Graphics
In nearly all cases Ubuntu’s graphical subsystem will work fine straight away. However, there are a handful of common but easily fixed issues.
Changing screen resolution
Ubuntu might guess the wrong screen resolution after installation. You’ll know if this is the case because everything will appear blocky and/or blurred. To adjust the resolution, click the System menu at the top of the screen, and then Preferences Screen Resolution.
NOTE You may have to adjust the Refresh Rate dropdown if you’re using a CRT monitor (i.e. a glass tube display, rather than a TFT LCD panel). The standard refresh rate most find comfortable is 75Hz. Flat panels should be set to 60Hz.
If the screen resolution you want isn’t available in the Resolution dropdown list, or just doesn’t work when selected, you might have to activate the proprietary graphics card drivers, as described below.
Installing proprietary drivers
Installing proprietary graphics card drivers means Ubuntu will no longer use the Free Software versions. It should only be done if absolutely necessary (for example, if the built-in drivers don’t produce optimal results) because proprietary drivers are not updated as frequently as the Free Software versions and, some suggest, can be very buggy. To install proprietary drivers, first ensure you’re online—see the Getting Online section later. This is necessary because the new drivers will be downloaded. Then click System Administration Hardware Drivers.
If you’re using Ubuntu 8.10, select the entry in the list for your graphics driver and click the ACTIVATE button (see Figure 2-1 for an example).
TIP If several drivers are offered, select the one that’s marked “Recommended”. If this proves less than optimal, repeat this step and choose a different version.
If you’re using Ubuntu 8.04, simply put a check in the Enabled column alongside the entry for your graphics card. With either version of Ubuntu, the new graphics driver will be downloaded once you’ve made the selection. You may have to reboot the computer once it’s finished installing—just follow the on-screen prompts.
Configuring Ubuntu : 21