After installing Ubuntu in Parallels Desktop for OS X, you may have noticed that your screen resolutions are limited to a maximum of 1024×768. Here’s how to solve that problem..
NOTE: the steps outlined in this tutorial will not work if you’re using Ubuntu 8.04 “Hardy Heron”. However, this tutorial will walk you through the steps required to change the screen resolution for Ubuntu 8.04 running via Parallels Desktop.
First – this tip wouldn’t have been “made possible” without Lindsay pointing out a great article @ Muffin Research Labs.
Remember: this tutorial walks you through the steps to change the screen resolution in Ubuntu “Feisty Fawn” (7.04) – though it should work in 7.10 as well.
- To start, open a Terminal window by selecting Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal
- Enter in sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg and then your password.
- Make sure that vesa is highlighted (it should be by default, but if you have to scroll up or down to get to it, use the up and/or down keys on your keyboard) and then hit enter.
- Select the resolutions that you would like to be available for Ubuntu by using the arrow keys to scroll up and down, and the Space Bar to select them. Do not select resolutions that your Mac doesn’t natively support. Because I prefer not to work with Parallels in “Full Screen” mode, and my MacBook Pro is set to 1440×900, I’ve opted for 1228×800. When you’re done selecting resolutions, hit enter.
- Restart X by clicking Control+Alt+Delete (backspace). Ta-da! Your new resolutions are now available.
Update: if the above method didn’t work for you, for whatever reason, please see comment #15 below (Thanks Steve!) or #20 (same thing, a bit more detailed).
When I type:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
I get:
xserver-xorg postinst warning: overwriting possibly-customised configuration
file; backup in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.20090621225211
I cant get passed the first step! Need help…
In paralells 4, note you MUST get your video memory above 3MB (the default) then install parallels tools.
I am getting the same result as Dan said: xserver-xorg postinst warning: overwriting possibly-customised configuration
file; backup in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.20090621225211
Not sure what to do.