u hit the nail on the head. Linux really needs to get the installation stuff right. Installation is much easier now but these type of issues (resolution problem etc.) really put new users off.
There are people on the resolution. I don’t have the latest gear but from I read in the mailing lists, on bug-reports on launchpad & elsewhere as well, they are improving. Also with the initiatives taken by some of the graphic card vendors as well it all looks bright 
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yes i did try from system > screens reso thing. no effect. all i have is 2 options 800 x 600 and the 640 x something options.
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companies are fast downgrading to XP, Vista prices have been slashed (first time ever that microsoft has ever slashed its OS prices). bill gates is no more the richest man on the planet (also, 4 out of top 8 richest are indians
)
clearly microsoft has lost the plot. the reason linux is good is not just because its free. but because it is light and recognises the fact that when we buy a core2duo laptop/desktop with 2GB RAM we want it to go faster than our old comp. with vista u’d at best be at the same speed as using xp on an old rotten comp. good looks is not enough u know. 
What’s the size of your monitor ? You still not getting the next icon .. Why don’t you try Text based install then ?
Only thing is it chooses whom to be friendly with. 
u r not getting the resolution naa? i also faced this issue. Check out the command i gave in my last post. it worked for me…
i did! but then got lost in a maze of words
just follow the default settings after entering that command. When u get to the resolution screen, choose the correct resolution.
This problem came to me and still wont go. So i had to forcibly stop myself from using ubuntu and switch to vista. Till i was using onboard graphics, everything was smooth. But when i added a graphic card, trouble train arrived and has not departed from my life yet. :@
I first, like everyone, installed restricted driver. And after configuring “sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg”, i was able to get the drivers to work at wanted resolution. But it wasnt stable, sometimes when i start my pc, it would show me static desktop, with zero compiz effects. Even if it started with compiz in effect, it was terrible, the effects appeared like alpha versions. Hiccups, jerks and all. So the driver wasnt working for me.
I then came to know about envy software to install nvidia drivers. I un-installed the restricted drivers and installed envy. In the envy list, it showed me 3 drivers, i selected the one meant for me but it always stopped mid-way claiming kernel problem. So i tried all 3, and all failed in same fashion. So i thought this may be cos of incompatibility with the new kernel upgrade ubuntu provided.
But logically there shouldnt be a problem.
But i was hell bent on using ubuntu as my primary OS inspite of wasting substantial amount of time. But my liking of this OS was stronger.
So i deleted all the ubuntu partitions on my hard-disk from WinXP.
I installed Ubuntu from scratch having my graphic card in slot from the very beginning.
But this time i didnt install nvidia’s restricted driver. I updated my OS first. Got the latest kernel installed. Then i again went to envy. Again damn same thing, it failed mid-way. What a pain in arse, i thought to myself.
Luckily there was a update for my very graphic card chipset(xfx 8600gt) on the nvidia site.
Looked like victory was close. So i downloaded that.
It was installed without problem and i configured “sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg” with help of read me file and couple of threads from ubuntuforums, highly concious as i
did that. In same old way, i got the resolution for my monitor, but noooooo, the same hiccup train arrived the station named “peace” and literally bombed it. The kT of uranium
it brought in its rail cars was probably of the same amount like before, but the damage was much much more as my WBC force was still healing their injuries of past attack in hospitals. Though this time, compiz always started with completely in effect(whenever turning PC on), but with hiccups.
The amount of time wasted looked beyond recovery. So my planning commison was asked to make a fool proof policy for future.
The visible options were
1- Throw away graphic card, give up gaming(though very little), and use ubuntu the way Penguin the Chief wants me to.
2- Use the countries nuclear arsenal and destroy Linux army forcing Penguin the Cheif to go underground for next few months while they re-enforce and make better policies of looking at my country with total respect. Extrimism wont be tolerated at any costs. 
Option 2 was decided. Ubuntu gutsy CD’s were assasinated by military snipers as the country declared it to be a terrorist attack. 
Anyways, i am waiting for the next ubuntu hardy-heron to go official. I will try it and see if it works for me. Till then we are enjoying the support of Mr.Gates.
My love for ubuntu is very much intact nevertheless.
This pain was in my head since sometime and needed to be pumped out. I am feeling damn so light now. Public forums are awesome concept !!!
Sorry to derail my post mid-way.
haha, nice post there buddy!
BTW which graphics card do u have? i have Nvidia 8600GT and i used Envy without any issues.
My card is XFX 8600gt, same as urs. But dunno why it cites kernel error all the time in envy for me.
While restricted drivers simply dont work as they should making the compiz effects painful..
in envy i just selected “download the latest driver” option. other thing u can try is download the graphics driver from nvidia site (it should be .run file) and run it urself.
BTw, did u try using that command to change the resolution?
After installing the drivers i was able to play even TF2 on Ubuntu.
My love for ubuntu is very much intact nevertheless.
same here dude..same here. looking forward to heron
as i said earlier
for painless linux experience stick to all intel soln. they make their standards open . thus all the headache of driver is left for linux guys and we know they are the best.
man i installed ubuntu in sata 2 hd with ahci , ncq enabled and windows f6 problem!!! so smooth.
go with
intel proccy+intel mobo
view my linux experience at
http://www.techenclave.com/open-source/new-starter-of-linux-106720-3.html#post765372
Ok, seems my zeal for linux isn’t over yet. I’ve just ordered a Kubuntu CD. Once it arrives I’ll see if it can be properly installed. Wish me luck. 
all the best dude.
did u try the command i gave u for correcting the resolution?
i did. it didn’t work.
if kubuntu works, then i’ll simply remove windows and install kubuntu… or perhaps keep windows in a 5 GB partition and give the rest space to kubuntu. dunno..
okie…all the best with kubuntu!
Instead i would suggest you to Try Linux Mint. It is Ubuntu + Some Tweaks which makes everything work Out of box.
Just install it & get complete peace of mind.
Download its main edition
What makes Linux mint(Daryna )ideal for the desktop?
* Out of the box multimedia support
* Microsoft Windows Integration (Dual-boot, NTFS read/write support, Migration Assistant)
* One-Click install system (Linux Mint Software Portal, mintInstall)
* Easy file-sharing (mintUpload)
* Desktop features, Control Center, mintMenu
* 3D Effects
* Great configuration tools
* Great selection of default applications (OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Gimp, Pidgin, XChat, Amarok..etc)
* Solid package base (Google Earth, Picasa, Skype.. a lot of important software present in the repositories or in the Linux Mint Software Portal, compatibility with all Ubuntu Gutsy repositories and most Debian packages)
Be sure read the release notes, Most important Known issues part