Xorg does not set the DPI automatically to a valid value

[Ben Kaminsky]

Binary package hint: kdebase-workspace

On Toshiba Satellite A100-786, when running Kubuntu fonts are extremely huge. After manually setting the DPI to 96, it is fine.

Here's the full story:
1. I tried to run Kubuntu on my laptop, but the fonts were too huge which made me unable to do anything (it happened both in the live CD and in a pre-installed hard disk from another computer).
2. I changed from KDM to GDM which solved part of the problem - the panel fonts were OK but not the application fonts.
3. I opened an xterm session and tried to run only kwin - the font of the window title was huge again.
4. I killed kwin and tried to open only plasma-desktop without a windows manager - the fonts were still huge.
5. I opened system-settings from gnome session. In appearance>fonts I changed "force fonts dpi" to 96.
When I then started a KDE session it was fine.

One more problem that might be related:
All this time the panel was not maximized as default and was only part of the width of the screen. I could maximize it though.

You can see the screenshots from each stage here: http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=3107128.0

I'm using Kubuntu 9.10 beta.
kde-window-manager 4:4.3.2-0ubuntu6

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Tue Oct 27 07:40:03 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Beta i386 (20090929.2)
Package: kde-window-manager 4:4.3.2-0ubuntu6
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-13.44-generic
SourcePackage: kdebase-workspace
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-13-generic i686

[Jonathan Thomas (echidnaman)]

Unless manually specified, KDE uses the DPI set by the video driver.

[Ricardo Sousa (rsousa-servismart-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi,

 I am also being affected by this issue (fixed by adding a reasonable -dpi to KDM startup command) but I am using xserver-xorg-video-intel driver.

[Ben Kaminsky (benkamin)]

One more thing that I recalled:

When I once tried to install PC-BSD on the same lap-top I had a similar
problem. So I guess it is a global KDE issue.

[Ben Kaminsky (benkamin)]

One more thing that I recalled:

When I once tried to install PC-BSD on the same lap-top I had a similar
problem. So I guess it is a global KDE issue.

[Rich (brrhop)]

I have a similar problem except that when I go to attempt to fix it the entire screen becomes distorted; all I can see is the arrow. KDE in OpenSuse does not give me any such problem, just KDE in Kubuntu

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi Ben,

        Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. You reported this bug a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering is this still an issue for you? Can you try with the latest development release of Ubuntu? (ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/)

        If it remains an issue, could you also attach a new /var/log/Xorg.0.log?
        Thanks in advance.

    [This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

We're closing this bug since it is has been some time with no response from the original reporter. However, if the issue still exists please feel free to reopen with the requested information. Also, if you could, please test against the latest development version of Ubuntu, since this confirms the bug is one we may be able to pass upstream for help.