Ubuntu

logon screen has wrong resolution after upgrade

Asked by Kris De Vlieger

I upgraded from 7.x to 8.04 and seem to have the same problem as many other users: login screen resolution is wrong (==> I cannot see the shutdown option before logging in). I only see upper left corner and cannot scroll or see the bottom end of the screen. Once logged on all is perfect. Setting and setting back resolution settings or login settings does not solve anything.
The forum indicates quite a number of people with this problem

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Max Schukin
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:

This question was reopened

Revision history for this message
Kris De Vlieger (kris-devlieger) said : 		#1

Also during boot my monitor says "out of range" instead of typical console type output

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#2

You can try to change video resolution...
- first try to dynamically change screen resolution plese the press CTR + ALT + "+" and/or CTRL + ALT + "-"
- Try to restart the graphic layer press CTR + ALT + BACKSPACE

Then go to the System->Preferences->Screen Resolution and try to play with it

Hope this helps

Revision history for this message
Kris De Vlieger (kris-devlieger) said : 		#3

Alas this does not solve the problem:
 - CTRL+ALT+ + or - have no effect
 restarting the graphic layer does have effect an effect:,
but the screen returns

Revision history for this message
Kris De Vlieger (kris-devlieger) said : 		#4

Alas this does not solve the problem:
 - CTRL+ALT+ + or - have no effect
 restarting the graphic layer does have effect an effect:
  - at first try the screen returnsin a "2-step": first comes the background in the left hand corner taking up 3/4 of the screen, then it changes to
    the whole screen, then the text appears but it still is in the "wrong size"
  - on 2nd try a msg box says "The greeter application appears to be crashing. Attempting to use a different one"
    The whole screen turns black but the mouse cursor stays
  - on 3rd try console type messages appear in white text on black background, the first is about starting (ana)cron. All 4 messages get an
    [OK] on the right hand side. Then the login screen reappears in wrong background as before
The loop of the 3 reactions can be repeated

Revision history for this message
Kris De Vlieger (kris-devlieger) said : 		#5

Sorry I pressed the wrong button, I still need an answer

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#6

Plase press ctrl+alt+f2 make login with your user and password

Then try to reinstall gdm, type:

sudo apt-get --reinstall --purge install gdm

Hope this helps

Revision history for this message
Kris De Vlieger (kris-devlieger) said : 		#7

I tried the ctrl+alt+f2 make login
Then reinstall gdm:
  sudo apt-get --reinstall --purge install gdm
After which the login screen first comes up a little smaller; then it jumps to the 'too big' again as before.

Revision history for this message
Best Max Schukin (schukin) said : 		#8

Hi Kris,

I had the same problem. The solution for me was this:

Press Alt+F2 and enter:
gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Scroll down to the Screen section and add the following lines:
        SubSection "Display"
             Depth 24
             Virtual 1024 768
        EndSubSection

Change 1027 768 to your resolution

You should get something like this:

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Default Screen"
        Monitor "Configured Monitor"
        Device "Configured Video Device"
        SubSection "Display"
             Depth 24
             Virtual 1024 768
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Save the file and reboot.

If it wont help add the following line after the "Virtual" line:
Modes "1024x768@85"
Do not forget to change 1024x768@85 to your monitor parameters.
Save the file and reboot.

Hope this helps.

Revision history for this message
Kris De Vlieger (kris-devlieger) said : 		#9

Thanks a lot. This solved the problem. In my case the lines where already present, but for some reason it said 1600 1200

Revision history for this message
Max Schukin (schukin) said : 		#10

You are welcome :)

Revision history for this message
Ricci (riccisayer) said : 		#11

There is of course always 'xfix' to at least get to see the screen.
From the grub menu choose recovery mode and then xfix.
Sometimes solves the problem altogether, depends on the hardware and available drivers