newbie user/root dycotomy

[Kent Frazier]

>  Linux is more complicated than some other OS, just a matter of experience I
> guess. I've just installed the latest Hoary on a "spare" machine and can't
> get the X resolution to go higher then 640 x 480. Once I got 1280 x 1024,
> but I can't find anything obvious in xorg.conf. I'll try lower color depth 
> (15 not 24) and see if that  helps! What fun X is :-)

Have you tried running 'sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg'?  You will
need to know a good bit about your monitor, keyboard, mouse and video
card to get everything working at the optimal levels, but it should be
able to set up your resolutions and such for you.  I would suggest
backing up /etc/X11/xorg.conf before you begin.  Also, if you have
modified this file manually in any way, dpkg won't touch it, so you
may have to move it out of the way and start fresh with a new one to
get it working.

Good luck.

Kent