How to connect a monitor through HDMI port
 

Hi guys,

I've instaled Ubuntu 10.10, 32 bits version and I'd like to connect an external monitor through HDMI port. My laptop doesn't have a VGA port so I have to manage with HDMI. I've connected the monitor using a HDMI -> DVI convertor but there is no image on the new monitor. I've tried using FN + (Refresh monitors function key).

Any advice what should I try?

Thanks,
Klovis

You'll need to provide more info, what is the name of video controller ( nVidia, ATI, Intel?), what driver used for video?

My videocontroller is nVidia. How can I check if I have the right driver? Another problem with Ubuntu is that I've installed it previously and after an update for the nVidia driver (sugested by Additional Drivers functionality) - NVIDIA accelerated graphichs driver, the system has crashed. The X server doesn't start, and because I'm not so familiar with LINUX I've installed it again. Any suggestions to avoid this? It's the laptop from my job, and I have lots of things on it and I don't want to install it again.

When I run xrandr --verbose command it says :
HDMI1 disconnected

Thanks,
Klovis

to find out what driver is in use look in /etc/X11/xorg.conf under Section "Device". When nvidia install correctly it should be "nvidia" next to Driver setting. To enable the external output you ought to have nvidia drivers installed and working correctly. Afterwards you'll be able select monitor for output from nvidia-settings.

Thank you for helping me!

I don't have a xorg.conf at that location and I've configured the navigator to show hidden files (if it's an hidden one).

Thanks,
Klovis

Sorry, my bad, i'm not keeping up with latest Ubuntu developments - xorg.conf isn't used in 10.10 any more. What is exact nvidia model do you have? run lspci in console to find out. My guess will be that the graphics card is relatively new - hence HDMI port and it'll need newish drivers. What is the driver version that you've tried to install before? Usually ubuntu driver installer provides a couple of driver versions: old and newer. It might be even the case that manual install of the latest nvidia drivers from nvidia website will be a required. Obviously, before any tinkering, make sure all important data is backup up somewhere safe.

I have a notebook Dell XPS 15 and the video controller is nVidia GT420M 1GB.

The output for lspci is :

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 18)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor PCI Express x16 Root Port (rev 18)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 18)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset HECI Controller (rev 06)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 06)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 06)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev 06)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev 06)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev 06)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev 06)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev a6)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 5 Series Chipset LPC Interface Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SMBus Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.6 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Thermal Subsystem (rev 06)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Device 0df1 (rev a1)
02:00.1 Audio device: nVidia Corporation Device 0bea (rev a1)
04:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Centrino Wireless-N 1000
05:00.0 USB Controller: NEC Corporation uPD720200 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 03)
09:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 06)
ff:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture Generic Non-core Registers (rev 05)
ff:00.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture System Address Decoder (rev 05)
ff:02.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Link 0 (rev 05)
ff:02.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Physical 0 (rev 05)
ff:02.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 05)
ff:02.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 05)

I need to find a solution without crushing the system, I cannot install it again because is the computer from my job.


Thanks,
Klovis

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 18)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Device 0df1 (rev a1)

There are 2 video chips on your laptop. In windows, they are used to switch between two when using 2D/3D/HDMI. Unfortunately, it confuses ubuntu driver installer, resulting in broken X server. After fresh ubuntu install, it is likely that Intel chip is used. However, HDMI output is controlled by nVidia chip. The solution i can see is to disable Intel chip in BIOS and use only nvidia with drivers installed. This should enable HDMI but likely to kill battery life of laptop/produce a lot of heat. I came across this blog with very similar problem: http://www.enavigo.com/2010/05/29/nv...d-ubuntu-fail/
These hacks will have a good chance of breaking your install, as you've stressed, its a work laptop, back up and be prepared for complete OS reinstall if things go wrong.