Setting X for laptop \w external monitor

[Circuit]

Well I'm having some trouble setting X.org to work with my laptop's external monitor. I want to know what I have to do to set it up so it could work with my ext. monitor. There must be a way to configure it but I just don't know how. Thanks in advance for your help.

[pbharris]

hello,
I know there is GUI tool for this - but I don't know what it is - anyway in the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf add a setting for external moniter - then you will have two set ups - e.g.

Section "Monitor"
Identifier"Internal LCD Monitor"
Option"DPMS"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
Identifier"External CRT Monitor"
   HorizSync    31.5 - 67.0
        VertRefresh  50.0 - 75.0
Option"DPMS"
EndSection

next in the actual display that gets presented you can have both in the screen section (actually the screen section twice).

Section "Screen"
Identifier"Default Screen"
Device"ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon Mobility 9000 M9 (R250 Lf)"
Monitor"Internal LCD Monitor"
DefaultDepth24
SubSection "Display"
Depth16
Modes"1400x1050"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth24
Modes"1400x1050"
EndSubSection
EndSection



Section "Screen"
Identifier"CRT Screen"
Device"ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon Mobility 9000 M9 (R250 Lf)"
Monitor"External CRT Monitor"
DefaultDepth24
SubSection "Display"
Depth1
Modes"1400x1050"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth4
Modes"1400x1050"
EndSubSection
EndSection

it has been a while since i set this up - so hopefully it works.... if not please post back

[Circuit]

Well, thanks for your help, but I just tried it and it didn't work. All I get in my external monitor is a screen with black and white colors in a shape like piano keys and two green lines. I configure it following my CRT vertical and horizontal syncs in it's manual. Maybe I have to compile the kernel with support for the port the monitor is plugged in. If it is the case I just have to know what option in the kernel I must enable to get that port support. But as you can see I'm just guessing.

[pbharris]

hello,
you defiantely do not need to modify your kernel

i know in the old days (redhat 7.2) i had the line
option "crt" in the screen section... not sure if that will work

here is an write up on getting dual head working - which may help:
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/hosted/tsa65.html - it is under xorg.conf

btw - what type of card is this? if ati then have a looky at this:
http://www.stud.uni-hamburg.de/users...ects/atitvout/

[Compunuts]

I don't know what kind of laptop you have and what kind of Monitor you have but ...

I have Ubuntu 5.04 Horay on Toshiba Tecra 8100. I have nothing special in ways of configuration options. There is only one entry each for Monitor and Screen area. Instead, the switch between my LCD and external monitor is done with Fn+F5 key combination. Everytime I press-down Fn and hit F5, it will cycle to one of the sequence "LCD only or External Monitor only or both".

If your external can't handle the resolution that your notebook can handle (which is my guess with all those lines), then you will have to reduce your resolution so that both will work or you will need to get external monitor that will accept your LCD's resolution setting.

Like I said, I have my notebook setup to do 1024x768 with 32 bits resolution and my Acer 17" Aspire can handle quiet nicely. No problem what soever.