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<
nathan@paysonlinux.org> 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
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>
> --
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Nathan England
> (928) 951-5116
> nathan@paysonlinux.org
> http://www.paysonlinux.org/
>
> Information Security Consulting
> Software and Web Development
> Systems Administration
>
>
>
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--
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
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