Screen Resolution Help - Ubuntu & T400

I'm a Linux beginner trying to get comfortable enough with Linux to completely switch over from Windows someday. So far, I haven't gotten very far. I'm still trying to change the resolution to my notebook's native 1440x900.

Currently installed Ubuntu 8.10 64 bit edition on my notebook:

Lenovo T400
Intel 4500MHD

I've looked around the web, this forum and Ubuntu's forums. I've tried a few approaches without any luck. I tried editing the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file a few times and ultimately got completely locked out. I had to reinstall Ubuntu again.

I know there's got to be a few T400 users out there that can help me with this. If you can, please give me a step by step instruction and possibly the correct xorg.conf configuration. Again, I'm a total beginner and would like to thank everyone in advance that read and respond to this post.

 

Well there's this howto for Ubuntu and the T400. There's also this one for Gentoo, with the user's xorg.conf for the Intel GPU here. Finally there's this thread from the Arch forums discussing configuring the T400 for linux and proper xorg.conf configurations. If you read through those resources you should be able to find the information you are looking for. If you have specific questions regarding the information there, or specific questions regarding steps you've taken that didn't work, please feel free to post back.

Good Luck..

 

Its the Intel driver 8.10 uses, Intel's 2.4 release. The driver incorrectly detects multiple screens. To fix it, you need to got into System -> Preferences -> Screen Resolution, and disable the second screen. First, hit the mirror screen checkbox twice so that the fake screen is detected, and click on it. On the resolution drop down, set it to off. Next change the resolution to 1440x900. Hit ctrl-alt-backspace to shutdown X. When you log back in, the problem should be fixed.

 

I tried all three of Jas' suggestions. The first didn't do anything, the second whited out my screen, and the third just locked me out. Thanks anyway.

I then tried Charr's suggestion and it worked somewhat. I did get the 1440x900 resolution, but the screen's a bit messed up. The top bar doesn't extend all the way to the right edge and the bottom bar is floating mid air. I rebooted my system and still no luck. I'm assuming it has to do with all the minor tweaking I've tried over the past few days. I'm going to try reinstalling Ubuntu. Thanks!

 

I'm not sure what you're talking about when you state;

I didn't provide three suggestions. I provided links to two detailed Linux / T400 installation howtos, and the third link was a T400 configuration thread in the Arch user forums. The first howto, (an up to date Ubuntu / T400 howto), discusses in detail, the problem Charr refers to here. Quoting from that section;

That's the problem you mentioned having right?

The howto continues from there outlining the steps necessary to install either a GUI graphics configuration program called URandR, or how to install the backports of the updated Intel graphics drivers, to fix this problem.

When you go to install Ubuntu again, I would highly recommend you print out the entire Thinkwiki Ubuntu/T400 howto, and then follow the instructions outlined there. If any of it is unclear, you're likely to get help at the Thinkpad forums.

Good Luck..

 

jas - thanks for all the info. I finally got the resolution fixed along with the correct borders.