Xorg and second monitor

[Gian Marco]

Hi to all
I have a problem with my notebook (Acer aspire 1357lmi). For an exam at university I must use a projector for my slide show. So i decided to understand and try the system at home. I connected a monitor to my notebook but the second monitor didn't display anything. So i searched for a while and then i went to "System settings"->"Monitor" and i activated the second screen. Kubuntu told me to reboot the system. I did it but xorg had a problem and kde didn't work more. Fortunately i had a copy of xorg.conf and now it works again. But i don't have my problem solved. I can't use my second monitor/projector. I have an ati radeon 9200. How can i solve the problem? Any idea?

[HighHo]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

Hello, Which driver are you using for your graphics card as there are alternative ways depending on which one you use for an ATI card.

[Gian Marco]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

i have an ati radeon 9200 and i'm using xserver-xorg-video-ati version 1:6.7.195-1ubuntu2

[HighHo]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

I had a quick look at my old xorg.conf using an open source driver, In the Device section try adding something like this.

Option "MergedFB" "true"
Option "CRT2Position" "RightOf"
Option "MetaModes" "1280x1024-1280x768"
Option "MergedNonRectangular" "true"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"

MetaModes is where you want to set your resolutions, the first one being for your moniter, the next one being for your second display. You dont need the option "MergedNonRectangular" "true" if the resolution for them match. You can change CRT2Position to LeftOf or Clone also. The "UseFBDev" options is probably not needed but was on old xorg.conf file.

Hope this helps or at least puts you in the right direction.

[Gian Marco]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

Thanks for the help, i tried your solution: xorg continues to work but the second monitor doesn't show anything (even if in the monitor section of the control panel the right checkbox are selected)

[HighHo]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

If you run the following: sudo lspci -v
Can you see a secondary graphics controller? For example my output is as follows:

03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc R423 UK [Radeon X800SE (PCIE)] (prog-if 00 [VGA])
    Subsystem: C.P. Technology Co. Ltd Unknown device 2151
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
    Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
    Memory at feaf0000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
    I/O ports at c800 [size=256]
    Expansion ROM at feac0000 [disabled] [size=128K]
    Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
    Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint IRQ 0
    Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-

03:00.1 Display controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon R423 UK (PCIE) [X800 SE] (Secondary)
    Subsystem: C.P. Technology Co. Ltd Unknown device 2150
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
    Memory at feae0000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
    Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
    Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint IRQ 0

[Gian Marco]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

i have this:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M9+ 5C61 [Radeon Mobility 9200 (AGP)] (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
    Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Unknown device 0033
    Flags: bus master, fast Back2Back, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 66, IRQ 4
    Memory at d8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
    I/O ports at 9000 [size=256]
    Memory at d0100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
    [virtual] Expansion ROM at d0120000 [disabled] [size=128K]
    Capabilities: <access denied>

[HighHo]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

Try and install the radeontool package, then try running: sudo radeontool dac off

Never used this but the tool is designed for use of laptops. The command i mention should enable power to the external video outputs. You may also wish to switch to the radeon driver (if your not already) Although I assume this tool will work with both the ati and radeon open source drivers.

[Gian Marco]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

nothing, it doesn't want to work >

[HighHo]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

Try setting dac as "on" as I may have been wrong with if it should be on or off.

[Gian Marco]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

i also thought to it and i tried it but...


...nothing

[HighHo]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

Once on does lspci -v list any addtional display controllers?

[Gian Marco]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

no, only the same display. i'm becoming crazy...

[HighHo]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

Im all out of ideas, sorry i couldent help further. I dont personally own a laptop, but im sure there are others that maybe are able to help or suggest further things to try.

[SheeEttin]

Re: Xorg and second monitor

Does your laptop have one of those Fn keys that toggles displays? Try hooking up the second monitor and hitting that key combination a few times. See if anything changes.