Notebook screen and external monitor show different images

[52ROSt]

kubuntu 14.04
Lenovo x240
External monitor: Dell E198WFPf 1440x900 60Hz; factory settings;
Input:
- analog input or auto detect (analog input) work
- digital input does not work at all.
Driver etc:

[FONT=arial]rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$ sudo lshw -class display
  *-display               
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 0b
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:59 memory:f0000000-f03fffff memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:3000(size=64)
rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$[/FONT]

I have 7 activties set up, each has a different wall paper and different widgets installed. The default panel and an Activity Bar widget is the same for each activty.
Display of all wall papers, panels and widgets are fine when using the notebook's internal monitor

Problems:
1 - Most often (close to always) the external Dell Monitor runs automatically on a lower resolution (1024x769) instead of the 1440x900
2 - When the external monitor is on, (alone of in combination with the internal monitor), I neither see the activites's wall papers nor the panel and other widgets.

How can I solve both problems?

Note: Although I used the Prefix "Dual Monitor" I do currently not want to set up dual monitors. I only want to have the external Dell monitor properly running when the notebook's
iinternal monitor is closed and the notebook is placed in its docking station.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[vinnywright]

if you go to system settings>display and monitor and turn off the notebook's display ,,,,what happens ?

usualy when the box has been started with the external monitor conected the external is a mirrored display (both will show panels and same resolution) IF the external is conected after startup it will have it's own settings ,,,,,or can be set from system settings>display and monitor and will not show the panel

VINNY

[52ROSt]

Thanks for your hint.

Situation: External monitor is connected to the docking station. Notebook lid is closed. Machine is started.

Additional observation: The loggin field is sometimes so close to the right screen edge that I just can enter the loggin password. Sometimes the same field is located more to the middle of the screen but still to the right of the center of the screen.

On the default desktop, the default launcher is placed in the middle of the screen. System Settings application does not start up but all other tested applications start normally.This means we have now and additional problem to solve: How can I get the System Settings started in the situation described above?

[vinnywright]

starting the notebook in the docking station with the lid closed will still exhibit wonky screen settings ,,,,,,,,,you will half to set up the display as you have stated you did in this post
https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...l=1#post369526

then disable the notebook screen (with system settings on the external) to get what you want .

after this it may remember the settings you want when starting the box in the docking station ,,,,or may not ?

VINNY

[52ROSt]

I followed your advice and still had an unstable situation. Thus, decided to re-install a root and boot partition image I created 2 month ago. (did not do much work and no testing since then on this installation).
The situation is the same.

Konfiguration
x240 is in the Docking Station, Lid closed.

DELL monitor is connected


Problems

1 - System starts sometimes iwht 1440x900 abd sometimes with a lower resolution - I could not recognize a pattern causing this change.

2 - Sometimes one or the other appliciation does not start fully - Clicking on the appliciation it first looks as if the application will start but finally nothing shows up - I could not yet recognize a pattern causing this problem..
EDIT: The applicaitons start but move somehow out of the screen, thus I assumed that they did not start. I found it when keeping the external monitor on and opened the built-in monitor. There I found the applications running.
without wanting it, I created a dual monitor system where the external Dell monitor is below the built-in monitor. Thus the question is how can I set up the system that both monitor show the same and that they are not an extension of each other?

3 - Widgets are shifted to different locations - most likely connected with the different resolution which is used during start up

[52ROSt]

Thanks for pointing to these interesting settings of Virtual Desktops.

However, I now get the feeling that I still do not understand the difference between "Activity" and "Virtual Desktops". Although I read quite some stuff from KDE about this feature(s) and thought I understand it but now I don't

I created 7 activites. Each has its own sets of widgets and its own background. In common they have the default panel (the one with the launcher by default). And I added the same activity bar to each activity.

Can you possibly explain me in simple words what the difference is between "Acivities" and "Virtual Desktops" and which one is good for what?

[oshunluvr]

DISCLAIMER: I don't use Virtual desktops any longer nor Activities. My workflow style just doesn't need them - yet

IMO, Virtual desktops have been around for a long time. The "cube" animation is wildly popular. Activities are a new-ish creation of the KDE dev. team when we went to the first plasma desktops. Honestly, I think they're similar in usage except that Activities have more control than plain virtual desktops and Activities can actually contain virtual desktops. You supposed to be able to do things with Activities that you can't do with Virt. Desktops like:

Changing your power settings, like so your screen never times out
Changing your default language / default keyboard to a different locale
Changing your default permissions
Changing your default printers
Changing your default email and calendar (work vs. home, etc.)
Changing the widgets displayed on the desktop
Changing the way that the mouse wheel and buttons work


I don't know if all these have been implemented yet.

Primarily I think the most common use of Activities is restoring apps for a particular activity. Apps are not launched, and thus memory not using memory or cpu cycles, until you actually use that Activity. And then can be stopped when you decided to press the stop button for that Activity. Much less power hungry than having everything running all the time and quicker than seeking out all the apps you might want for a particular activity.

I guess one way to look at it is Virtual Desktops expand and divide the work AREA you use, where Activities expand and divide the work FLOW that you use.

[oshunluvr]

BTW, skimmed the thread a bit. Seems like most of your issues are being caused by xorg using it's default settings and not responding properly to your lid closing and changing resolution properly. This would cause widgets and icons to move around. Also, if one monitor is a different resolution than the other, you're likely to always run into this.

The solutions are varied (as always with linux).

If your monitors are both the same resolution, a simple trigger script should do it it well enough (with xrandr commands to swap monitors).

If your monitors are different resolutions, seems to me you might want two desktops (internal and external) and have only one active at a time. In this scenario, it would be more complicated to get working well. You would likely have to commit to keeping widgets and icons in the upper left corner of the monitors so they don't bounce around. Maybe two desktops sharing the same Activities would work, but you would have to try it out and fiddle a bit.

[52ROSt]

Thank you very much for your explanations about the difference between "Activities" and "Virtual Desktops". I understand a bit more now, but my understanding is still not good enough for giving explanations.

However, I understand that I am with my activities on the right way for my needs.

[52ROSt]

Remaining Monitor Problems:

I did more reading in the internet I understand the situation in this way now.

The docking base of my Lenovo Thinkpad x240 seems not to support the VGA output.
http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/prod...me=Accessories

I now wonder if can create a xorg.conf file (my kubunto does not have such a file), which enables the usage of the VGA port to work with my Dell Monitor when the notebook is in the docking base and the notebook's lid is closed. The xorg.conf file should the same time enable working with the built in monitor when the notebook is out of its docking base.

Should someone be able to help me with this, I would be very happy and thankful.

[oshunluvr]

Yes, the xorg.conf file is no longer automatically created. You can still have one if it benefits you, but you have to create it yourself. I have also discovered the xorg.conf will "disappear" after a driver upgrade - so have a back up!

The way I read that link is if you have an x240, the VGA port on the laptop goes off when it's docked, but the VGA port on the dock is active. It just can't support both VGA ports simultaneously. If you have the x240s - no docking video at all. You have to use the ports on the laptop (really kind of pointless to own the dock if video isn't supported, right?).

My suggestion is we go to the beginning and set up your video the way you want, then you can figure out the virtual desktop vs. activities thing later.

Start with the basics: post the output of xrandr -q with both monitors plugged in and active, regardless of how the output looks. Alos, we know the native resolution/scan rate of the Dell monitor, but we also need the resolution/scan rate of the laptop monitor.

BTW< I assume since you're using VGA instead of DVI to connect the Dell, you have the lesser of the two docks, correct?

[52ROSt]

I have the x240 (without s).

After reading more in the internet I also got the impression that the creation of an xorg.conf file is needed. Thanks for your offer to help me with tha; don't have enough experience to it on my own.

xrandr -q output:

rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$ xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3360 x 1080, maximum 32767 x 32767
eDP1 connected primary 1920x1080+1440+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 276mm x 156mm
   1920x1080      60.0 +   59.9* 
   1680x1050      60.0     59.9  
   1600x1024      60.2  
   1400x1050      60.0  
   1280x1024      60.0  
   1440x900       59.9  
   1280x960       60.0  
   1360x768       59.8     60.0  
   1152x864       60.0  
   1024x768       60.0  
   800x600        60.3     56.2  
   640x480        59.9  
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 connected 1440x900+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 408mm x 255mm
   1440x900       59.9 +   75.0* 
   1280x1024      75.0     60.0  
   1152x864       75.0  
   1024x768       75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2  
   640x480        75.0     72.8     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$

Objectives:
Step 1:
- When x240 is out of the docking base, the internal monitor should be used.
- When x240 is in the docking base, the lid is open, and the external monitor is not swiched on, the internal monitor should be used.
- When the x240 is in the docking base and the lid is closed only the connected external monitor should be used.

Step 2: (I will mention this already now to plan better and avoid double work.9
additonal to the statements of Step 1
- When the x240 is in the docking base and the lid is closed and there are 2 external monitors are connected only the two external monitors should be used in a way that I can move application windows from one monitor to the other and work on the application files using either monitor.

Both of my monitors are from Dell, both have VGA connectors, one has a resolution of 1440x900, the other (to be used for step 2) has 1680x1050. Frequencies are the same for both Dell monitors.

[oshunluvr]

So I think the best way to start is to create the xrandr commands that will get you each setting that you want, then build scripts (or a script) that do(es) each thing, then set the triggers.

So based on the above:

xrandr --output DP2 --mode 1440x900 --left-of eDP1 --output eDP1 --mode 1920x1080

should activate both screens together (use right-of, above, or below as required instead of left-of ), and

xrandr --output DP2 --mode 1440x900 --output eDP1 --off

or

xrandr --output DP2 --off --output eDP1 --mode 1920x1080

should activate only a single monitor. Test these and lets see if it works. For the third monitor, connect it and re-post xrandr -q again.

[oshunluvr]

Actually, looking at it again, this should work as well:
xrandr --auto --output eDP1 --off
instead of
xrandr --output DP2 --mode 1440x900 --output eDP1 --off
Try it both ways. I'm on a single monitor at the moment.

[52ROSt]

Thanks for the commands. I like the approach of working first with commands.

Now my (single) external monitor works correct. I can see my activities' background and the widgets are placed in correct positions.

Below you see the results. The red marked command did not work, but the blue one did. For both cases I also copied the xrand -q command result.

rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$ [COLOR=#ff0000]xrandr --output DP2 --mode 1440x900 --output DP1 --off[/COLOR]
rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$ [COLOR=#ff0000]xrandr -q[/COLOR]
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3360 x 1080, maximum 32767 x 32767
eDP1 connected primary[COLOR=#ff0000] 1920x1080+1440+0 [/COLOR](normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 276mm x 156mm
   1920x1080      60.0 +   [COLOR=#ff0000]59.9* [/COLOR]
   1680x1050      60.0     59.9  
   1600x1024      60.2  
   1400x1050      60.0  
   1280x1024      60.0  
   1440x900       59.9  
   1280x960       60.0  
   1360x768       59.8     60.0  
   1152x864       60.0  
   1024x768       60.0  
   800x600        60.3     56.2  DP2 connected 1440x900+0+0 [COLOR=#0000ff][/COLOR]
   640x480        59.9  
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 connected 1440x900+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 408mm x 255mm
   1440x900     [COLOR=#ff0000]  59.9*[/COLOR]+   75.0                                         
   1280x1024      75.0     60.0                                         
   1152x864       75.0                                                  
   1024x768       75.1     70.1     60.0                                
   832x624        74.6                                                  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2                       
   640x480        75.0     72.8     66.7     60.0                       
   720x400        70.1                                                  
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$ [COLOR=#0000ff]xrandr --auto --output eDP1 --off[/COLOR]
rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$[COLOR=#0000ff] xrandr -q[/COLOR]
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1440 x 900, maximum 32767 x 32767
eDP1 connected primary (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1920x1080      60.0 +   59.9   59.9*+
   1680x1050      60.0     59.9  
   1600x1024      60.2  
   1400x1050      60.0  
   1280x1024      60.0  
   1440x900       59.9  
   1280x960       60.0  
   1360x768       59.8     60.0  DP1 disconnected 
   1152x864       60.0  
   1024x768       60.0  
   800x600        60.3     56.2  
   640x480        59.9  
[COLOR=#0000ff]DP1 disconnected [/COLOR](normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
[COLOR=#0000ff]DP2 connected 1440x900+0+0[/COLOR] (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 408mm x 255mm
   1440x900      [COLOR=#0000ff] 59.9*+[/COLOR]   75.0  
   1280x1024      75.0     60.0  
   1152x864       75.0  
   1024x768       75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2  
   640x480        75.0     72.8     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
rost@rost-ThinkPad-X240:~$ DP1 disconnected

The second external monitor I cannot test right now, because I first need a signal splitter. However once we know how one external monitor works, the second external monitor should not be to difficult.

As it looks right now the next step would be to write a script and place it at the right position. For this I appreciate your help as well.