General :: Cannot Reset Resolution - No Display After Splash Screen

So I know now that I reach the login screen, and I know to hit control, alt, f1. However, all attempts to reset the resolution have failed. Here's how it went down. I was working with nvidia driver. Already was frustrated I couldn't get a working wide screen setting for my toshiba hd tv/monitor but that's a seperate issue. I was trying to get the driver to recognize my separate monitor to an hd tv in the living room using the video out. works fine with windows. I got it to recognize, it made me save settings, and then restart. Note resolution settings are set to automatic right now. Then when I restart, I get to ubuntu splash screen, it plays the chime, and shows a blank black screen. Control alt f1 brings me the menu.

I have been told to type (this is just quick type, I used the proper commands in reality)
sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg.
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phighxserver - xorg
xrandr --output lvds --mode 1024x768

I found one article that gave a three step process.
sudo cp /etc/x11/xorg.conf / etc/x11/xorg.conf.custom
sudo sh -c 'md5sum ' etc'/x11/xorg.conf > /var/lib/x11/xorg.conf.md5sum'
sudo dpk-reconfigure xserver-xorg.

Nothing gave me any of the results I expected from command doesn't exist to completely irrelevant menus. Start me from the beginning to what I should do. Yes I logged in properly with my username and password to. Do the 'etc' in the command need to be filled with something else like a drive letter or something. I'm so lost, should I disconnect my tv? Also I tried running in safe mode and it said something about display not found.