Changing the resolution of a virtual terminal

[Pete Holsberg]

Mike keyed the following on 6/24/2007 12:01 AM:
> Pete Holsberg wrote:
>   
>> When I invoke a virtual terminal via Ctrl-Alt-F*, I get a very low 
>> resolution screen.
>>
>> I'm using a  Dell 15" LCD monitor and would like the kind of resolution 
>> I get when I'm using the "Terminal" application in Gnome.
>>
>> Is there an easy way to get this?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>     
>
> It's not very difficult to change the resolution.  First, 
> install hwinfo, if it isn't already installed:
> sudo apt-get install hwinfo
>
> Then run:
> sudo hwinfo --framebuffer
>
> You'll see something like this:
>
>   Mode 0x0317: 1024x768 (+2048), 16 bits
>    Mode 0x0318: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits
>    Mode 0x031a: 1280x1024 (+2560), 16 bits
>    Mode 0x031b: 1280x1024 (+5120), 24 bits
>    Mode 0x0330: 320x200 (+320), 8 bits
>    Mode 0x0331: 320x400 (+320), 8 bits
>    Mode 0x0332: 320x400 (+640), 16 bits
>
> Find the resolution you want and the hexadecimal equivalent of 
> the resolution.
>
> For example, my choice of video resolution is 1280x1024 24 bit 
> so the relevant hexadecimal I need is "0x031b".
>
> Then edit your /boot/grub/menu.lst and change your kernel 
> entry from this:
>
> kernel          /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-28-386 root=/dev/sda3 ro 
> quiet splash
>
> to this:
>
> kernel          /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-28-386 root=/dev/sda3 ro 
> quiet vga=0x031b splash
>
> Then when you enter tty mode (ctl-alt-f1 etc) you will have 
> high resolution tty.
>   

Thanks, Mike. Here's what I got from hwinfo:

product name [0x07f54] = "Intel(r)845G/845GL/845GE/845GV Graphics 
Controller"
product revision [0x07f87] = "Hardware Version 0.0"
22 video modes:
  0x013c[9a]: 1920x1440+1920, 8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x014d[9a]: 1920x1440+3840, 16 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x015c[9a]: 1920x1440+7680, 24+8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x013a[9a]: 1600x1200+1600, 8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x014b[9a]: 1600x1200+3200, 16 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x015a[9a]: 1600x1200+6400, 24+8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0107[9a]: 1280x1024+1280, 8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x011a[9a]: 1280x1024+2560, 16 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x011b[9a]: 1280x1024+5120, 24+8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0105[9a]: 1024x768+1024, 8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0117[9a]: 1024x768+2048, 16 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0118[9a]: 1024x768+4096, 24+8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0112[9a]: 640x480+2560, 24+8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0114[9a]: 800x600+1600, 16 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0115[9a]: 800x600+3200, 24+8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k
  0x0109[0e]: 132x25, text
  0x010a[0e]: 132x43, text
  0x010b[0e]: 132x50, text
  0x010c[0e]: 132x60, text
  0x0101[9a]: 640x480+640, 8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, a0000.7: 64k
  0x0103[9a]: 800x600+800, 8 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, a0000.7: 64k
  0x0111[9a]: 640x480+1280, 16 bpp, max. 230 MHz, fb: 0xe8000000, 
a0000.7: 64k

I tried vga=0x0117 and 010c and 0114 but still have no joy.