Temporarily fixing resolution problems in Zorin OS

What is one day - just after playing a game - you have the unpleasant surprise to see the screen resolution changed, showing big ugly icons and distorted wallpaper? And what if, no matter how hard you try, you can't find the cause, and, most important, the solution for this?

Well, this has happened to me. But, luckily after long searches, I got an idea about the possible cause for this problem and I have also found a way to fix it. Well, at least. temporarily. I couldn't find yet a definitive answer, but I'm still working on it. But first, let's see...

...the problem

In very few words, the problem is caused by a misfortune cocktail of games, drivers and a bug present in Wine / PlayOnLinux app. Its manifests randomly and, from what I've observed on forums, it doesn't seem to matter what game you play, whether it is the last version of a complicated RPG, or just a humble kids arcade.

As I've said, the image on the screen remains distorted after playing (or trying to play) the game. No matter what you do, how many times you try to change the settings, using the "normal" ways, it simply doesn't seem to work. Well, I've been going though this frustrating situation, but, luckily, I've found...

...the solution

Note: this is a way to recover the screen resolution in Zorin OS 6 LTS, but it is a temporarily fix! You'll have to run this command every day when you start your PC. If you shut down, restart, or flip your laptop and let it into stand by state, then you'll have to run this command again.

Or, at least this is what happens in my case. Who knows, maybe you'll be luckier than me and it will work better in your case. Anyway, writing commands several times a day, is not exactly ideal, and it can drive people away from Linux, which is ot what I want, so I'll look deeper to find a better solution. Till then, this are the solutions I've found and the ways they work on my Zorin OS 6 distro.

Solution no. 1

This is my favorite because is the simplest and I find it handy.

First, open the Terminal. In order to do that, go to :

Start - All Applications - Accessories - Terminal

or press Ctrl + Alt + T

and write this command:

xrandr -s 0

and then press "Enter". Here is how it should look in the Terminal:

Short command line to fix resolution in Zorin OS

After running this  command the screen will turn black for several seconds, maybe it will show some sports of colours, then, the resolution will get back to normal.

Solution no. 2

Actually, is the first I've discovered, but I've abandoned it because the other one is shorter and both of them have - in my case - the same effects. But I write it here, just in case.

In Terminal, write this command line:

xrandr -s 0 && xrandr -s 0

Press "Enter".

And now the long version of the story. One day, recently, I had the bad inspiration to try to install a little game from MyPlayCity.com. It's about a game called 4 Elements. Just a silly game with faeries, water, fire and stones. The game wasn't something new for me. Actually, the strange thing is that I used to play this game a lot three years ago, on a Windows XP system and I had no problems. I keep an older version of the game (dating from 2012) saved somewhere on a device and, last year, I have installed that version on another XP system. Again, no problems with that game. Until now.

Most newbies will tend to believe that there is a problem with Linux, but I incline to believe that is the game to be blamed. Because, in the exact same day when I have installed 4 Elements, my mother installed Farm Frenzy 2 on her Windows XP computer, and she had the same resolution problems like me.

In her case, the problems were fixed easier, and the game, was, of course, uninstalled and banned for good, but in my case, things got a little complicated, as you can see.

I've forgot to mention that I've installed the game using Wine app, because it is an .exe, so it was made to be played on Windows.

In fact, no matter the title, all the games mentioned on forums, blogs or groups, related to this bug, share the same thing: they are Windows-oriented and they are played trough Wine / PlayOnLinux app. Besides of that, I can't understand why all these problems don't manifest when installing the old versions? Are the newest versions full of errors and that makes them causing these unpleasant surprises?

And, most of all, how can this be fixed for good without getting too geeky every time the PC is turned on? These are questions and challenges to solve...

Software Center in Zorin OS

One of the most obvious thing I have saw as a fresh Linux user is the easy way to install anything on Zorin OS. Before, in my "Windows times" every time when I needed a piece of software I had to do a google search, ask my friends, install, discover is not good, unistall and try another, etc.

...And, of course, I thought thinks will be the same in Linux. Well, no, they are not! In fact, as I see, in Linux, specifically in Zorin OS (the distro I use), it is a lot easier to install an app if I need one. And it is also a lot easier to evaluate the apps and to give feedback to the community.

And all this thanks to Software Center! No more google searching! Most of the useful apps are already here, in the Software Center, ready to be installed. Those people who have an android smartphone or a tablet are quite familiar with the concept, because Google Play is very much similar with the oftware Center.

Zorin OS Core v6.04 is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, so, the Zorin OS Software Center is, in fact, Ubuntu Software Center.

Now, before going further, I have to make some important observations. Zorin OS being Ubuntu-based, theoretically, most of those apps from Software Center should work fine on it.  But, (and I speak from my bad experience) before installing anything it should be kept in mind that Zorin OS has also a Gnome environment. So, when installing something, we should look for apps destinated to Ubuntu LTS and Gnome environnment.

Any "missplacement" can create problems. I give here an example from my own experience. One day, I have installed Deluge torrent app. Fine till now. But, in my naive lack of experience, I have installed the KDE version and the result was that the app after a short while became a real problem as it had quite an erratic behaviour. At the end, I had no solution but to unistall it. Then I came across to the Gnome version of Deluge and I got one idea... So, I have installed this app, tested it, and... it works fine! :-)

So, any app destined to Ubuntu versions higher than 12.04, KDE, Unity or any other thing that souds too alien to Zorin OS's "nature" are to be avoid. In order to do that, it is necessary to read the info and comments about every app, not just install it blindly.

So, what is Zorin OS Software Center?

In lay-men words, is the place to get (almost) everything you need for your Zorin OS system.  Here you can find apps to install and you can also unistall those you don't like or need anymore.

According to Ubuntu Wiki, Software Center is: "a utility for installing, purchasing, and removing software in Ubuntu, a major part of Ubuntu’s overall software handling." To study more about it, see this link about Software Center on Ubuntu Wiki.

How to launch Zorin OS Software Center?

There are 4 ways to do that. In order to learn about them all, please, see the link  above. On this post I will discuss only about two, I'd say main, ways to launch Software Center:

- Directly
- From the command line

How to launch Zorin OS Software Center directly

Personally, I have noticed two ways to do that.

• With the cursor go to Start - All Applications - Ubuntu Software Center 

Like in the image below.

Launch Zorin OS Software Center directly

•  Or, you can choose even a shortest way like in the image bellow.

Another direct way to launch Zorin OS Software Center

Once launched, the app will look something like this.

Zorin OS Software Center

Note that on the left side you can see all the apps catalogued on categories, so it is very easy to choose what you need. Some of the categories are already present on the freshly installed Zorin OS system, but other categories (like Programming or Science) will appear once the user gets to install the first app from that category.

For example,  I had no Science category in my "launch menu", but it appeared by itself after I have installed Cellestia app.

In Zorin OS Linux all and every app has its own category

If you click on "Installed" tab in Software Center window you can see all the apps that are allready installed on the system. This is something like "Add-Remove Programs" in Windows Control Panel, but is even better because you can see the apps in categories not just an alphabetical list of them.

Categories of instaled apps in Zorin OS

 And if you click on one of the categories, you can see every installed app.

Installes apps in Zorin OS

And if you want to see what apps are there to be installed, go to "All Software" and choose one categories. You'll see the subcategories of apps and/or the apps. In the screenshot bellow, I explore "Graphics" folder/category.

Graphics category in Zorin OS Software Center

How to launch Zorin OS Software Center from command line

Again, there are two ways.

• Press Ctrl (Control)+Alt+T keys (together) to open the Terminal and write this command line:

software-center

  This comand will launch the app.

Launch Software Center via command line

Note: As a result of this command line you'll most probably see a lot of so-called "errors" in the Terminal window. Don't panic, stay calm. :-P I was puzzled too when I saw this for the first time. But then, I have posted a question about it on AskUbuntu and got a lot of interesting and relieving answers. In short, those "errors" are not a reason to worry. They are interesting only for developers, not for common users like you and me. :-)

•  Open the Terminal and write this command line

nohup software-center &

This is the second command line that will open the app. Only that in this case, those weird "errors" will not be seen in the Terminal window.

Another command line for launching SC

Well that's all  about Software Center!

Zorin OS is both very criticized by old Linux users for its Windows looks and it is seen with a lot of suspicion by loyal Windows users (for being after all, a Linux distribution underneath the Windows appearance). But in my humble opinion, this distro takes the best parts from both its "parents" and is the best for fresh Linux users.I know that I love it! :-)

How to update and upgrade Zorin OS

These are the first command lines I've learned as a fresh Linux user. In fact, these are the first command lines I wrote in the Terminal immediately after installing Zorin OS on my netbook. And this is what I do every day to keep my system up to date, stable and secure.

I open the Terminal by pressing in the same time the keys:

Ctrl+Alt+T

And the Terminal looks like this:

Fig. 1 - Control+Alt+T to open Terminal

Update Zorin OS via command line

First, I do the update. In order to do this, just after the blinking cursor line, I type:

sudo apt-get update

and then I hit "Enter" key.

Immediately, I'm asked for the administrative password. (In Linux, nothing is allowed to move without written permission!).

Fig.2 - Write the password and press Enter

I type the password (remains invisible) and then I press "Enter" key. And a bunch of lines start flowing on the screen, just like in the screnshot bellow:

Fig.3 - Let the Matrix flow... :)

And, when is done, it looks like this:

Fig.4 - The update process is over

And then...

Upgrade Zorin OS via command line

I type the line:

sudo apt-get upgrade 

Fig.5 - How to upgrade Zorin OS

And press "Enter" key.
Usually, this time it doens't ask me for pasword. Only if I wait for more than 5 minutes between the two operations. But... looks like this time I did expected too long!

Fig.6 - A normal upgrade is over

 And that's it! Now, I can close the Terminal...

I'll update this post.

Update on 12 February 2013

More about upgrade

Sometimes, - not always -  during the process, I'm informed about certain upgrades available and I'm asked if I accept it or not. Like in the example bellow.

Fig.7 - Upgrading...

Of course, I accept it. In order to do that, I press "y" key and then "Enter" key.

The lines start flowing again till the familiar end...

And, during the whole process another widows appears. It is the Update Manager, an app that is also used for keeping the OS up-to-date. When it does...

I click on "Install updates" button.

Fig.8 - Update Manager GUI in the front...

 Then, of course, I click "Close".

These are the steps I take daily.

Maybe some experienced Linux users (especially the Ubuntu fans) would say that if I use the command lines is no need to use Update Manager. While the new Linux users perhaps would feel happier if I would say them just to use easier method : Update Manager. They would thus have a motive get read of the "ugly" Terminal.

The fact is that, maybe I'm overly careful doing both ways, BUT definitely, Terminal must be used for keeping Zorin OS up-to-date. Maybe other things can be done in the good old (graphical) way  we are used to do as Windows users, but, there are still some things that Linux imply the command line.

Anyway, for me, this was a good reason to get accustomed with the Terminal... And now I really like it! :-)

List of updates made on 12 February 2013

- changed the title a bit
- added more info
- added another images
- numbered the images
- did some SEO for the images because last time I was too lazy to do that. :-)

Easiest way to find out if you have a 32-bit or a 64-bit OS

I need to install an app but, like in many cases, I need to find out if my Zorin OS is a 32-bit or a 64-bit. I used to know but I have forgotten. So what do you do if you are in my situation? Here is how I did.

Firstly, I did a google search and find out on a quite similar question on Ask Ubuntu forum. By the time I am writing this blog post, there are already 12 answers. But to be frank, none of them appeals me. I didn’t wont complicated and sophisticated operations and I certainly don't wont to install an app just to find out if I can install a certain app. It already sounds crazy.

No, I just want something quick, simple and clean. And a terminal command line is the answer. I have found it thanks to a fellow chatter from the Ubuntu & Linux chat.

So, here it is:

Open Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and write the following line exactelly as it is:
getconf LONG_BIT
And then press Enter

The needed result appears instantly.

Here is it how it looks in my Terminal window.

The easiest way to find out if you have an 32-bit or a 64-bit OS Architecture

How to update PlayOnLinux from command line (first part)

I will assume that you have Zorin OS linux installed on your PC like I have. In case you don't have, I hope that my articles dedicated to this linux distribution, that I intend to write on my blog, will convince you to try it, or, at least, it will help you just to make an idea of how Zorin OS works.

Today I wont to talk a little about PlayOnLinux. If you don't know yet, PlayOnLinux is an app that gives you the opportunity to run on Linux the programs that you like to use under Windows. For example, you can run popular games, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, etc. I am not going to talk today about how to actually do that because it is a vast subject.

Today I just wont to talk about how to update this app by using the comand line. Yes, that means writing an abracadabra line in Terminal :). In order to illustrate that, I will use my own experience with it (be it good or bad – the experience I mean).

Ok, so, after installing Zorin on my netbook, after updating and upgrading it, I have decided to give a try to PlayOnLinux. For my puzzling surprise, I saw that on startup of this app, I was prompted by a message telling me that there is a newer version of PlayOnLinux. Apparently, the usual update and upgrade of Zorin wasn't enough to upgrade PlayOnLinux to the next version. That made me wonder why and how could I fix it. After a google search I have found some (not so important) explications on a forum, and also, and more important, advices related to the actual way to update PlayOnLinux from command line.

I have followed the advices and here is how I did and happened...

First, I went to The download page of PlayOnLinux. Then, in the list I clicked on Ubuntu (Zorin being based on Ubuntu), and then, I have selected the code lines under the "For Precise version" title (Zorin being based on Ubuntu LTS Precise Pangolin). Then I pressed Ctrl+C

To update PlayOnLinux on Zorin OS, just select and copy the codes for Ubuntu Precise Version in PlayOnLinux download page

Then I open my terminal (Ctrl +T) and do right-click and paste. (Note: I don't know why, but I have observed that in Terminal doesn't work Ctrl+V!)

Paste the code into the Terminal with right-click + paste, not with Ctrl+ V because it will not work!

Then I press Enter and write the password (asking for the password for every change is something specific to Linux, and if you have installed Zorin on your system, you know what I mean!). Note: When you start typing the password, the text will not show itself, so don't worry if you don't see any letters or dots on the screen!

Press Enter and type the password. The password will remain invisible.

After that, a bunch of lines are scrolling rapidly in the terminal. At a certain point, I am informed that playonlinux will be updated. I press enter when I am asked to. All this ends when inside the terminal window appears the last line.

These are the screeshots.

PlayOnLinux updating...

PlayOnLinux updated

And that's all!  Well, almost. In the next article I'l tell about some other problems related to PlayOnLinux. Sorry, but right now I don't have the time to write about it.

Only one interesting observation:

Before the update, you can find PlayOnLinuxby following the path:

Start - All Applications - Wine

But after the update PlayOnLinux will be found on:

Start - All Applications - Games

Don't ask me why it migrates this way. It's a mystery for me too! :)

PlayOnLinux logo and icon

How to find the Terminal in Zorin OS?

First of all, I must say that Zorin OS is a Linux distribution based on the popular Ubuntu, so, it works very similar like its "parent". When I have problems with Zorin OS I turn to the Ubuntu and Linux Mint community for suport and advices. (Linux Mint is a "cousin" of Zorin OS, very popular among Linux users.)

As a new Linux user, the first thing I was confronted with (after successfully installing a linux distro) was the question: "What the hell is the Terminal and where am I suppose to find it?". At that time, I was exploring Ubuntu Quantal Quetzal, so, the answer was a little more complex due to the hated Unity Desktop Environment, but now I am using Zorin OS and things are, in my opinion, much easier.

So, what is the Terminal in Linux and how or why to use it? I think that the information about Using Terminal in Ubuntu, given by Distrogeeks.com is more accurate that what I could ever hope to write.

How to open the Terminal in Zorin OS?

There are two ways:

1. Simultaneously press the combination of keys:  Ctrl + Alt + 4  

2. Follow the path with the cursor: Start - All Applications - Accessories - Terminal


Here is how it looks the Terminal in my Zorin OS desktop :)

Default look of the Terminal in Zorin OS