I've been trying to get the idea from this thread:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...laptop-830662/ to no avail.

I have a HP Pavilion dv6 laptop running Slack64 and have a VGA monitor attached to it, at home.

The max resolution of the laptop is 1366x768, the monitor can handle 1440x900.

Running KDE for now until I've got this box setup as I want - KDE is to a degree easier for me to start with - I use the display settings but they fail in giving the laptop and the monitor their individual resolutions, the both run 1366x768, which I cannot locate to fix.

Anyone have an idea how to fix it, I do not want only one screen nor extend it, xinerama is not what I want.
I'd prefer to run one desktop on the laptop and others on the monitor.
Shouldn't be too hard, but I've been away for slackware too long it seems, forgot a lot.

Thanks.

Try to use xrandr. It depends on the kernel and gpu but important thing is a maximall size of a virtual desktop. On my laptop it is 2048x2048 - I can set up my displays vertically but not horizonatally. About different resolutions: you can try to use xrandr to set up resolutions dynamically - another obstacle can be common refresh rate.

Update:

I did upgrade to slackware64 13.37, as my 13.1 was just recent anyways.
I have been reading about this issue of multiple monitors and after the upgrade to 13.37, I tried again. To no avail.
But, then I decided to delete the xorg.conf file and behold, it works, I can now use the display settings from within KDE to set my screens as I want.
But, I have to do it after each boot, which is not really my intention, I'd like it to be automated so that my laptop always has it's solution and if the VGA monitor is connected, it automatically has it's own maximum settings.

So, I still have a bit of work here.

A new day, new status.

lspci gives:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS880 Host Bridge
00:02.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (ext gfx port 0)
00:04.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 0)
00:05.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 1)
00:06.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 2)
00:0a.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780/RS880 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 5)
00:11.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 SATA Controller [AHCI mode]
**** [snipped about USB]
00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 SMBus Controller (rev 3c)
00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 LPC host controller
00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge
**** [snipped HOST bridges]
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M92 [Mobility Radeon HD 4500 Series]
01:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc RV710/730
08:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)
09:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)

Checking my logfile gives:
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep PCI

(BusID: PCI:1:0:0) found: ATI1
[ 16862.667] (WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0@0:17:0) found
**** [snipped a few more]
[ 16862.667] (WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0@1:0:1) found
[ 16862.700] ukiOpenByBusid: Searching for BusID PCI:1:0:0
[ 16862.701] ukiOpenByBusid: ukiGetBusid reports PCI:1:0:0
[ 16862.781] (II) fglrx(0): PCIE card detected
[ 16863.460] ukiOpenByBusid: Searching for BusID PCI:1:0:0
[ 16863.460] ukiOpenByBusid: ukiGetBusid reports PCI:1:0:0
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): [uki] created "fglrx" driver at busid "PCI:1:0:0"
[ 16864.625] ukiOpenByBusid: Searching for BusID PCI:1:0:0
[ 16864.625] ukiOpenByBusid: ukiGetBusid reports PCI:1:0:0

xrandr -q gives: (Not important parts snipped)
root@andreas:/home/andreas# xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1366 x 768, maximum 1440 x 1440
LVDS connected 1366x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 194mm
1366x768 59.6*+
DFP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
CRT1 connected 1366x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 408mm x 255mm
1366x768 59.9*+
1440x900 59.9 +


my xorg.conf file as it currently is, and should be according to me:
Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI0"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "LVDS"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "LVDS-Screen"
Device "ATI0"
Monitor "LVDS"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
# Depth 32
Modes "1366x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI1"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "CRT1"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "CRT1-Screen"
Device "ATI1"
Monitor "CRT1"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
# Depth 32
Modes "1440x900"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "HD Radeon Mobile"
Screen 0 "LVDS-Screen" 0 0
Screen 1 "CRT1-Screen" RightOf "LVDS-Screen"
EndSection


And I have an HD Radeon Mobile 45xx-series graphics card in it, and the ATI driver is loaded.

Checking the X.org.log for fglrx:
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep fglrx
[ 16862.491] (II) LoadModule: "fglrx"
[ 16862.492] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/fglrx_drv.so
[ 16862.610] (II) Module fglrx: vendor="FireGL - ATI Technologies Inc."
[ 16862.611] (II) Loading sub module "fglrxdrm"
[ 16862.611] (II) LoadModule: "fglrxdrm"
[ 16862.611] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/linux/libfglrxdrm.so
[ 16862.628] (II) Module fglrxdrm: vendor="FireGL - ATI Technologies Inc."
[ 16862.634] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for fglrx
[ 16862.667] (WW) fglrx: More than one matching Device section for instances
[ 16862.667] (WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0@0:17:0) found
**** [snipped a few more]
[ 16862.667] (WW) fglrx: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0@1:0:1) found
[ 16862.668] (II) fglrx(0): pEnt->device->identifier=0x7fc9c0
[ 16862.668] (II) fglrx(0): === [xdl_x760_atiddxPreInit] === begin
[ 16862.679] (**) fglrx(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
[ 16862.679] (II) fglrx(0): Pixel depth = 24 bits stored in 4 bytes (32 bpp pixmaps)
[ 16862.679] (==) fglrx(0): Default visual is TrueColor
[ 16862.679] (**) fglrx(0): Option "DPMS" "true"
[ 16862.679] (==) fglrx(0): RGB weight 888
[ 16862.679] (II) fglrx(0): Using 8 bits per RGB
[ 16862.679] (==) fglrx(0): Buffer Tiling is ON
[ 16862.679] (II) Loading sub module "fglrxdrm"
[ 16862.679] (II) LoadModule: "fglrxdrm"
[ 16862.679] (II) Reloading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/linux/libfglrxdrm.so
[ 16862.701] (==) fglrx(0): NoAccel = NO
[ 16862.701] (==) fglrx(0): ATI 2D Acceleration Architecture enabled
[ 16862.701] (--) fglrx(0): Chipset: "ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4500 Series" (Chipset = 0x9553)
[ 16862.701] (--) fglrx(0): (PciSubVendor = 0x103c, PciSubDevice = 0x3636)
[ 16862.701] (==) fglrx(0): board vendor info: third party graphics adapter - NOT original ATI
**** [snipped]
[ 16862.721] (II) fglrx(0): Primary V_BIOS segment is: 0xc000
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA BIOS detected
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA VBE Version 3.0
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA VBE Total Mem: 16384 kB
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA VBE OEM: ATI ATOMBIOS
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA VBE OEM Software Rev: 11.22
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA VBE OEM Vendor: (C) 1988-2005, ATI Technologies Inc.
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA VBE OEM Product: M92
[ 16862.731] (II) fglrx(0): VESA VBE OEM Product Rev: 01.00
[ 16862.781] (II) fglrx(0): ATI Video BIOS revision 9 or later detected
[ 16862.781] (--) fglrx(0): Video RAM: 524288 kByte, Type: DDR3
[ 16862.781] (II) fglrx(0): PCIE card detected
**** [snipped]
[ 16862.784] (II) fglrx(0): Using adapter: 1:0.0.
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Output LVDS using monitor section LVDS
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Output DFP1 has no monitor section
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Output CRT1 using monitor section CRT1
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Connected Display0: LVDS
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Display0 EDID data ---------------------------
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer: LGD Model: 26a Serial#: 0
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Year: 2009 Week: 0
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): EDID Version: 1.3
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Digital Display Input
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Max Image Size [cm]: horiz.: 34 vert.: 19
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Gamma: 2.20
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): No DPMS capabilities specified
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Supported color encodings: RGB 4:4:4 YCrCb 4:4:4
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): First detailed timing is preferred mode
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): redX: 0.616 redY: 0.371 greenX: 0.355 greenY: 0.606
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): blueX: 0.152 blueY: 0.100 whiteX: 0.313 whiteY: 0.329
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer's mask: 0
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Supported detailed timing:
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): clock: 69.3 MHz Image Size: 344 x 194 mm
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): h_active: 1366 h_sync: 1398 h_sync_end 1430 h_blank_end 1486 h_border: 0
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): v_active: 768 v_sync: 770 v_sync_end 774 v_blanking: 782 v_border: 0
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): LG Display
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Monitor name: LP156WH2-TLQA
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Connected Display1: CRT1
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Display1 EDID data ---------------------------
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer: HSD Model: 8991 Serial#: 16843009
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Year: 2007 Week: 35
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): EDID Version: 1.3
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Analog Display Input, Input Voltage Level: 0.700/0.700 V
[ 16863.395] (II) fglrx(0): Sync: Separate Composite
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Max Image Size [cm]: horiz.: 41 vert.: 26
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Gamma: 2.20
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): DPMS capabilities: Off; RGB/Color Display
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): First detailed timing is preferred mode
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): redX: 0.643 redY: 0.325 greenX: 0.295 greenY: 0.616
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): blueX: 0.143 blueY: 0.081 whiteX: 0.310 whiteY: 0.330
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Supported established timings:
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): 1280x1024@75Hz
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer's mask: 0
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Supported standard timings:
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): #5: hsize: 1440 vsize 900 refresh: 60 vid: 149
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): #6: hsize: 1440 vsize 900 refresh: 75 vid: 3989
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Supported detailed timing:
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): clock: 106.5 MHz Image Size: 408 x 255 mm
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): h_active: 1440 h_sync: 1520 h_sync_end 1672 h_blank_end 1904 h_border: 0
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): v_active: 900 v_sync: 903 v_sync_end 909 v_blanking: 934 v_border: 0
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Ranges: V min: 49 V max: 75 Hz, H min: 30 H max: 80 kHz, PixClock max 145 MHz
[ 16863.396] (II) fglrx(0): Monitor name: HW191D
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): EDID for output LVDS
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer: LGD Model: 26a Serial#: 0
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Year: 2009 Week: 0
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): EDID Version: 1.3
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Digital Display Input
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Max Image Size [cm]: horiz.: 34 vert.: 19
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Gamma: 2.20
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): No DPMS capabilities specified
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Supported color encodings: RGB 4:4:4 YCrCb 4:4:4
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): First detailed timing is preferred mode
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): redX: 0.616 redY: 0.371 greenX: 0.355 greenY: 0.606
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): blueX: 0.152 blueY: 0.100 whiteX: 0.313 whiteY: 0.329
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer's mask: 0
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Supported detailed timing:
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): clock: 69.3 MHz Image Size: 344 x 194 mm
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): h_active: 1366 h_sync: 1398 h_sync_end 1430 h_blank_end 1486 h_border: 0
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): v_active: 768 v_sync: 770 v_sync_end 774 v_blanking: 782 v_border: 0
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): LG Display
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Monitor name: LP156WH2-TLQA
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Printing DDC gathered Modelines:
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Modeline "1366x768"x0.0 69.30 1366 1398 1430 1486 768 770 774 782 -hsync -vsync (46.6 kHz)
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Printing probed modes for output LVDS
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Modeline "1366x768"x60.0 69.30 1366 1398 1430 1486 768 770 774 782 +hsync +vsync (46.6 kHz)
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): EDID for output DFP1
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): EDID for output CRT1
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer: HSD Model: 8991 Serial#: 16843009
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Year: 2007 Week: 35
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): EDID Version: 1.3
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Analog Display Input, Input Voltage Level: 0.700/0.700 V
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Sync: Separate Composite
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Max Image Size [cm]: horiz.: 41 vert.: 26
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Gamma: 2.20
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): DPMS capabilities: Off; RGB/Color Display
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): First detailed timing is preferred mode
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): redX: 0.643 redY: 0.325 greenX: 0.295 greenY: 0.616
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): blueX: 0.143 blueY: 0.081 whiteX: 0.310 whiteY: 0.330
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Supported established timings:
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): 720x400@70Hz
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): 1280x1024@75Hz
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Manufacturer's mask: 0
[ 16863.458] (II) fglrx(0): Supported standard timings:
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): #0: hsize: 640 vsize 480 refresh: 66 vid: 17969
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): #6: hsize: 1440 vsize 900 refresh: 75 vid: 3989
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Supported detailed timing:
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): clock: 106.5 MHz Image Size: 408 x 255 mm
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): h_active: 1440 h_sync: 1520 h_sync_end 1672 h_blank_end 1904 h_border: 0
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): v_active: 900 v_sync: 903 v_sync_end 909 v_blanking: 934 v_border: 0
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Ranges: V min: 49 V max: 75 Hz, H min: 30 H max: 80 kHz, PixClock max 145 MHz
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Monitor name: HW191D
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Serial No: 735GH3XY04796
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Printing probed modes for output CRT1
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Modeline "1366x768"x60.0 85.76 1366 1438 1582 1800 768 769 772 795 +hsync -vsync (47.6 kHz)
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Modeline "1440x900"x60.0 106.50 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 903 909 934 +hsync -vsync (55.9 kHz)
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Output LVDS connected
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Output DFP1 disconnected
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Output CRT1 connected
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Using user preference for initial modes
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Output LVDS using initial mode 1366x768
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Output CRT1 using initial mode 1366x768
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Display dimensions: (340, 190) mm
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): DPI set to (102, 102)
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): Adapter ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4500 Series has 2 configurable heads and 2 displays connected.
[ 16863.459] (==) fglrx(0): PseudoColor visuals disabled
[ 16863.459] (==) fglrx(0): NoDRI = NO
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.459] (==) fglrx(0): OpenGL ClientDriverName: "fglrx_dri.so"
[ 16863.459] (==) fglrx(0): UseFastTLS=0
[ 16863.459] (==) fglrx(0): BlockSignalsOnLock=1
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): doing swlDriScreenInit
[ 16863.459] (II) fglrx(0): swlDriScreenInit for fglrx driver
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): [uki] DRM interface version 1.0
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): [uki] created "fglrx" driver at busid "PCI:1:0:0"
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Kernel Module Version Information:
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Name: fglrx
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Version: 8.85.6
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Date: Apr 19 2011
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Desc: ATI FireGL DRM kernel module
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Kernel Module version matches driver.
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Kernel Module Build Time Information:
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Build-Kernel UTS_RELEASE: 2.6.37.6
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Build-Kernel MODVERSIONS: yes
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Build-Kernel __SMP__: yes
[ 16863.460] (II) fglrx(0): Build-Kernel PAGE_SIZE: 0x1000
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.478] (**) fglrx(0): DPMS enabled
[ 16863.478] (II) fglrx(0): Initialized in-driver Xinerama extension
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.510] (II) fglrx(0): [DRI] installation complete
**** [snipped]
[ 16863.511] (II) fglrx(0): Disabling in-server RandR and enabling in-driver RandR 1.2.
[ 16863.511] (II) fglrx(0): 'LVDS LCD' ConnectorType, abstracted as 'Panel'
[ 16863.511] (II) fglrx(0): 'eDP LCD' ConnectorType, abstracted as 'Panel'
**** [snipped]
[ 16885.082] (II) fglrx(0): Printing DDC gathered Modelines:
[ 16885.082] (II) fglrx(0): Modeline "1366x768"x0.0 69.30 1366 1398 1430 1486 768 770 774 782 -hsync -vsync (46.6 kHz)
[ 19315.319] (II) fglrx(0): EDID vendor "LGD", prod id 618
[ 19315.319] (II) fglrx(0): Printing DDC gathered Modelines:
[ 19315.319] (II) fglrx(0): Modeline "1366x768"x0.0 69.30 1366 1398 1430 1486 768 770 774 782 -hsync -vsync (46.6 kHz)
[ 20566.242] (II) fglrx(0): EDID vendor "LGD", prod id 618
[ 20566.242] (II) fglrx(0): Printing DDC gathered Modelines:
[ 20566.242] (II) fglrx(0): Modeline "1366x768"x0.0 69.30 1366 1398 1430 1486 768 770 774 782 -hsync -vsync (46.6 kHz)

All in all, the driver is installed.
xorg.conf is read, but not correctly.

All I try to figure out now is how to set up my xorg.conf file to run two screens. If a run it on the vesa driver, it works nicely, adjusting screen size in the setup under KDE gives me the right resolutions.
But, I want it automated and with the fglrx driver.

And that, just won't work.
My current investigation is, to figure out how to address the two monitors, one directly, the other via the VGA adapter. And to have the laptop use both, if the external is attached, else revert to the laptops own monitor.
And this answer, is hard to find because my knowledge about kernel procedures and adressing does not exist. Yet.

All input, is highly appreciated.

Just checked for the VGA,

cat /var/log/dmesg | grep VGA
[ 0.491674] fb0: VESA VGA frame buffer device
[ 8.600380] ACPI: Video Device [DVGA] (multi-head: yes rom: no post: no)


so, I need to figure out, how do address the single heads in that multi-head setup.

I'm on my work windows now, but I've done something like you want to do with:
xrandr --output LVDS optionsblahblah --output CRT1 optionsblahblah

I _think_ I put the finally-working command in my user .xsession file to get it to run every time, but I really don't remember. Also, I was using the custom NVidia driver, not the ATI one.

Check out xrandr anyway.

This may sound weird, but make sure your external monitor is the first one in your xorg.conf file. I've got a laptop that I use with a dock at home, and if the external monitor is listed first in xorg.conf, the laptop automatically uses the external monitor when booting docked, and not the laptop screen. If the laptop screen is listed first, then for some reason, both get used when on the dock.

Now the differences on my rig is that the external monitor and the laptop monitor had the same resolution. Also I've got an nVidia card, not an ATI. Don't know if either of those make a difference.

I tried,

whatever tricks I could read about here and there ... but to no real avail.
Finally decided to read closely up on aticonfig and now ... it's working.

I did blacklist the radeon module in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf - not sure if that does have any effect at present.

I did in /etc/X11/ clean up first.

Then I ran,

aticonfig --initial
aticonfig --resolution=1440x900,1366x768
aticonfig --initial=dual-head --screen-layout=left
aticonfig --xinerama=on

so now my xorg.conf file looks like this:

[xorg.conf]
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "aticonfig Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
Screen "aticonfig-Screen[0]-1" RightOf "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
EndSection

Section "Module"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "Xinerama" "on"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-1"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]-1"
Driver "fglrx"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1440x900" "1366x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-1"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]-1"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-1"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection
[/xorg.conf]

Works for me now.
A final complete reboot will verify it's complete work.

So, even if I personally do prefer Nvidia cards due to their better integration to Linux, it seems now, ATI is not as bad as it's reputation.

/Santa

1 members found this post helpful.

Just rebooted,

all in working order.

There are a few minor issues, but they are acceptable.

I.e. the controlcenter of gplayer is not visible on the left monitor if I pull it to the right, only visible on the right monitor, but, minor issue.

I hereby conclude, problem solved.

Thanks for the various input around.

/Santa

Thanks for posting your solution, I'm sure other ATI users will find it very useful.

That was my reason for it ;-)