There is no way that Xastir can modify your xorg.conf. Something else
is doing it.

What you might want to try is to get back your working xorg.conf, and
save a back-up copy of it. Next time you experience the bizarre
change in resolution, check the modification time of xorg.conf and see
if you can figure out what you did at that time that could have caused
it. Then copy your backup xorg.conf back into place and see if that
still fixes the problem. If so, you need to figure out who's
scribbling into your xorg.conf and kill it dead.

At one point, I had 25 various xorg files, all different
iterations of the same thing. I tried to delete the excess ones and
got the basic one too, so the machine was toast. Reloaded Kubuntu
and started searching on the internet and found some common problems
having to do with missing lines for vertical and horizontal specs for
monitors. Currently, I have added the lines and it seems to be
running well, but I'll give it a few days before I trust it again --
the problem only seems to show up on a reboot.

And now it's gone bad again, but it's SO bad that I can't
even see the screen well enough to change the resolution to something
that will work.

I really wanted Kubuntu to work, because I really wanted
Xastir to work. But I think this is the end and I'm done with it.

you need direct help fast Also has an excellent system of finding and
installing vid drivers..
Try a d/load and see what you think...It is a live distro so you will
see what you get...
I am using the latest Gaia edition with no problems at all..

For what it's worth, we're using Ubuntu here for desktops, laptops,
and embedded systems (PC-104) We've had some issues on the embedded
stuff, but everything else has been good.

My home system requires an unusual resolution, and I may need to go
through the same process, more or less, to fix it.. 1440 x 900

I've not tried to bring up Xastir or UI-View yet, work's been keeping
me hopping.