFER SPACE!!!

So, I hooked it up to an old thinkpad X41 (native resolution 1024x768) I had lying around, and basically, I'm trying to create a spartan setup purely for writing code and other things, without distractions (save for mplayer serving me tunes)

Now, I've gotten it to rotate by adding fbcon=rotate:3 to the grub kernel line per https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=877952

The issue is that the monitor is using the thinkpad's resolution, so I've basically got a margin of 256 pixels on the LEFT (meaning that the console starts 256 pixels to the right of the edge of the screen) and 256 pixels on the bottom.

I've tried also adding vga=829 to the kernel line, that didn't work.

I'm in class right now, so I'll read/test responses in about 5 hours.

Ashren · 2011-10-05 18:19:28

Hmm. You might need a docking station to get this work properly.

Just a hunch.

Gusar · 2011-10-05 18:21:14

You've left out an important part - what graphic card does the thing have? But let's assume it's something that has a KMS driver. So check in /sys/class/drm for output names. You'll see stuff like card0-LVDS-0 and card0-VGA-1 in there. The part after card0- is the output name. Then you configure outputs on the grub kernel line like so:

video=VGA-1:1280x1024-32

tank8465 · 2011-10-06 01:10:04

tried what gusar said, did not work.
called a friend, told me to install https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Uvesafb
did that.
Now, it starts booting with the correct resolution (So i'm definitely CLOSE) but the screen blacks and doesn't come back on.
I can edit config files from a live CD, but I edited /etc/mkinitcpio.conf (added hook v86b)
so..... if I need to regenerate initramfs, how would I do that?

also, obviously, how would I fix the black screen?

Last edited by tank8465 (2011-10-06 01:12:12)

gorky · 2011-10-06 12:13:15

OMG, you're starting from the wrong side...
First check what graphic gard you have in this X41, i suppose it can be the Intel one.
Then remove all graphic-related config from grub, delete or rename xorg.conf, install intel driver (if it's not already installed), and configure kernel options (everything is in the wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Intel )
Finally read about xrandr, eg. here:
http://wiki.debian.org/XStrikeForce/HowToRandR12
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Xorg_RandR_1.2

When you'll have all drivers configured, something like this should work:

xrandr --output LVDS1 --auto --output VGA1 --auto --right-of LVDS1

Last edited by gorky (2011-10-06 12:15:19)

tank8465 · 2011-10-07 03:47:29

gorky, if i'm on the wrong side, you're off the cliff.
No X. read the topic.

anyway. tried again. deciding to do this the old fashioned hacking way....

i've added the fbcon rotate line and the vga to 1280x1024 to the kernel line...

It starts up just as I like I wanted it, then half way through boot, it goes back to how I had it originally, with the margins.

So i decided to dig through dmesg....

fb: conflicting fb hw usage inteldrmfb vs VESA VGA - removing generic driver.

This logically brings us to one of two options: blacklist inteldrmfb or figure out how to work with it.

Will post back in a few minutes...

EDIT: this is off a fresh install; no uvesafb yet

Last edited by tank8465 (2011-10-07 03:54:56)

tank8465 · 2011-10-07 03:58:47

oh, and I keep forgetting to put it up:

Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML

gorky · 2011-10-07 10:19:24

OK, I've seen the 'Xless' in topic now, but I still don't understand what dou you exactly want to achieve.

Do you want to use both monitors simultaneously? And if so, do you want to display the same or different content on them?
Or do you want to stick just to the external one, rotated and in its native resolution?

Last edited by gorky (2011-10-07 10:20:24)

tank8465 · 2011-10-07 13:24:13

the X41 will stay closed, under the monitor, which will be rotated and in native resolution.

this project has officially become very interesting.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-10-05 17:52:21

resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#2 2011-10-05 18:19:28

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#3 2011-10-05 18:21:14

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#4 2011-10-06 01:10:04

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#5 2011-10-06 12:13:15

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#6 2011-10-07 03:47:29

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#7 2011-10-07 03:58:47

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#8 2011-10-07 10:19:24

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

#9 2011-10-07 13:24:13

Re: resolution issues creating ultra cheap X-less setup

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