Hello all, I have just installed a fresh version of Linux Mint KDE 17.2 onto a Dell OptiPlex 780. I have dual monitors installed via vga with a splitter. I am having difficulties getting Mint to recognize both monitors. It only pulls up one vga. It seems through the command lspci grep vga that it is an Intel graphics card and driver. Do we have any procedures on how to force Mint to recognize the dual monitors, so I can configure them? Here is some information;
My inxi -Fx:
Kernel: 3.16.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.8.2)
Desktop: N/A Distro: Linux Mint 17.2 Rafaela
Machine: System: Dell product: OptiPlex 780 serial: 6H94GN1
Mobo: Dell model: 0200DY version: A01 serial: ..CN1374006I02PU. Bios: Dell version: A13 date: 06/13/2012
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 Duo CPU E7500 (-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 11702.8
Clock Speeds: 1: 2925.711 MHz 2: 2925.711 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
X.org: 1.15.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) tty size: 80x38 Advanced Data: N/A for root
Audio: Card: Intel 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) HD Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.16.0-38-generic
Network: Card: Intel 82567LM-3 Gigabit Network Connection driver: e1000e ver: 2.3.2-k port: ece0 bus-ID: 00:19.0
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: b8:ac:6f:41:a8:56
Drives: HDD Total Size: 128.0GB (4.5 used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: OCZ size: 128.0GB
Partition: ID: / size: 114G used: 5.5G (6%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 4.12GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap
RAID: No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 41.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 190 Uptime: 41 min Memory: 507.4/3790.5MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4 Client: Shell (sudo) inxi: 1.9.17

xrandr:
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 32767 x 32767
VGA1 connected primary 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
1024x768 60.0*
800x600 60.3 56.2
848x480 60.0
640x480 59.9
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

lspci | grep controller:
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:03.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset HECI Controller (rev 03)
00:03.3 Serial controller: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Serial KT Controller (rev 03)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82567LM-3 Gigabit Network Connection (rev 02)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801JD/DO (ICH10 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1f.2 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation 82801 SATA Controller [RAID mode] (rev 02)

Thanks!

You are using one VGA output with a splitter. This means xrandr will not see two displays since they are hardwired to be cloned.

I now have a dms-59 cable adapter.

So did that work?

It did. The dms-59 gives two independent dvi video signals. The ati card Ibused came with the optiplex so I reinstalled and KDE picked it up as a dual feed. Now I have two independent screens that act independently. Randr now allows me to adjust the two screens as such. I will eventually upgrade to a different dms-59 adapter with dual dvi pigtails to go all digital. I just have the dual vga pigtails on the end now. But it works great.