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This helped me on Ubuntu 14.04 with ESXi 5.5 :

:~$ sudo vi /etc/default/grub

Change line to:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash vga=792"



:~$ sudo update-grub :~$ sudo reboot -r now

Use 795 or 799 for higher resolution, and see: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/vga-boot-modes-to-set-screen-resolution/ for more details.

Set the graphics mode with GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX

First, install xrandr and run it:

$ sudo apt-get install xrandr

$ xrandr

The available screen modes are listed.

Now, edit /etc/default/grub:

$ sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Assuming a previously unedited file, make the following changes:

The variable GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT should contain at least nomodeset, perhaps in addition to quiet and splash on desktop systems.

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="nomodeset"

On server systems, uncomment GRUB_TERMINAL=console to see more messages passing during boot before entering in the graphics console.

Leave this line as a comment:

#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

At the end of the file, add a line:

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=1280x1024x16

or replace the value by any other (comma separated) mode(s) that is(are) supported by your hardware. The values text, keep, auto, vga and ask should also work.

Finally, after saving the edited /etc/default/grub with Ctrl+O and exiting it with Ctrl+X, issue the following commands:

$ sudo update-grub

$ sudo reboot

This answer will also work to decrease the resolution and/or refresh rate or frame buffer frequency on down-clocked systems. CRT monitors typically show flickering stripes when the refresh frequency is too high.

1. Start in the GRUB menu


2. Press C to go to the GRUB command line


3. Run vbeinfo and make a decision (e.g. 1920x1200x32).


4. Start your system again


5. sudo nano /etc/default/grub


6. Change GRUB_GFXMODE= (e.g. GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1200x32)


7. Set GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX to GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep
   


8. sudo update-grub


9. reboot your system

Just some personal background: in my other computer I have no problem with that fancy mode (it's 160 cols x 60 rows, but it has a 4:3 CRT monitor). It's equipped with a TNT2 (yes, I swear), and that mode was promptly displayed on first boot. Problem is, it does this by loading the nouveau driver, and this guy is still a bit faulty (in my case, it hangs the whole system when trying to move windows). So, to have an usable system, I had to downgrade to the old and stable nv driver, and also disabling mode-setting ('cause the kernel would always load nouveau when enabled). Note that I'm not using nVidia proprietary drivers, but like you, I was switched back to 80x25 in console mode.

This is because the nv driver doesn't use kernel mode-setting. Now, I don't know about the proprietary drivers, but I'm guessing they might have changed your configuration in order to be usable, and possibly that's why you're seeing that "big" mode. Possibly they disabled mode-setting when installed. That's why you see the "small" text mode when booting from the Live CD.

You could try booting up with a different VESA mode, but that depends a lot on your hardware. For that, please check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions#Linux_video_mode_numbers. For example, if you'd like to try booting your text mode on 1024x640, you'll find that the mode ID is 877.

So, when booting, hold the SHIFT key (in case you don't have a GRUB timeout) to bring up GRUB's menu. Select the mode which you wish to boot and press 'e' (to edit the commands). At the end of the "kernel" command, add vga=877. The number is the mode ID, if you want to try other modes, replace it with the desired number.

Also, at that same Wikipedia page, you could also try the helpful "Universal format" right below the modes table. That hwinfo command is quite useful.

Why i answer this threat even if it's very old? The answer is pretty easy, because so many other threat refer to it.

If vbeinfo or hwinfo --framebuffer doesn't show the native resolution of your display, then disable vesa, to do so remove vga= options in:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Search for GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= and remove vga= if you find it.

If you have remove the option don't forget to generate a new grub.cfg:

sudo update-grub

If you don't know you did it well, then just reboot and open a terminal:

grep vga /proc/cmdline

grep -ir vga /etc/modprobe.d/

If grep doesn't show anything, then you removed the vga= option.

Now install uvesafb:

sudo apt-get install v86d

Make sure the uvesafb module is included into your initrd. Add it to the end of /etc/initramfs-tools/modules:

sudo sh -c "echo uvesafb >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules"

To see what modes are available:

sudo modprobe uvesafb

cat /sys/bus/platform/drivers/uvesafb/uvesafb.0/vbe_modes

Now configure uvesafb mode_option=YOURxResoultion-BitColorMode e.g. 1280x1024-32:

sudo sh -c "echo options uvesafb mode_option=1280x1024-32 scroll=ywrap > /etc/modprobe.d/uvesafb.conf"

Don't forget to rebuild your initrd:

sudo update-initramfs -k all -u

Now you can reboot!

See this for more details.
It is for debian, but it also works for ubuntu.
I hope it helped you and it should be more generic than using grub2.

Ubuntu 18 console mode:

Edit

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash quite"

in

/etc/default/grub

so new line looks like:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash quiet vga=XXX nomodeset"

where XXX comes from

https://www.pendrivelinux.com/vga-boot-modes-to-set-screen-resolution/

then reload grub config and reboot

update-grub2

reboot

This will not change the font on boot, but for the console on Ctrl+Alt+F[1-6]

Install the custom Ubuntu fonts for your console:

sudo apt-get install fonts-ubuntu-font-family-console

And create a script /usr/local/bin/fontset with this command:

#!/bin/sh

setfont /usr/share/consolefonts/Uni3-TerminusBold32x16.psf.gz

(choose the desired fon out of the folder /usr/share/consolefonts/)

You can either call fontset each time on your console after using Ctrl+Alt+F1

or add this line to your /root/.profile

[ ! -t 0 ] && sleep 1 & /usr/local/bin/fontset

(don't add this to your users .profile or you get an error on a graphical boot)

source: Resize font on boot message screen and console

The following worked for me on Debian Stretch 4.9.51-1.

No GUI, only console mode:

Edit /etc/default/grub and add the following line

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash vga=795 nomodeset"

For a list of vga= codes see http://pierre.baudu.in/other/grub.vga.modes.html

The nomodeset prevents the resolution from changing again after grub initializes [thanks How do I increase console-mode resolution? ]

EDIT:
As mentioned by @Videonauth :
Afterwards do:

sudo update-grub