invalid argument error when setting yres_virtual in fb_var_screeninfo

Question

I\'m trying to make an application for linux that writes directly to the framebuffer /dev/fb0. In order to make it double buffered I try to make the virtual screen be double

Answer 1

This is a common question and it is caused by the limitation of the video driver. E.g., Intel's 810 chipset only allows 640x480 resolution and the Broadcom's limit the width to no more than 1200 (http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=29968).

Not much you can do here, unless you change the driver or the videocard itself (if possible).

EDIT: if you are on a PC, try using the vesafb, not the intel's driver.

There's a hint here: http://www.mail-archive.com/debian-russian@lists.debian.org/msg27725.html