In this article, we’ll be addressing a common issue that users may encounter after a fresh installation of Ubuntu 20.04.3 – a stuck display resolution at 640×480. This problem can be frustrating, as it severely limits the usability of the system. However, there are several steps you can take to resolve this issue, primarily focusing on the installation and configuration of the correct graphics driver.
To fix a stuck display resolution at 640×480 after a fresh install of Ubuntu 20.04.3, you need to install and configure the correct graphics driver. This can be done by identifying the available NVIDIA drivers, installing the recommended driver version, and rebooting the system. If you are unable to access the graphical mode after rebooting, you can boot into recovery mode and install the NVIDIA driver from there.
Identifying the Problem
After installing Ubuntu 20.04.3, you might notice that your display resolution is stuck at 640×480, and the options to change it in the system settings are unavailable. This problem typically arises when the system’s graphics driver, particularly NVIDIA drivers, is not correctly installed or configured.
Checking for Available NVIDIA Drivers
The first step in resolving this issue is to check for available NVIDIA drivers. To do this, open a terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T and then type in the following command:
ubuntu-drivers devicesThis command will list all the available NVIDIA drivers for your system. The output will include the model of your graphics card and the recommended driver version to install.
Installing the Correct NVIDIA Driver
After identifying the correct driver version for your graphics card, the next step is to install it. For example, if the recommended driver is “nvidia-390”, you would run the following command:
sudo apt-get install nvidia-390In this command, sudo is used to execute the command with root privileges, apt-get is the package handling utility in Ubuntu, install is the command to install a package, and nvidia-390 is the package to be installed.
Once the command is executed, the system will download and install the specified NVIDIA driver.
Rebooting the System
After the driver is installed, you should reboot your system to apply the changes. You can do this by either clicking on the power icon in the top-right corner of your screen and choosing ‘Restart’, or by running the following command in the terminal:
sudo rebootTroubleshooting: If Graphical Mode is Not Accessible
In some cases, you may not be able to access the graphical mode after rebooting. If this happens, you’ll need to boot into recovery mode to install the NVIDIA driver. Here are the steps to do this:
Boot into Recovery Mode
Restart your system and hold the Shift key during boot to access the GRUB menu. In this menu, select the ‘Advanced options for Ubuntu’ and then choose the recovery mode option.
Enable Networking
In the recovery mode menu, select the ‘Enable networking’ option. This step is essential as it ensures you have an internet connection, which is necessary for installing the NVIDIA driver.
Access the Command Line
Next, choose the ‘root’ option to open a command line or terminal in recovery mode.
Install the NVIDIA Driver
Now, you can install the NVIDIA driver by running the same installation command as before:
sudo apt-get install nvidia-390Reboot the System
After the driver installation is complete, reboot your system again. You can do this by typing reboot and pressing Enter.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of a stuck display resolution at 640×480 after a fresh install of Ubuntu 20.04.3. Remember, the key to solving this problem is installing and correctly configuring the appropriate graphics driver for your system. If the issue persists, it may be necessary to seek further assistance or explore alternative solutions specific to your hardware configuration.
To open a terminal in Ubuntu 20.04.3, you can press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard. This keyboard shortcut will launch the terminal application.
To check for available NVIDIA drivers in Ubuntu 20.04.3, open a terminal and run the command ubuntu-drivers devices. This command will list all the available NVIDIA drivers for your system, along with the recommended driver version to install.
To install a specific NVIDIA driver in Ubuntu 20.04.3, you can use the sudo apt-get install command followed by the driver name. For example, if the recommended driver is "nvidia-390", you would run the command sudo apt-get install nvidia-390.
To reboot your system in Ubuntu 20.04.3, you can either click on the power icon in the top-right corner of your screen and choose ‘Restart’, or you can open a terminal and run the command sudo reboot.
If you can’t access the graphical mode after installing the NVIDIA driver, you can try booting into recovery mode. Restart your system and hold the Shift key during boot to access the GRUB menu. From there, select the ‘Advanced options for Ubuntu’ and then choose the recovery mode option. Enable networking, access the command line, and reinstall the NVIDIA driver if needed.
If the issue persists or you need further assistance, it may be helpful to seek support from the Ubuntu community forums, official documentation, or relevant online forums. Exploring alternative solutions specific to your hardware configuration can also be beneficial.
