From: http://www.php-oa.com/2008/12/11/ubuntu-thinkpad-x200-1280-800.html
In ubuntu8.10, the default Xorg. conf setting does not work well. The default setting is 1074X768, but the x200 standard is 1280x800, which cannot be well set in the system.System> preferences> screen resolutionCannot be set properly.
I have updated the settings many times, and this is the last time. First, make sure that your system has an Intel driver installed.
$ sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel
Then, use gedit to set Xorg. conf.
$ sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Then add the following parts
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "HDMI-1"
Option "Ignore" "True"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "HDMI-2"
Option "Ignore" "True"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768"
# The following line was an auto-configuration added by an external VGA projector; you might leave it out to try
# letting the system detect dimensions appropriate for whatever display you happen to use.
Virtual 2432 864
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "intel"
Option "monitor-HDMI-1" "HDMI-1"
Option "monitor-HDMI-2" "HDMI-2"
EndSection
Then save and close gedit. Basically, you can. It seems that it's not because of the driver, but because of the HDMI. Then you just need to restart your xwindows.
System> preferences> screen resolutionSelect again.