Need help configuring multiple monitors in Ubuntu
 

Hello -- I am new to Linux. I just abandoned Windows 7 for Ubuntu. I am trying to setup my monitors on my desktop. I have 3 monitors (i have 2 graphics cards with 2 monitors per graphics card -- so potential for 4 monitors).

Currently I have 2 of the monitors working, but they only mirror each other. I tried going in to System-Preferences-Monitors to configure them the way I want to, but nothing i do stops them from mirroring each other.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Dan

If you have NVIDIA, you can download their drivers and use them to configure your multiple monitors.

I use 2 monitors, and it's a snap to use. No idea about four, but I'd go the route of least resistance first which is trying that.

I have 2 Gigabyte GV-R545SC-1GI graphics cards. Ubuntu only sees 1 graphics card and simply displays a mirror image on only 2 monitors. I tried switching them out with an older NVIDEA GeForce 8600GT -- but that only sent image to 1 monitor and there were lines running across the screen (it was all fuzzy) and Ubuntu wouldn't start -- it was asking me for a login and password and the screen was flickering.

I put 1 of the Gigabyte graphics cards back in and everything went back to normal -- 2 monitors in mirror image.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Dan

NVIDiA GeForce 8600GT
 

your nvidia card sounds trashed, there are a few things you can do to fix it, sometimes it works sometimes not, you can use mineral terpentine to wash it, it might have some dust lodged in it, or (no kidding) wash with water (added advantage of squirting it hard) leave to bake in the hot sun for hours and hours (depends where you are on the earth, helps with hot concrete).
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one suggestion i heard (but have not done yet) is put one card in, save the Xorg conf, remove, put the next card in its slot and save the Xorg conf then merge them. nowadays it may (SUSE does, not sure about Ubuntu) work without an Xorg.conf and you gotta get it to make an Xorg.conf for you (which you will have to do twice, and move both files out of that directory), having none there makes it decide for itself.

edit: if you use "LeftOf" when you are arrange the screens you may encounter a problem with the mouse - if you do you have to place your start up screen (zero) at 0,0 and all the screens to the right of it. i am not sure if there is problems with putting a screen above.... (maybe i wasnt supposed to enter negative coordinates when placing the left side screen, who knows, i gave up and removed linux)
charlie.