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xorg package

Dual Monitors not working w/Ubuntu Gutsy

Asked by motorious

I am trying to get rid of winblows and love the new Ubuntu linux build but one feature I have been waiting on Ubuntu for a long time has finally come in Gutsy which is the dual monitor GUI. I tried to get it to work in previous builds (feisty & edgy) using the xorg.conf (I think that's what it was called) file but to no avail. In Gutsy when I click the test button, both screens look garbled and my mouse pointer turns into an X. I've tried different resolutions and frequencies but nothing works. I'm thinking it may be a driver issue or something. But since my experience with drivers is limited to micrsux products, I'm lost in that department with Linux. I am pretty new to linux and Ubuntu so any help is greatly appreciated.

I have a Acer 3003Lci laptop.

Graphics Card:
Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter

Monitor:
Westinghouse 19" Wide Screen
Model LCM-19w4

Thanks again.

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dthomasdigital
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Revision history for this message
dthomasdigital (dthomas-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#1

Can you attach a copy of you xorg.conf file?

Revision history for this message
motorious (motorious-springs) said : 		#2

Sure sorry I forgot to so at first. I also re-loaded a fresh copy thinking something got messed up in the upgrade from feisty. Here's my xorg.conf file after the clean install, same problem.

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
 Driver "synaptics"
 Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
 Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
 Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
 Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
 Driver "sis"
 BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Generic Monitor"
 Option "DPMS"
 HorizSync 30-70
 VertRefresh 50-160
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
 Monitor "Generic Monitor"
 DefaultDepth 24
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 InputDevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Revision history for this message
dthomasdigital (dthomas-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#3

I got your information and I will be sending you a xorg.conf that might help. I should be sending it today.

Revision history for this message
Best dthomasdigital (dthomas-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#4

Here is an xorg.conf for dual monitors, you will have to change the areas for your driver and monitor but the set up should be the same.

More instructions are here http://www.dthomasdigital.com/files.html the document xorg switcher might help

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
 Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
 Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
 Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
 Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
 Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
 Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
 Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
 # path to defoma fonts
 Fontpath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
 Load "i2c"
 Load "bitmap"
 Load "ddc"
 Load "dri"
 Load "extmod"
 Load "freetype"
 Load "glx"
 Load "int10"
 Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
 Option "XkbOptions" "lv3:ralt_switch"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "/dev/wacom"# Change to
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
 # /dev/input/event
 # for USB
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "/dev/wacom"# Change to
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
 # /dev/input/event
 # for USB
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "/dev/wacom"# Change to
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
 # /dev/input/event
 # for USB
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "0 ATI Technologies Inc RV380 [Radeon X600 (PCIE)]"
 Driver "fglrx"
 Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
        Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Dell 1707FP"
 Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "1 ATI Technologies Inc RV380 [Radeon X600 (PCIE)]"
 Driver "fglrx"
 Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
        Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Dell 1707FP"
 Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Main Screen"
 Device "0 ATI Technologies Inc RV380 [Radeon X600 (PCIE)]"
 Monitor "Dell 1707FP"
 Defaultdepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 1
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 4
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Second Screen"
 Device "1 ATI Technologies Inc RV380 [Radeon X600 (PCIE)]"
 Monitor "Dell 1707FP"
 Defaultdepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 1
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 4
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1280x1024" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
   Screen 0 "Main Screen"
   Screen 1 "Second Screen" RightOf "Main Screen"
 Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
 Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"
 Inputdevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
 Inputdevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
 Inputdevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
        option "Xinerama"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
 Mode 0666
EndSection

Revision history for this message
motorious (motorious-springs) said : 		#5

IT WORKS!!! Thank you so much for your template! I was able to mirror mine off of yours, rebooted and voila! I only wished the GUI (System > Administration > Screens and Graphics) would have done it for me... oh well, maybe next release. I'm including a copy of my xorg.conf file for anybody else that might have a similar setup and problem. Thanks again.

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
 Driver "synaptics"
 Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
 Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
 Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
 Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "0 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
 Driver "sis"
 BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
        Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Generic Monitor"
 Option "DPMS"
 HorizSync 30-70
 VertRefresh 50-160
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "1 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
 Driver "sis"
 BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
        Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Generic Monitor"
 Option "DPMS"
 HorizSync 30-70
 VertRefresh 50-160
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "0 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
 Monitor "Generic Monitor"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Second Screen"
 Device "1 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
 Monitor "Generic Monitor"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
    Screen 0 "Default Screen"
    Screen 1 "Second Screen" RightOf "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 InputDevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
        option "Xinerama"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
 Mode 0666
EndSection

Revision history for this message
motorious (motorious-springs) said : 		#6

Thanks dthomasdigital, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
dthomasdigital (dthomas-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#7

Glad it worked.....

Revision history for this message
ravih (ravi-hasija) said : 		#8

Thank you motorious and dthomasdigital...

I used motorious's info as is. I have an acer laptop with the same VGA card. So mostly it worked. Just a question: I cannot drag item from laptop screen to monitor. Not sure why that is? Also, the monitor screen seems like a different system...in that even if I am on workspace #1 it is empty? Is this the expected behaviour? I thought we should be able to drag items across....?

Thanks for your help.

Revision history for this message
motorious (motorious-springs) said : 		#9

ravih,

I haven't used dual monitors for a long time, but from what I remember I was able to drag items across both screens, although when I applied a background it would span both the LCD and external monitor instead of extend to the secondary. Have you tried hitting Fn+F5 or Fn+F6? Maybe there is something configured in the BIOS? Just a thought.

Revision history for this message
ravih (ravi-hasija) said : 		#10

Hey Motorious,

I was finally able to get it working! The missing part was in the Server Layout section. I had forgotten to put in the following line:

option "Xinerama"

Thanks to you guys, the dual screen works like a charm now.

As as aside my only problem now is that my USB mouse and touchpad hangs/freezes for a second or two every now and then. Not sure if that's because I do not have an entry for mouse in xorg.conf file.

I am pasting in my entire /etc/X11/xorg.conf file below so the anybody else with a dual screen can benefit...

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

#Section "Device"
# Identifier "Configured Video Device"
#EndSection

#Section "Monitor"
# Identifier "Configured Monitor"
#EndSection

#Section "Screen"
# Identifier "Default Screen"
# Monitor "Configured Monitor"
# Device "Configured Video Device"
#EndSection

#Section "Device"
# Identifier "Configured Video Device"
#EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "0 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
  Driver "sis"
  BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
        Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Generic Monitor 1"
  Option "DPMS"
  HorizSync 30-70
  VertRefresh 50-160
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Generic Monitor 2"
  Option "DPMS"
  HorizSync 30-70
  VertRefresh 50-160
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier "1 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
  Driver "sis"
  BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
        Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "0 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
  Monitor "Generic Monitor 1"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
 Depth 8
 Modes "1280x800" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
   Depth 16
   Modes "1280x800" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
   Depth 24
   Modes "1280x800" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Second Screen"
 Device "1 Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
 Monitor "Generic Monitor 2"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
 Depth 8
 Modes "1680x1050" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
 Depth 16
   Modes "1680x1050" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
   Depth 24
   Modes "1680x1050" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
     Screen 0 "Default Screen"
     Screen 1 "Second Screen" RightOf "Default Screen"
 Option "Xinerama" "true"
EndSection