Why isn't Grub2 using custom resolution?

I hope somebody can help me with this... Running Ubuntu 12.10 GNOME Remix

I am trying to get Grub2 to use a resolution of 1600x900...

I have checked vbeinfo and hwinfo --framebuffer which both provide:

Mode 0x037f: 1600x900 (+6400), 24 bits

This resolution has worked on previous Ubuntu and Fedora installs.

• Here is my /etc/default/grub: http://paste.ubuntu.com/1308444/
  Line 25 = GRUB_GFXMODE="1600x900"

• As well as my /boot/grub/grub.cfg: http://paste.ubuntu.com/1308446/
  Line 72 = set gfxmode=1600x900

• I have tried using grub-customizer:

Why is it not taking effect?? I have tried different resolutions... Backgrounds and font colours are changeable.

Thank you for your insight.

When you set the mode, try to also include the bit depth in /etc/default/grub, e.g.:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1600x900x24

Also add this line:

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

Run sudo update-grub, reboot and let us know if it worked.

I think GRUB_GFXMODE gets ignored (or at least it was at some point ago). You can always try the traditional way with vga code

1. First you install hwinfo:

   sudo apt-get install hwinfo

2. Then you get the vgacode with hwinfo (preferred resolution, 24 bits):

   sudo hwinfo --framebuffer
   
   02: None 00.0: 11001 VESA Framebuffer
   [Created at bios.464]
   Unique ID: rdCR.ku_DuSHewh1
   Hardware Class: framebuffer
   Model: "Intel(R)Sandybridge Mobile Graphics Controller"
   Vendor: "Intel Corporation"
   Device: "Intel(R)Sandybridge Mobile Graphics Controller"
   SubVendor: "Intel(R)Sandybridge Mobile Graphics Chipset Accelerated VGA BIOS"
   SubDevice:
   Revision: "Hardware Version 0.0"
   Memory Size: 63 MB + 960 kB
   Memory Range: 0xd0000000-0xd3feffff (rw)
   Mode 0x0360: 1366x768 (+1408), 8 bits
   Mode 0x0361: 1366x768 (+2752), 16 bits
   Mode 0x0362: 1366x768 (+5504), 24 bits
   Mode 0x0363: 1600x900 (+1600), 8 bits
   Mode 0x0364: 1600x900 (+3200), 16 bits
   Mode 0x0365: 1600x900 (+6400), 24 bits
   Mode 0x0366: 1920x1080 (+1920), 8 bits
   Mode 0x0367: 1920x1080 (+3840), 16 bits
   Mode 0x0368: 1920x1080 (+7680), 24 bits
   Mode 0x0307: 1280x1024 (+1280), 8 bits
   Mode 0x031a: 1280x1024 (+2560), 16 bits
   Mode 0x031b: 1280x1024 (+5120), 24 bits
   Mode 0x0305: 1024x768 (+1024), 8 bits
   Mode 0x0317: 1024x768 (+2048), 16 bits
   Mode 0x0318: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits
   Mode 0x0312: 640x480 (+2560), 24 bits
   Mode 0x0314: 800x600 (+1600), 16 bits
   Mode 0x0315: 800x600 (+3200), 24 bits
   Mode 0x0301: 640x480 (+640), 8 bits
   Mode 0x0303: 800x600 (+832), 8 bits
   Mode 0x0311: 640x480 (+1280), 16 bits
   Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
   

3. You edit a line in your /etc/default/grub (or you just use grub-customizer) to include vga=0x0365 or vga=891 (0x365 is 869) :

   sudo gedit /etc/default/grub
   
   ...
   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash vga=891"
   ...

4. You update the grub configuration:

   sudo update-grub

5. Reboot and let us know what happened