Van Snyder composed on 2025-08-30 10:23 (UTC-0700):
I have a monitor that confuses the graphics drivers. When Debian (12 or
13) starts, the display is shifted about three inches to the right —
both in text mode while things are starting, and later when either sddm
or gdm3 runs. One can choose whether to use gnome or KDE as a window
manager by using the little gear icon at the bottom right corner, after
choosing the user and before submitting the password. But … with the
display shifted, the little gear icon isn't on the screen, so I can't
select one (I have Gnome and KDE installed).
I tried putting video=1680x1050 on the "linux" line in grub.cfg but
that had no effect.
1. Can I specify the video mode that sddm or gdm3 uses?
2. Can I select the window manager other than by way of the little
(invisible) gear icon?
The problem happens with two different computers, both running Debian
12 (and then 13), using either NVidia drivers (for K2200 or FX 1300) or
nouveau drivers.
Due to suspicion that neither the K2200 nor the FX 1300 even have VGA outputs, I
still must ask: Is the monitor being connected using a VGA cable? I've seen it
happen using VGA that center is wildly wrong, but I don't think ever with a 100%
digital cable connection, while switching to digital cable solved.
The output is DVI-I. I use an adapter to connect to a VGA cable. The monitor has only a VGA connector. It also has HDMI, but NVidia FX 1300 doesn't.