Ubuntu

only black screen at external monitor (VGA out)

Asked by Morgan Sullivan

Hello!

I'm running Ubuntu 6.06 LTS on a Samsung X60 Laptop with an ATI X1600 256 MB (resolution of internal display: 1.680 x 1.050 Pixel).
During the boot process the monitor receives no signal but the minute GDE starts, it becomes black. In some situations (wrong configured xorg or unstable builds) I got the same flickering picture on the internal and the external display, so I asume the system driver is working.

Some background info:
The external 19'' TFT ist connected at the VGA output of the laptop and has a default resolution of 1280x1024.
Using the Ubuntu xorg-driver-fglrx, the hardware acceleration is working correctly:
~$ fglrxinfo
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 Generic
OpenGL version string: 2.0.5814 (8.25.18)

At the current state it's really hard for me to use Ubuntu instead of Windows (which recognizes the ext. TFT) even if I really like the linux apps grip, gtkpod or easytag..
It would be really great if someone could help me, especially since the edgy betas do not even work with the internal display..

Thanks,
MoSu

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Jonathan Anderson (jonathan-anderson) said : 		#1

What do you see when you run "aticonfig --query-monitor" at the command line?

I have the X1400, which I also run at 1680x1050. Whenever I give presentations, I type "aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds,crt1". This should both make the immediate change *and* change your xorg.conf for future use.

Oh... you *are* using the FGLRX driver, right?

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Morgan Sullivan (mosu71) said : 		#2

Hi,
thank you for your answer!
Yes, I'm using the FGLRX driver.

So the initial situation as usual: external display: black (but _with signal_); internal: working

Here the complete console "dialogue":

~$ aticonfig --query-monitor
  Connected monitors: crt1, lvds
  Enabled monitors: crt1, lvds
## This was the output you asked me about

~$ aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds,crt1
Enabling displays 0x2, 0x1
FGLRX_EnableDisplays returned 0
## Here I tried the same command you're using and both displays started flickering extremely

~$ aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds
Enabling displays 0x2, 0x0
FGLRX_EnableDisplays returned 0
## So I deactivated the external monitor (I couldn't really see what I typed, but it worked).
## Now the external display doesn't get any signal but the internal one works again

~$ aticonfig --query-monitor
  Connected monitors: crt1, lvds
  Enabled monitors: lvds

*Hm*
what could I do?

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Morgan Sullivan (mosu71) said : 		#3

ähm well, this is strange:
I've just entered the same code:

~$ aticonfig --enable-monitor=lvds,crt1
Enabling displays 0x2, 0x1
FGLRX_EnableDisplays returned 0

~$ aticonfig --query-monitor
  Connected monitors: crt1, lvds
  Enabled monitors: crt1, lvds

and now my external display works!! :-)

Now I've only the problem that the picture doesn't fit to the display, but I assume that I just have to ....
...
okay!
I've just changed the resolution (using Gnome Panel) and it now fits and works perfectly!

THANK YOU A LOT!! :-))

But could you please tell my why it works now and did not before?
Is there a way that it changes the resolution as soon as it detects the external monitor?
If not, how can I change it using the console? (I'd like to create two short cuts for changing it quickly)

Greetings,
Marc

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Morgan Sullivan (mosu71) said : 		#4

hmpf..
after rebooting I had the same situation again..
I first had to enter the three commands and change resolution to make the external display work :-/

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angie (lorili36) said : 		#5

my system is stalling at"configuring network interfaces" then FAILED message occurs

      ?????
                                                            angie

Revision history for this message
Danny Staple (danny-orionrobots) said : 		#6

Angie, that is a seperate support request. Can you open a new one?

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Claude (claude-poliakoff) said : 		#7

Hi Morgan,

Newbie on the block, with same black screen on external monitor. I running a Sony Viao NB with ext CRT plugged into external VGA port. Function-F7 which in windows environment activates external monitor, does nothing. Trying the <~$ aticonfig --query-monitor> gives me
claude@claude-laptop:~$ ~$ aticonfig --query-monitor
bash: ~$: command not found
claude@claude-laptop:~$

How to proceed?

Claude

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Mauricio Mora Meza (mauricio.mora) said : 		#8

Man, that command is just for ATI video cards, man!!!!!!!!!! :D
are you sure you have one of those ones?

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Claude (claude-poliakoff) said : 		#9

Thanks Morgan. I'm virtually certain that this Vaio NB has no video card. Of course I have no idea whether Sony imported ATI technology for their on board video.

Claude

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