Have a widescreen monitor, cant change resolution

Please post you /etc/X11/xorg.conf file

How? remember I am a TOTAL noob. I dont know where or how to find that file

DemDude

Sorry for speaking so generally.

You can try browsing for the file using konqueror.

Its probably easiest to use the terminal. Open the terminal and type (careful it is case sensitive)
kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf

If you can´t find the terminal
hit ALT-F2 and type
kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Copy the entire contents of this file on post it.

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Configured Video Device"
 Boardname "NVIDIA GeForce4 (generic)"
 Busid "PCI:1:9:0"
 Driver "nv"
 Screen 0
 Vendorname "NVIDIA"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Configured Monitor"
 Vendorname "Plug 'n' Play"
 Modelname "Plug 'n' Play"
  modeline "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -vsync -hsync
 Gamma 1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Monitor "Configured Monitor"
 Device "Configured Video Device"
 Defaultdepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Virtual 640 480
  Modes "640x480@60"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
  screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
EndSection
Section "Module"
 Load "glx"
 Load "GLcore"
 Load "v4l"
EndSection
Section "device" #
 Identifier "device1"
 Boardname "NVIDIA GeForce4 (generic)"
 Busid "PCI:1:9:0"
 Driver "nv"
 Screen 1
 Vendorname "NVIDIA"
EndSection
Section "screen" #
 Identifier "screen1"
 Device "device1"
 Defaultdepth 24
 Monitor "monitor1"
EndSection
Section "monitor" #
 Identifier "monitor1"
 Gamma 1.0
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection

It appears that there is only one mode listed in the screen subsection. You may be able to fix this problem by adding additional modes.

Take a look at this section

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Monitor "Configured Monitor"
 Device "Configured Video Device"
 Defaultdepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Virtual 640 480
  Modes "640x480@60" <---------- You should add additional resolutions here
 EndSubSection
EndSection

You might want to change that line, for example

  Modes "1280x1024" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"

To edit this file use terminal or ALT-F2
kdesu /usr/lib/kde4/bin/kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf

After you edit this file you must log out and log back in.

On a somewhat related issue you also will probably want to install better video drivers. There are basically there options for this. Install the kubuntu restricted NVidia drivers (easy). Install a program called ENVY and have it load the drivers. Or download the driver from NVidia and manually install it (harder).

Here are some references for you

For the restricted drivers:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia

For ENVY:
http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

For Manual install
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NvidiaManual

For envy or manual install make sure you get the proper drivers for you video card. Your card requires the 96.43.xx driver.

kdesu /usr/lib/kde4/bin/kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf says command not found. otherwise I see what you are saying about where to change resolutions. Was planning to update my video card later anyways but thanks for the envy link that might be a handy thing to have around.

You should definately install NVidia drivers with envy. After the drivers you can configure your resolution and refresh rate with the command sudo nvidia-settings. This will update you xorg.conf file for you.

Hope this helps