Screen resolution before install?

[bsquirl]

Hi, when I try to install PC-BSD on an older laptop the screen resolution isn't right and I cannot see what would be the bottom-half of the screen to see what I am doing. I've tried more than quite a few times to use the tab key to install but no luck.

Is there an alternative way to install or I guess what I probably need to do is edit the x-org file? I don't know.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Oko]

Hi, when I try to install PC-BSD on an older laptop the screen resolution isn't right and I cannot see what would be the bottom-half of the screen to see what I am doing. I've tried more than quite a few times to use the tab key to install but no luck.

Is there an alternative way to install or I guess what I probably need to do is edit the x-org file? I don't know.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Yes you do need to edit xorg.conf. In particular pay attention to
the section screen as in mine

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "Card0"
        Monitor    "Monitor0"
        DefaultDepth 24 
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     24
                Modes "1024x768"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

The modes line is resolution specified by you. As you can see, I know exactly what my hardware can do so I have only one resolution.
You can use xrandr or xdpyinfo to see what are your current settings.
For instance

[pedja@ /usr/home/Pedja]$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right) 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768       85.0* 
   800x600        85.0  
   640x480        85.0

You can ask PC-BSD guys how to disable GUI and manually configure X server but
I honestly thing that PC-BSD installation scripts are getting on your way.

Get the Vanilla FreeBSD and do honest configuration of Xorg. You would have to
read very carefully man pages for XOrg to do it.

Two books also come to my mind. X power tools is a good start or much older but still useful X window system administrator's guide.

Good luck.