Unable to use dual monitors

[mreubanks]

Running Kubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx LTS -with KDE 4.4.2

I am unable to run dual monitors. I have a Dell Latitude D830 Laptop...docking station with both DVI and standard VGA connectors. Both monitors work individually, but when both plugged in...notta. The DVI monitor takes primary role, and the VGA just sits idle and goes to a black screen.

- Under the display settings, it recognizes that the VGA monitor is present, but shows its in a disabled state. I have tried to enable it by selecting the screen resolution settings and clicking apply / ok. Nothing happens. When closing out the display settings and reopening, it continues to show disabled.

- On the multiple monitors tab, it states "This module is only for configuring systems with a single desktop across multiple monitors. You do not appear to have this configuration.

- Have tried to manually do this through the command line and this does not work either. I used the following for that...
sudo xrandr --auto --output VGA1 --mode 1366x768 --right-of DVI1
After entering this command I get the following error. xrandr: cannot find crtc for output VGA1


- Tried to shut it off through command line just to see if I would see any response from the monitor (because when the laptop is powered off, it realizes the signal is lost)
sudo xrandr --output VGA1 --off
No response, and I do NOT get the same error as above.

lspci output
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)


I have a couple of coworkers who run the same setup that work just fine. I have googled for a resolution to no avail, please help!

[dibl]

Re: Unable to use dual monitors

Working with Google, I can confirm that you are not alone:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...er/+bug/394490

and it's not necessarily just a *buntu issue:

http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=202151

I can't tell if this is identical to your situation, but he claims "solved":

http://swiss.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1313849

Looks like it was a problem where the requested resolution exceeded the capability of one of the monitors.

[mreubanks]

Re: Unable to use dual monitors

I appreciate the links. This did get me a little further, but still not working. I found that the optimal resolution for the VGA monitor is 1360x768, as opposed to 1366x768 (which goes along with what you were saying)

I created the new resolution.
name@hostname:~$ cvt 1360 768
# 1360x768 59.80 Hz (CVT) hsync: 47.72 kHz; pclk: 84.75 MHz
Modeline "1360x768_60.00" 84.75 1360 1432 1568 1776 768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync

name@hostname:~$ sudo xrandr --newmode "1360x768_60.00" 84.75 1360 1432 1568 1776 768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync

The new resolution was created, then I added the new resolution to the VGA adapter.

name@hostname:~$ sudo xrandr --addmode VGA1 1360x768_60.00


Tried to activate the screen, unfortunately the same response.
name@hostname:~$ sudo xrandr --auto --output VGA1 --mode 1360x768_60.00 --right-of DVI1
xrandr: cannot find crtc for output VGA1

As seen below, the new resolution was added.
name@hostname:~$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA1 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
1366x768 59.8 +
1024x768 75.1 60.0
800x600 75.0 60.3
640x480 75.0 60.0
720x400 70.1
1360x768_60.00 59.3

[dibl]

Re: Unable to use dual monitors

I'm a user of a single huge Samsung CRT (mostly), so I'm no xrandr maestro. However, I found some excellent guidance which happens to be in another distro's manual:

http://manual.sidux.com/en/hw-dev-mon-en.htm#xrandr

Since *buntu is derived from Debian developmental snapshots, I would think that guidance is equally valid for Kubuntu, but I can't guarantee it. Hope it helps!

[mreubanks]

Re: Unable to use dual monitors

What do I do if I dont have a xorg.conf file? Has this moved / been renamed to something else?

[dibl]

Re: Unable to use dual monitors

What do I do if I dont have a xorg.conf file? Has this moved / been renamed to something else?

In recent versions, the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file is not automatically created (or needed) for default installations. However, as you have learned, some hardware does need that file.

So, assuming you have found an example of an xorg.conf file that might solve your video issue, here's what to do:

Alt-F2 "kdesudo kate" with no quote marks

when kate opens, simply paste in your candidate xorg.conf file contents

now "File > Save As" and enter the name "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" and save it. (you could browse to the /etc/X11 directory, and then simply enter "xorg.conf" and save it that way).

Close and exit from kate.

Shutdown and restart the system, while chanting a prayer to the little monkey-god. (the second part of this step may not be strictly necessary, but I promise it won't do any damage, either).