Unlike windows, you can’t simply right click on the desktop screen and click change resolution to change the screen resolution in ubuntu (10.10 in my case)
To change the screen resolution of ubuntu follow these steps:
1. Turn on ubuntu and let it load normally + login
2. Goto: <top menu> > System > Preferences > Monitors
3. From the popup window, change the resolution to your desired one and hit Apply and then close.
This way you can change the resolution and other display related settings on your Ubuntu (10.10)