Dear all,

I have recently installed Lubuntu on my Netbook, but I encounter several problems to use the multi monitors.

I plugged the new monitor on my Netbook, but I can't detect it (but it seems that the screen detects my computer , because he went out of the "power saving mode").

I tried several solutions, but nvidia seems to have problem to be activated on my computer.
So i installed 'vesa'

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My graphic card is:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom Processor D2xxx/N2xxx Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
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I set up my xorg.conf file (to say to use vesa driver):

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "vesa"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection
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I activated the hardware :
with the command

modprobe vesafb
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Is there anything wrong ?

Because my monitor does not still appear in the 'xrandr' or other screen detector ...

Thank you

You are missing one very important point. You need to activate the external monitor through the BIOS. Any laptop, including my netbook, this is done through a hardware key combination, and should be documented in the hardware manual for your netbook.

Each manufacturer has different hot key combinations, so I can not tell you exactly which keys will work. Look in the doc, or even the markings on the key tops may give you a clew.

This isn't a driver issue, or xrandr issue.

Thank you for your help.

In fact, the key combinaison (using 'Fn' button) I could use is not valid anymore since I installed Lubuntu on my netbook.

Is it possible to activate the monitor 'by hand' in the BIOS ?

Thank you

Yes. As I said in my first post,

Oh I understand now what you were speaking about.
The combinaison Fn+F4 [by definition on my netbook] has not been working since I switch from Windows 7 to Ubuntu 12.04.

Do you have any clue on how I could set it back ?

Cheers

Could you post the make and exact model of the netbook? BIOS functions are not affected by the installed OS.

You should have a sticker on the bottom of the netbook that gives the model information.

Thank you for your help and reply.

My Netbook is HP Mini - 2011

I do not have much more information on it ..

Thanks

Interesting, I have a HP Mini also. Mine is a 210-1000. To find the exact model I had to enter the BIOS. From power on, there is a prompt in the lower left corner for a second or two, I have to press ESC key, then a menu appears, and I can select what HP calls the 'Setup Unility'. ( It's the BIOS ). Pressing F10 takes you into the BIOS. That is the only obvious place HP puts the model. No sticker on mine either.

I have used the external video port, never on W7 though. I blew it away a day after I bough the netbook. I was running Ubuntu 10.04 at the time. So, I know the port on mine works.I have since installed Slackware 13.37, and have not used the external VGA port since. I will try it in the next day or two, and let you know.

Some things you can do in the mean time. Enter the BIOS and find the BIOS version. There may be an update. Mine is listed as F.02 ( for what that is worth ).

Have a look under System Configuration. There is an option called 'Action Keys Mode'. It can be Enabled, or disabled. If that is in a disabled state, you need to press and hold the Fn key down while activating the Action key to switch video modes. If enabled, only the Action key is needed. Have a look, it may be this has become disabled.

I'll let you know on the external monitor on mine. It should work with an action key.

I have some time to try the external VGA port on my HP Mini. In short, it works.

I have found the F4 key ( hot key ) does not work, at least it has no effect on the screen displayed. I have had the Action Key Mode both enabled, and disabled. This key as a hot key generates a letter 'p' on the screen. Not sure why, it does not switch between monitors.

O.K. I plugged in an external monitor, this is an older one, that displays 1024x768. I plugged in in and booted. Part way through the boot, boot messages appear. The desktop shows up, I log in and both screens are on showing the desktop.

Did some digging around. xrandr is the code in linux that controls screen size. AFAIK it is a set of libs that control screen size, orientation etc. There are front ends that allow you as a user to modify settings. I run XFCE most of the time, and there is an icon called 'Display' in Settings to allow you to change things. In KDE there is one called KxrandrTray that allows similar functions. I also ( for fun ) installed an application called Zarfy that does similar screen manipulation.

So, back to your problem. If you are getting nothing displayed on an external monitor, it could be the settings on your video card are not working with the monitor. What I would suggest, is try a very basic setting, like 800x600 at 60Hz. Almost any monitor should work with settings like that. I know that is not ideal, you need to see if you can get a display, then try different settings until you find out what works best.

So, at this point, on my system, I'm going to see if I can find out why I can not switch monitors with hot keys. I'll let you know how it goes and what I can find out.