> Windows.  Then in Linux, I adjust the positioning to be proper with
> xvidtune.  That seems ok for a while, but it always seems to revert
> to the old values after I log out or after I reboot.

What you should do is make a note of the timing numbers that xvidtune 
displays on its screen once you've got it "just where you want it."  As 
you've found, xvidtune does NOT write changes to the XF86Config file, it 
just displays what the changes SHOULD be and leaves it up to you to make 
the changes to the config file.

Whenever the X server is restarted, due to a logout or reboot, it 
re-reads the config file and uses the monitor timings in that config file 
for the given ModeLine.

> How do I adjust, in software or with an editor, Linux such that
> it places the desktop entirely on the visible part or the monitor?
> Setting it with xvidtune doesn't "stick".

You need to make a note of the initial timings (so you can identify the 
ModeLine in the /etc/X11/XF86Config) shown when you first start 
xvidtune.  Then, adjust the display and make a note of the new timing 
numbers.  Edit the /etc/X11/XF86Config file to contain the new timing 
numbers on the appropriate ModeLine.

You may have to do some detective work to identify the particular 
ModeLine the X server is using.  I generally delete all the modelines 
that are for any resolution other than the one I'm using (1280x1024), and 
then I also delete any modelines for 1280x1024 that are for low refresh 
rates.  (Because I have a nice monitor.)  This should narrow it right 
down to 3 or 4 ModeLines, and you should be able to identify the culprit 
immediately.

Use "X -ac" to start the X server with access control turned off, and 
without having to run the display/login manager, etc. etc. etc.

--
Jim Ockers (ockers@ockers.net)                     Ask me about Linux!
Contact info: please see http://www.ockers.net/

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