Novatech laptop, only getting 800 x 600 resolution on 1280 x 800 tft display SIS 771/671

Try opening a terminal window (Applications, Accessories Window) and typing...

sudo gnome-display-properties

This should give you a user interface to try to tweak the resolution settings.

This gives me the same interface I've already tried to use via the graphic interface systen, preferences, screen resolution. This has a rectangle (representing the monitor) which says "Unknown" below that the screen resolutions I'm offered are 640 x 480 and 800 x 600 and the refresh rate is set at 61 Hz. The "detect displays" button does nothing. I'm assuming my system needs a driver which I don't have and don't know where to get.

First I would check in hardware drivers that there isn't one to enable in there.

Then I would phone novatech and talk to someone in tech - they are supposed to be selling ubuntu ready gear, so they might be able to give you some clue as to what driver you need to be looking at; must say that I have always managed to get somewhere talking to people there - small enough to care unlike some other companies.

A quick google led me here, maybe that will help

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4232057

Which novatech did you use? - reason I ask is you could be nearby and it's always nice to know if someone is local:)

Just read the link from forestpixie above and this posting might improve something for you

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=4671494&postcount=59

You'll need to use terminal (applications, accessories menu) and try

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

This might allow different resolutions to be supported

Thanks to forestpixie and Tony Mugan but I still need help. I'm probably a bit dense but I'm a Linux virgin and sadly it will need a lot more like me to join the fold if hardware manufacturers are to realise that they need to support linux as much as they support windoze. forest pixie, I'm in Bristol but I order hardware online and get it delivered.

I did download the SIS driver, copied the files from the archive into /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers but doing a dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg failed to give me access to the driver.

I tried modifying the xorg.conf according to the info Tony directed me to but did not find any difference following a reboot.

I then did a dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg again which put xorg.conf back how it was. The relevant section again reads.

Section "Device"
            Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
            Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
            Identifier "Default Screen"
            Monitor "Configured Monitor"
            Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

I don't have any idea what drivers the computer is using from that but sudo gnome-display-properties tells me my monitor is unknown. Below that the screen resolutions I'm offered are 640 x 480 and 800 x 600 and the refresh rate is set at 61 Hz. Despite spending hours reading and playing I still have no idea how to get the laptop to work at a useful resolution. Perhaps there is someone who can help me with a dummies guide.

Sorry if I'm just thick!

dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg causes the settings to be reset. When it is working you will be expecting to see some mention of SiS in the xorg.conf file.

This link has a 3D SiS driver that apparently works for Hardy.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=5060362&postcount=112

By the time I got an SiS driver in place and a range of resolutions to try I was no longer getting a graphical display at any of the resolutions. Two more hours playing before returning to the point I started at. I don't think I can afford the time so I'll most probably be talking to Novatech and asking if I can get the OEM windows. I could have paid for it if I'd done something productive for the last 3 days. I don't wish to knock UBUNTU as its performed marvelously on my old Pentium III desktop, giving it a new lease of life but I don't have time for this until hardware manufacturers take the OS seriously.

David,
Best of luck with whichever path you wish to take.
As you correctly point out, some manufacturers have better support than others (Intel seems great for video, nvidia good and ATI so-so).
Pity you could not get it working with Ubuntu.
Cheers.

I did talk to Novatech. They helped me with some useful guidance. Setting up was more complex than I would have expected but I now have a 2D driver giving me the correct resolution and the laptop is working well with Ubuntu. Thanks for the help and I got there in the end

Hi
I don't suppose David took notes when he spoke to Novatech because i have the same problem with a U50SI1 laptop i get the exact same problem with the resolution

can anybody help me

Go on to the novatech site and view their forums. The post you need to install the 2D driver is:

by Coops on Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:02 am

Get OttoD modified sources (n.b. he posted a link on this thread, but just in case:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...07&postcount=4

sudo apt-get build-dep xserver-xorg-video-sis

sudo apt-get install displayconfig-gtk

tar -xjf intelsrc.tar.bz2

cd 2d-driver

./configure --prefix=/

sudo make install

sudo displayconfig-gtk

Click on Graphics Card --> Driver --> Choose driver by name --> sis (Silicon Integrated Systems)

Go back to Screen, click Model and select appropriate resolution from generic (in my case:
Generic LCD Panel 1280x800), remember to tick widescreen box if your monitor is widescreen

Choose appropriate screen resolution

Just remember the files you download and unzip must be in the same directory you are working from otherwise the commands towards the end will produce errors. If this happens check you are in the right place.

If you want to view the whole thread with its links search for X15 M530 Ubuntu (SiS) Display