Why does Linux make basic simple things so complicated and hard to get done?

I just want to change my screen resolution. In Windows all I have to do is right-click on the Desktop, go to the Settings tab, and click the desired resolution.

How do I do this in Red Hat 7.2 with KDE?

Thanks...

you can make it easy depending on how you set it up..
in redhat you can run Xconfigurator or setup to set the resolution of your choice.. or you can edit your XFree86Config file and you should find in there under the screens section:This is where you would add your resolutions you want configured to work in the Modes section as you see the resolutions sizes. If you have more than one there in either 8 bit or 16 bit and even 24 which i didn't type in.. you can easily change resolutions between them by typing ctrl-alt-(-) or (+) signs

I did a

and nothing came up. I want to be able to test the setting before I apply it permanently. Can this be done without running Setup all over again?

Just be sure to use the "+" and "-" keys on the numeric keypad. The + and - (hyphen) keys on the main keyboard won't work.

Xconfigurator will take you thru setting up the whole X again.. I would suggest running it, if the resolution doesn't turn out how you like, then run it again.. or you can try adding the resolutions you want in your XF86Config.. i mistakenly typed out XFree86Config in my previous post..

good point DMR.. the + and - ( minus ) keys on main board won't work.

Ok I found it and ran it. I logged out and restarted the X-server and my resolution changed.

They should make it easier to understand how to change resolutions and color depths and refresh rates.

For example, why do I have to log out and restart the X-server just to change my resolution? In Windows all I have to do is hit the "Apply" button...

Another thing, it's not easy to tell which mode I am in. What if I want to find out what particular resolution/color depth/refresh rate I am currently in? In Windows I can easily find that info, but where is that info stored in Linux? There should be a "Wizard" that I can run that takes care of all of these concerns...it shouldn't be such an esoteric process.

Thanks for the help by the way guys! I've been learning Linux for the past 8 months and it's been a hard process coming from the Windows world.

You can use kcontrol

goto Information and select X-Server


This will tell you pretty much everything you could possibly need to know about the windows x-server

also in the Information section is info about everything else

I followed this thread cause I have a similar issue. I want 800x600 with no virtual space but I get 1024x768 with virtual space. So something is in 800x600 but X is in 1024x768. I have multiple listings for *SCREENS* and X says it is using screen 0 (the default). How do I control/change this? What listing is 'screen 0'?

I really HATE virtual space! And I have rerun the configurator 4 times and don't seem to be able to control the outcome at all.

I have a ViewSonic 17GS and a Diamond Stealth 64 with 2 meg.

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "ATI Rage 128 Mobility"
Monitor "My Monitor"
DefaultDepth 16
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
EndSubSection
EndSection

In David's example above, note that on the "Modes" line, 1024x768 is listed before 800x600. The first resolution listed will be the default res. used when you boot into the GUI. If you want to alter that, edit the values on that line so that your desired res comes first. I posted the keystrokes to change resolutions without restarting X in my previous post.

I understand the layout of the line. In fact I edited all depths 8,16,24,32. But I do not have an "Identifier" value in any of these entries. So to rephrase my question: When the X server starts, how does it select the values to use when there are multiple entries in a specific section of the XF86Config file?

BTW if I try to change the resolution using keystrokes, the next resolution does not work (it looks like I loose vertical hold) and since I cannot determine what values the X server is using, I am unable to fix it.

In the server section I have screen0 which is my screen so it uses that definition in the screen section,

I don't know of a way to change the depth while the server is running, I am pretty sure it is not possible.

you can close the server and restart it passing the option -bpp 32 or whatever you want it to be. this way you only put the default in the config file.


try the modes one at a time to find the bad one.