Ubuntu 8.10 screen resolutuion

How do I set the screen resolution in Ubuntu 8.10 to match the resolution of my Macbook? Currently Ubuntu is only showing me 1024x768. I want to use 1280x800. Do I need to manually edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf? If so, will you provide specific instructions? Thanks.

 

Here is my xorg.conf, attached.

You can edit this by opening a terminal and typing vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf and replacing everything in the file with what I"ve given you. Restart your machine and you'll be good to go. Of course, this is for my macbookpro, change accordingly for your macbook.

 

Thanks for responing to my question. Unfortunatly, the xorg.conf you supplied didn't work for me. (I edited for the screen resolution on my Macbook.) Maybe I don't need a custom xorg.conf. Here's what has me puzzled...

When I startup my VM it opens in a standard Mac OS X window but I have to scroll the window horizontally and vertically to see the full Ubuntu desktop. If I switch to Fullscreen, I can see the whole Ubuntu desktop. I didn't have this problem in Version 3.

Is there a way to view the complete Ubuntu desktop _within_ a Mac OS X window?

 

I had the same probelm after installing Ubuntu 8.10 via Parallels Desktop v3.0. You need to slightly modify the xorg.conf file provided by camflan. Below, I have attached the modifed xorg.conf file which I myself use. Copy the file into /etc/X11 and thern restart your virtual machine. Then I expect your problem is fixed.

 

My problem is fixed, but I didn't need to use the xorg.conf file that you provided. Let me explain...

First, I compared the two xorg.conf files in BBEdit and noted where the differences were. Then I tried to move the new file into Ubuntu. After trying to move it unsucessfully I consulted the help files and realized that I needed to install Parallels Tools to "share" a folder. Getting a little impatient, I decided to delete all Parallels-related preference files. Using Mac OS X Spotlight.app I easily located six preference files with names that contained "parallels". I trashed all of them.

Next, after a little more reading, I figured out how to install Parallels Tools in Ubuntu. After selecting the "Install Parallels Tools" menu item in the "Virtual Machine" menu, I opened a terminal, mounted /media/cdrom and ran "sudo sh install". I followed the prompts.

After rebooting--the last Parallels Tools installation dialog/prompt--Ubuntu started up, but this time the entire Ubuntu desktop was displayed within a Mac OS X window without the need to scroll horizontally or vertically! I switched to fullscreen and Ubuntu's desktop was good there also (as expected). I never needed to manually edit (or replace) the xserver configuration.

One odd thing about all this: when I looked at Ubuntu's screen resolution I found that it defaulted to 1279x680 (9:5). I'm not going to mess with it. I have a 13" Macbook Aluminum. Its default Mac OS X resolution is 1280x800.

One more thing...Thank you very much! Your suggestions put me on a path toward the solution to my problem that may have taken me a long time to discover without your help.

 

It's good to learn that you have fixed the problem. But at the same time it's a bit wired to me. Actually, I've had (and still have) a tough time to install Parallels tools on Ubuntu 8.10. In fact that's the main reason why I had to change xorg.conf manually. The problem, as I have posted it in the this post http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=31522, when I try to install the Parallel tools within Ubuntu, I get a frustrating message that there is no Installation for xorg.1.5. It would be very kind of you if you could provide me with a more detailed explanation of your procedure to install the Parallels tools. Just would like to remind you that I am running Parallels Desktop 3.0 (Build 5608) on my MacBook Pro 10.5.5. I hope with your help I can also enjoy using Parallels Tools within Ubuntu.
Thanks

 

Hi Spak,

Parallel 3.0 build 5608 indeed does not support Ubuntu 8.10, download the latest parallel 3.0 build 5626, and you will be able to install the parallel tools in the VM.

The install is slightly different on PD3 compared to PD4 so make sure you read the help inside PD3.

 

Thanks Frederic,

I'll try the build 5626 of PD3, but I hope it will work properly on my Ubuntu with xorg.1.5, because as far as I know it has been released to fix the incompatibility of PD3.0 with xorg.1.4.
Thanks again

 

No current Parallels Tools build will work with Ubuntu 8.10, they don't have support for xorg 1.5.2. There is another thread where many of us are upset about this, as they have promised support for a year now.

 

I am using Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac Build 4.0.3522 (November 8, 2008). It is activated with a trial activation key. My Mac is a 13" Macbook Aluminum with 4GB RAM and running Mac OS X 10.5.5. The guest OS is Ubuntu 8.10.

To install Parallels Tools I launched Parallels Desktop. From the "Virtual Machine" menu I selected "Install Parallels Tools". A dialog opened that gave me installation instructions. (see parallels1.jpg)

When I clicked the "Continue" button a CD image appeared on my desktop. (see parallels2.png)

Next, I opened a Terminal window and cd'd to the cdrom: cd /media/cdrom <enter>

After executing the following command another window opened within the Terminal window (see parallels3.jpg): sudo sh install <enter> (Terminal will ask for your administrator password.)

After following the prompts I was presented with a success dialog. (see parallels4.jpg)

I hope this helps.

 

Sorry, there isn't any Parallels Tools builds for version 3 that work with 8.10.

 

Just a note that this xorg.conf worked great for me using Kubuntu 8.10 on MacbookPro3,1 running OS X 10.5.6. Thanks!

 

Hallo,

I am very interested in the 8.10 screen resolution problem. I registered but I can not download your xorg.conf file. Could you post it in the body of the message ?

Many thanks!!!

 

I think it's even easier than everything listed above.

I've got full resolution (1280x800) on my Macbook by first installing Parallels Tools and then reconfiguring the Virtual Machine to use a little more video memory. It appears that the 3mb default isn't enough to support higher resolutions. As soon as I increased this I got higher resolutions available under System->Preferences->Screen Resolution. I'm running Parallels 4.0.3810

 

I endorse Andy Howells solution. It worked for me, and I have tried all the various other solutions. Starting Parallels (but not the virtual machine) allows you to change the default 3meg of video memory. When I increased this to the next position (6 Meg), booted Ubuntu (I am using 8.04 LTS on a 13" MacBook), I could now expand the Ubuntu to full size (which given the bars at top and bottom is 1280 X 726 on this laptop).

Great solution Andy! Thanks for posting it.

Don