Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-ati package

Radeon 9000 Monitor Issue

Asked by James Espy

I have an old Dell Inspiron 600m laptop with a Radeon 9000 graphics controller connected via a VGA cable to an external 23" 16:9 (1920x1080) TV/monitor. This configuration runs fine using Windows XP. I loaded 10.10 to this configuration and all functions are basically OK except for the following (so far):
- While the system recognizes the attached 23" monitor it defaults to a 4:3 1024x768 format which of course results in a distorted/stretched picture. The Monitor Preferences window allows for the selection of 16:9 1920x1080 mode, but when I click on "apply" the screen turns to mess of colored pixels. I know its not the Radeon card since, as mentioned above, things work fine with XP. Radeon Linux driver issue?
- Secondly, when I try to run the laptop's DVD player, the installed Movie Player app comes up with an indication that it sees the DVD but then displays a message that a driver is required and suggests a web search for one. However, it subsequently indicates none can be found. I would think playing DVD's would be pretty standard functionality.

Please advise.

Thanks.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

You may need an xorg.conf file if your monitor isn't reporting resolutions as it should

Revision history for this message
James Espy (sj-espy) said : 		#2

Thanks for the quick response.
I think the monitor is reporting the correct resolutions as this is what is used when I run XP.
I have to confess that I am a newb and am just plugging and cranking here.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Well your monitor is either cheap or lacking in the feature which tells the OS what resolutions it can do, so you need to tell the OS maually. If you run:

gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

and add this code:

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies Inc Radeon RV250 If [Radeon 9000]"
Driver "radeon"
Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
Option "RenderAccel" "true"
Option "AGPFastWrite" "true"
Option "VBERestore" "true"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
Option "EnablePageFlip" "true"
Option "AccelMethod" "XAA"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
Option "ColorTiling" "1"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Plug and play"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 30-85
VertRefresh 50-120
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "ATI Technologies Inc Radeon RV250 If [Radeon 9000]"
Monitor "Plug and play"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1920x1080"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Save the new file and reboot. If you don't get a desktop, reboot, hold shift and select recovery mode, select root and run:

mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_old

Then reboot

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