[philtivvy]

Hi
I have just installed Open SUSE linux on an old computer, just to see what it is all about, and find that there is a black area to the left of the monitor screen about 1.5 inches wide and the desktop is about 0.5 inches wider than the remaining screen area.
Is there an easy fix to this problem?
best wishes
phil

[monckywrench]

Use the OSD (On Screen Display) optons on your monitor to resize the picture.

[philtivvy]

Hi monckywrench
The monitor works fine with several different computers, including this one when it is running Windows instead of Linux so I reckon the problem lies in the os not the hardware.
Where are the display options hidden on the Linux desktop? I would hope to find something useful there.
Regards
phil

[monckywrench]

That doesn't stop me from resizing 'em when the margin distances are as described, because it's easier than fiddling with graphics setup.

I'm not SUSE-familiar, but a quick-fix I've used before with other distros is to boot other distros live CD until I find one that auto-detects my hardware properly, then copy the config files to a USB key for use in the distro I want to use.

You may want to post a question with your hardware (vidcard, monitor)
make and model info to:

http://suseforums.net/

http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/

This particular post should give you the basics to work with:

http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/in...howtopic=63248

[philtivvy]

Thanks Monckywrench.
You will see in my profile that I am "computer illiterate" and I am afraid I do not know what you mean by USB key although I can cope with the rest of it.
I have only one other Unix CD, which I will try and if not successful move on to the Forums you suggest.
Thanks again
phil

[RobLinux]

Originally Posted by philtivvy

Hi
I have just installed Open SUSE linux on an old computer, just to see what it is all about, and find that there is a black area to the left of the monitor screen about 1.5 inches wide and the desktop is about 0.5 inches wider than the remaining screen area.
Is there an easy fix to this problem?
best wishes
phil

Very simple.

You can adjust the monitor with the OSD or wheels & buttons. But that may clash with other software, leaving you ping/pong-ing back and forth a PITA. You might try running in a different resolution 1024x768 or something for boot up, rather than 1200x1024, which may appear more normal.

For X, SuSE has sax2, which you run in non-graphical mode (or via installer), and lets you adjust the display when you test your graphics settings. There's a button to choose how fine the "steppings" are.

Other years, I've had very little trouble getting BIOS/Linux/M$ Win to compromise and get a reasonable setting which works for all usage. I won't be absolutely perfect, but it's good enough.

[philtivvy]

Thanks guys
I managed to find the answer in something called YAST, which seems rather like Windows control panel.
A simple little graphic box allows you to move the display to any position required.
I am pleased to say this problem is now solved.
phil

[RobLinux]

That's actually SaX2 which YaST2 invokes.

It is safer to do screen manoevering when X isn't running, but it does sometimes work out OK anyway

YaST works from a console, using a <TAB> and <ALT>letter way of navigating.