When you install CentOS 5.4 (and probably this will also apply to
Scientific Linux 5.4) on a laptop with an Intel GMA X3100 Gfx chipset,
you get a display where things are out of line (like resolutions of
1024x768 on a screen of 1280x800). See this example:
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/313/screenshotwithc53xorg.jpg

It appears that this is a problem related to the system thinking there
is an external display connected where it isn't.

More info can be found here:
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=343858 [^]
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=610407 [^]

Fortunately, the solution is that you need to adapt your xorg.conf
file. Add the following lines to solve the problem:

- - - - - - - - - - - -
Section "Device"
       Identifier "Videocard0"
       Driver "intel"
       Option "monitor-TV" "TVOutput" <=== this one!!!
EndSection

Section "Monitor" <=== this one!!!
       Identifier "TVOutput" <=== this one!!!
       Option "Ignore" "true" <=== this one!!!
EndSection <=== this one!!!
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Regards,
Patrick

-- 
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taken as good natured and friendly unless specifically stated otherwise.