S.V.Proff wrote:
> I understand that the following keyboard combination enables the user
> to switch between different screen resolutions:
>
> ctrl-alt-
>
> Would this work before logon?
>
> I am trying to log on to a Red Hat Linux computer configured for a 17
> inch monitor. I'm currently using a 15 inch monitor.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sam
> (Please post your replies here. My e-mail address is spam proofed.)

Since the screen resolution is a function of X and not the window
manager, it should work.

> ctrl-alt-
> Would this work before logon?

It's a feature of the X server, so yes.

Gary Dale wrote in message
> S.V.Proff wrote:
> > I understand that the following keyboard combination enables the user
> > to switch between different screen resolutions:
> >
> > ctrl-alt-
> >
> > Would this work before logon?
> >
[..]
>
> Since the screen resolution is a function of X and not the window
> manager, it should work.


Thanks Gary and Lewin.

It did not work. I'm thinking that the file that is supposed to
contain various configuration options does not have other choices.

How do I get this computer to start out in the terminal mode so that I
can tweak it?

Also, which file do I edit to add additional options for the screen
resolution?

What would be a typical entry into this file for a 1024 x 768
resolution?

Sam
(Please post your replies here. My e-mail address is spam proofed.)

S.V.Proff wrote:
> Gary Dale wrote in message
>
>>S.V.Proff wrote:
>>
>>>I understand that the following keyboard combination enables the user
>>>to switch between different screen resolutions:
>>>
>>>ctrl-alt-
>>>
>>>Would this work before logon?
>>>
>
> [..]
>
>>Since the screen resolution is a function of X and not the window
>>manager, it should work.
>
>
>
> Thanks Gary and Lewin.
>
> It did not work. I'm thinking that the file that is supposed to
> contain various configuration options does not have other choices.
>
> How do I get this computer to start out in the terminal mode so that I
> can tweak it?
>
> Also, which file do I edit to add additional options for the screen
> resolution?
>
> What would be a typical entry into this file for a 1024 x 768
> resolution?
>
> Sam
> (Please post your replies here. My e-mail address is spam proofed.)


Start it up in rescue/single user mode (mode 1). If you don't have a
rescue disk, try the original install CD, or any other install CD. They
usually let you boot to a rescue mode. Or you can do something similar
at the grub/lilo menu - depending on which boot loader you are using.

Again, depending on which version of XFree86 you have, the configuration
program changes - try XFree86 -configure.

The file you are changing is usually /etc/X11/XF86Config or
/etc/X11/XF86Config-4 however. Renaming all instances of these to
anything else will prevent X from starting, if all else fails.

> It did not work. I'm thinking that the file that is supposed to
> contain various configuration options does not have other choices.

There's another possibility - which is that it is switching modes, but
the monitor configured supports really high refresh rates which your
attached monitor doesn't.

> How do I get this computer to start out in the terminal mode so that I
> can tweak it?

edit /etc/inittab, but this should not be necessary because you don't
want to change it permanently. Add "3" to the end of your boot line to
make the system start in runlevel 3 - you can do this by pressing "e"
in grub, moving down to the kernel line, editing it, and then pressing
"b" to boot it. I don't remember how to do it using LILO, it's been a
REALLY long time.

Or you can simply boot the system normally, wait for X to start, then
hit Ctrl-Alt-F1 to switch to the first textmode virtual terminal, and
log in there.

> Also, which file do I edit to add additional options for the screen
> resolution?

Almost universally, /etc/X11/XF86Config

>
> What would be a typical entry into this file for a 1024 x 768
> resolution?

In modern versions of XFree86, modelines describing exact geometries
aren't necessary. Down the bottom you will have a stanza looking like
this:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Add appropriate modes to the "Modes" line, save, press Ctrl-Alt-F7 to
switch back to the crazed X screen, press Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to kill
the X server and it will restart automatically with your new config.