Ubuntu Linux under Parallels: Native Screen Resolution

A number of articles have been posted in various places around the web about the problem of viewing native screen resolutions in Ubuntu when it's run in Parallels as a virtual machine. I'd like to offer my synthesis of the problem, as I noticed that some users had given up. Basically, I had to experiment and assemble a few 'pieces' in order to activate the native screen resolution of my MacBook, in order to 'conquer' the default maximum setting of 1024x768 pixels.

The whole process is run within Ubuntu - you shouldn't need to try to access any of the settings within your virtual machine:

(1) Applications > System Tools > Terminal
(2) sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.config &
(3) Enter your administrator password
(4) The xorg.config file will open in the text editor
(5) Scroll down in the file until you locate Section "Monitor"
(6) Edit the horizontal and vertical refresh rates which, by default, are inadequate for higher resolution monitors. I used the following settings:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 28-64
VertRefresh 43-87
EndSection

(7) Now, scroll down to the next section: Section "Screen" and enter the native resolution of your monitor before each instance of lower screen resolutions. I used the following settings for my MacBook, but for a 15" MacBook Pro you'd use, for example 1440x900

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1280x800""1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

(8) Now save your config file. Most users would also recommend that you create a backup of your original config file, in the event that you can't boot back into the OS and wind up in the command line.

(9) System > Logout > Restart

(10) In my case, as soon as I rebooted the OS (inside parallels) it instantly started displaying in my native screen resolution. Otherwise, use System > Preferences > Screen Resolution to manually select your screen res.

Good luck. I offer no guarantees that the method is foolproof, but this workflow is what I would have liked to have found on help forums in order to avoid the convoluted process I had to go through ;-)

Jonathan.