Dual Monitors (laptop + extra monitor)
Is there any easy way to do this?
I'm running Mandriva 2008.1 Everything I have found is about editing some xorg.conf file and I never do seem to get it right. |
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Step one is to make sure your laptop can support running dual-monitors. That's hardware-dependent, check your manual. If it is, there is probably a drake for Mandriva to let you set up dual-head. And the option you need to put in /etc/X11/xorg.conf is the Xinerama option...lots of info on the net on how to set it up, but I'd strongly suggest going through your GUI to do it. It's a pain to do manually. |
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Ps yes, I run dual monitors when I boot into winders. |
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Try this tutorial...yes, it's for Ubuntu, but should apply: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1773624 It seems hideous, but it's fairly straightforward. Be SURE to make a backup copy of your xorg.conf file first!!! Copy it to your home directory...that way, if X won't start, you can roll back easily. |
It's not that complex of a thing. Assuming your video card is dual head (supports two independent monitors). Otherwise you may only get a clone image. Basically options "xinerama" "true" / options "clone" "false" in your server layout section. Then separate sections for each monitor, and each screen. And other things. Granted that having such a setup tends to expose some of the bugs in drivers. But some configuration tools that ship with certain video drivers lets you set that up. aticonfig / amdcccle and whatever nVidias versions are. The main thing is to be sure to have both monitors hooked up and turned on before starting X. Everything else could almost be automatic for certain distros.
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The couple times I messed with xorg.conf, I had to role it back as it screwed everything up (obviously my fault), but having a tool would ensure that all the entries get handled properly. PS if I setup dual monitors, and I am out of the office, it'll function as a single, correct? |
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Xinerama makes two screens function as one (big) screen. However, if you use nVidia's Twinview, it may function differently. I can't speak to that, since I didn't like the way Twinview worked, and went to Xinerama quickly after trying it. :) |
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But, I can see why windows is so popular :-/ sorry, but i never "have to" (yes and I don't get to either) edit config files. |
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And many Linux distros have GUI tools to do just what you want...the one you've chosen, doesn't. Nothing's keeping you to Mandriva, except preference...use OpenSuSE, Fedora Core, Ubuntu, or any other distro you want, and you won't have to edit anything to do what you'd like. Personally, I'd rather be ABLE to change my system the way I want, rather than have someone tell me (Windows?), what I can edit, how. |
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You're telling me that I have to switch (and in this case it's a major maybe that I will be able to actually do the thing I want to do). I don't want to switch and I cannot change my system the way I want. Doesn't sound good to me. |
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1. Edit the files anyway...it's not difficult. 2. Find a GUI based tool for Mandriva that will do what you want, if it exists, or: 3. Use the power that you have available with Linux, to write your OWN GUI. There's no doubt at all that Mandriva supports Xinerama, and that it works great. Have you checked the Mandriva forums?? |
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You saying that I should become a programmer? quaint. Yes, the mandriva forums just point me to the ubuntu forum that is just xorg.conf. I've not found a GUI that works as of yet. |
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I think I'll stick with linux as much as I can. All the power, none of the out of pocket costs. Outside of a few dud printers and wireless cards that barely work in windows. And don't yet work in linux. Which is a cheaper upgrade IMO. As long as you have access to linux compatible hardware (damn you retailers / manufacturers). ----- I think you're over thinking it. Unfortunately if you get your X configuration wrong, you can't use X. So you do need basic CLI skills. Which IMO is no different than learning config.sys and autoexec.bat in windows. As if that didn't fall into the programmer category back in the day. Not to mention win.ini, system.ini, command.com, regedit.exe, same old same old, just a rose by another name. At least linux comes with free documentation and developer tools (and source code). AFAIK, all you need is the "xinerama" "true" and "clone" "false" options, X should be able to sort out the rest. Although you might need to use some sort of X -configure (based on a specific base config (yours)) to get the right configuration. Not much different than trying to setup fixmbr in XP. Since you've got to change two different options in two different locations just to get there from here. It took me longer to find the location / name of those than it does to install most distros. |
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We're pointing you to information, which you don't want to use. You seem set on Mandriva, which (apparently), doesn't have a GUI to do what you want. Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Fedora, OpenSuSE, and CentOS all have them, and are all free. Pick one, enjoy....otherwise, you're stuck with editing a file by hand, which would take you about 10 minutes (if that long), and you'd be done. Reading a document, and typing some things in doesn't make you a programmer, anymore than checking the oil on your car makes you a mechanic. |
Wow, thanks for setting me straight.
The linux community IS friendly. PS --Read your own posts Quote:
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3. Use the power that you have available with Linux, to write your OWN GUI. Quote:
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From a quick Google search: http://ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/Xinerama-HOWTO You have one video card and two monitors. You don't have to scan for different video cards, or set up multiples. Just tell it you have two screens, what the position of the screens are relative to each other, and set the Xinerama option to be "true". That's it. You've got the power to do what you want, and make it work the way you want it to. We've tried to help you and give you some advice, but you don't seem to want to take any of it, but would rather tell us how bad Linux is, and how horrible all of this is. We've given you options and information...we can't make you do any of it. Good luck to you. |
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