Additionally, check and make sure there isnt a keysequence needed to "enable" the external monitor, im not sure if you gettign any output at all right now but this can lead to it. i had this issue on some dell's On Sun, Aug 23, 2009 at 8:57 AM, Nathan England wrote: > On Sunday 23 August 2009 05:13:03 am kitepilot@kitepilot.com wrote: >> Good morning Universe: >> >> I have a trusty Toshiba Satellite A35-S159 (P4) which has ran different >> Linux incarnations over the eons since LFS 5.1. >> >> >> >> Mysterious issue #1 -> Booting/Shutting down the laptop: >> >> I decided to reinstall some Linux for the Nth time and I noticed that the >> laptop sometimes would boot, sometimes would not, and when it did, it would >> not shutdown consistently. >> >> In total frustration, I somehow accidentally stumbled upon this ODD >> behavior: >> >> As soon as Grub releases the system to the processor, or as soon as the >> shutdown sequence initiates, I *HAVE* to tap a key (any key except >> Shift/Alt/Ctrl/Caps/Num lock) or the sequence hangs. >> >> >> >> You can see the different kernel messages sitting there on the screen, tap a >> key, get another message, tap another key... >> >> I had never seen such a thing... >> >> >> >> Trying to isolate whether I had a hardware problem or a karma problem, I >> began digging old LFS boot CDs until I found one old enough to consistently >> boot and shutdown the laptop uneventfully. >> >> Karma problem... >> > > This is 100% an ACPI issue with the kernel of the distro you are using. I have used several machines with the latest, Jaunty?, release of Ubuntu which did EXACTLY that. No big deal. > >> >> >> I don't have a definite cutoff number, but at some kernel in time, the >> laptop began demanding me to type a key while booting/shutting down or it >> would just blatantly refuse to behave. >> >> I wrapped up the issue by booting Debian 5.0/lxde which was the only thing I >> could find to boot/shutdown consistently. >> >> As a byproduct, I have found that Debian has reached an usability that >> borderline matches *Ubuntu, and even thought it is still geeky, it has >> become a mom-and-pap Linux if that's what you want it to be. >> Debian never ceases to amaze me...   :) >> >> And, then the question: What the Heck is going on here? >> >> >> Now the purpose of this post: >> Annoying issue #2 -> Using "native" screen and external monitor with >> different resolutions. >> This one has annoyed the bejesus out of me for years now. >> Simple issue: the resolution of the laptop sucks.  I want a second monitor >> to expand it using the laptop screen AND an external monitor. >> Impossible... >> I believe I have tried every WEB page under the Sun to no avail. >> I just CAN'T get the 2 *&%$ monitors to coexist at different resolutions... >> :( >> >> I pretty much gave this one up, but I am working off a little monitor >> attached to the laptop now (and no options) and I get butterflies in my >> stomach (and I hate Linux and the World for a second or 2) when I see the >> cover down and I realize how wonderful life would be if I could pop the %&!# >> thing open and USE IT! >> >> To summarize the REAL question of this post: >> How do I attach a second monitor to this laptop and have both screens >> working at its own native resolution? >> I gave it up...    :( >> ET >> > > I would suggest removing your /etc/X11/xorg.conf or where ever debian puts it these days, and attempt to start X without the xorg.conf file. If X loads okay and seems to have a decent, or normal, resolution in your case, try running 'xrandr' and see if it recognizes your second monitor. > Then assuming it does, and your internal LCD is LVDS and your external monitor is called VGA-0 then you could try this command. > > xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --prefered --output VGA-0 --mode 1280x1024 --right-of LVDS > > It will likely fail telling you that the virtual screen you are trying to create is TOO big. In which case you can then run 'X -configure' and move the xorg.conf.new to /etc/X11/xorg.conf and then add a virtual line to the xorg.conf file > > Section "Screen" >    Identifier  "Screen" >    Device      "Default Vesa Device" >    Monitor     "LCD-Screen" >    DefaultDepth 24 >    Subsection "Display" >        Depth       24 >        Modes       "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" >        ViewPort    0 0 >        Virtual     2646 1024 >    EndSubsection > EndSection > > So it will look something like that. And hopefully this will help you, or atleast send you on another avenue of perpetual searching... > > nathan > > >> PS: lspci at http://kitepilot.com/lspci.txt >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > -- > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Nathan England > (928) 951-5116 > nathan@paysonlinux.org > http://www.paysonlinux.org/ > > Information Security Consulting > Software and Web Development > Systems Administration > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. Stephen --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss