Console and X configuration for laptop display

[Andrew L. Gould]

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:09:13 -0500
Eric Crist <ecrist at secure-computing.net> wrote:

> On Friday 11 June 2004 18:42, you wrote:
> > I installed FreeBSD 5.2.1 on a Dell Inspiron 8100.  During bootup
> > and later, at the command line, the usable screen is much smaller
> > than the available display size -- 2 to 3 inch margins on all sides.
> >  Does anyone
> > know how I can fix this?
> >
> > In X, a resolution of 1400x1050 fills the display; but everything,
> > including text in documents, looks really tiny.  1024x768 is my
> > favorite setting for my desktop monitor; but is rejected by X as
> > being too small on the laptop display.  Is there a way to make
> > things look bigger while in 1400x1050?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Andrew Gould
> 
> In some cheaper laptops, like this POS I've got, there isn't really a
> way to get rid of that blank space around the edges, short of digging
> into vesa and some other console options.  I've made some mild
> attempts to get that configured, but I figure I use X 99% of the time,
> so I use a virtual console within that for most of my work.  
> 
> On some better laptops, like your Dell, iirc, there should be a key 
> combination, or BIOS setting to 'stretch' that resolution to fill the
> screen.  Usually, it is a Fn+F(1-12) combination that does it, many
> times undocumented.  If I remember correctly, I've gotten Dell's to
> stretch their resolution with Fn+F7, but I could be wrong.  Poke
> around Dell's support site and see what you can find.
> 
> HTH
> 
> -- 
> Keep your pecker hard and your powder dry, and the world WILL turn.
> 

Fn+F7 did the trick!

Thanks,

Andrew Gould