How can I change console shell's resolution in ubuntu 9.10

"Edit /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Identify a block that looks like this (your current running kernel):

menuentry ""Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic"" {
recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
set quiet=1
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e5ce0bc0-d1b0-4802-a6d4-3fd9fc0e7e58
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=e5ce0bc0-d1b0-4802-a6d4-3fd9fc0e7e58 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}

Edit the ""linux ..."" line and, at the end (after ""quiet splash""), leave a blank and add something like ""vga=773"" or another code, depending on the resolution. Here is a list of codes for various resolutions.

Reboot and the new resolution should be enabled.

The provided link gives a list of modes on one particular system; with the 'hwinfo' utility you can generate a list of modes for your system as follows:

hwinfo --framebuffer"

"According this excellent howto http://harrison3001.blogspot.com/2009/09/grub-2-graphical-boot-tips-to-set.html it works for me on Ubuntu-Server-9.10.

With the following additions in /etc/default/grub:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""gfxpayload=true""
GRUB_GFXMODE=1600x1200x32
GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES=""vbe""

Resolution can be found out via:

hwinfo --framebuffer

I read that x32 is a must.

And modification of /etc/grub.d/00_header:

set gfxmode=${GRUB_GFXMODE} <-- FIND THIS LINE

(as you note GRUB_GFXMODE is the variable we set before through /etc/default/grub)

set gfxpayload=keep <-- THIS IS FOR THE VGA CONSOLE!

(as you note the statement keep, obviously, keeps, what?, the resolution we set before through GRUB_GFXMODE variable set into /etc/default/grub)

insmod gfxterm
insmod ${GRUB_VIDEO_BACKEND}

then run update-grub."

try holding the shift key down while booting. when the menu appears press c for the commandline and then enter "vbeinfo" this will give you a list of supported resolutions for your videocard. It might be that the number representing what you want is there. on mine for example 1152x864x32 is 0x156 I am thinking this 156 number may be what it is looking for?

One way would be to switch back to Grub 1, if you can figure out how. It should be doable, because Karmic still supports Grub 1 for computers that upgrade from 9.04 and earlier versions.