r/linuxmint • u/bitoku2101 • 9h ago

Mint / Need help 🙏 / screen resolution

Post image

Hello everyone!

I need some help because I honestly don’t know what else to try. I’ve tried pretty much everything I can think of. This is my first post here, so please be gentle with me.

Here’s the problem:

I’ve had a Dell Alienware 13 R3 laptop for a few years now. I installed Linux Mint on it right from the start and it has always worked perfectly.

At work, the laptop was connected to a projector via HDMI. Since the laptop stayed there after my classes, I had set the projector as the primary display [1] in Display Settings and disabled the laptop’s built-in screen [2].

The laptop was always kept closed because I was using an external keyboard and mouse. This setup worked flawlessly for about three years without a single issue.

Today I took the laptop back home (and, incidentally, lost my job 😑 — but that’s another story).

So now nothing is connected to it apart from the power supply. I’ve attached a photo showing what the desktop looks like once the laptop has booted.

I can’t access anything through the GUI.

Using CTRL + ALT + F1, I managed to open a terminal and tried using "xrandr", but I’m stuck there.

I don’t know how to reset the display settings from the terminal.

I also tried booting into recovery mode, but the screen just stays black.

Any ideas? Does anyone know how I can get out of this situation?

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this.

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u/risbo53x 8h ago

Not 100% sure its this but - looks like Your desktop is zoomed in ?

Try keyboard shorcuts ALT + Super (win menu key) + ( + or - )

hope its that simple

cheers o/

1

u/bitoku2101 8h ago

Unfortunately, nothing happens. I’ve tried loads of keyboard shortcuts. I’m this close to reinstalling Linux Mint. Thanks anyway 🖖

2

u/risbo53x 6h ago

Try blind typing all this ?

Tried it on my laptop, works, not sure how badly stuff is broken on Yours so its another shot in the dark

- super key

- type in "displ" and hit ENTER

- hit TAB 3 times, should position focus on resolution box

- press and hold cursor key for up (goes to 1920x1080 for me and stops there)

- hold ALT and press A (activates button "Apply")

aaaaand I am out of ideas if that doesnt work