LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] how to set up dual monitor on xfce4 debian squeeze Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS

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how to set up dual monitor on xfce4 debian squeeze Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS

Hi there,

Thank you for your interest.

I am on an almost fresh installation of a GNU/Lixnu Debian Squeeze with XFCE4 Desktop Environment on a laptop DELL Latitude D620

My Graphics Card is:

jmanuel@nomada:~$ lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

I have an external BENQ monitor. Both, laptop screen and monitor screen are working but one is a mirror of the other.

If I go to Screen Config section I can only see one screen config. [see http://snag.gy/gz4F4.jpg]

I would like to use dual screen since as you know it is quite practical for web developing, that is my job, but I can't figure out how could I set it up.

Because some readings navigating the net I have guessed it is possible with the system I have choosed, but nothing related to how I can achieve.

Does exist any package to configure it as I used to do with another box with a nvidea Graphics Card?

With other distributions as Ubuntu even if the screen resolution was not perfect for both screens at the same time, I could set up both screens with the Screen Configuration Application, so I wonder if it is just a matter to update the Screen Config program that comes by default with XFCE4, XFCE4 need more clever tricks to get dual monitoring working or is just not possible with this Desktop, but I guess it might be a xorg configuration thing more than a Desktop Environment property.

I choosed XFCE4 to use the least resources as possible since I just want to keep the system working as fast as I can, but if XFCE4 finally doesn't allow this I will try gnome3.

Somebody around could help/guide/advice ? I will appreciate.

Thanks for your time reading this post.

Keep yourself well.

Cheers,
·_-

Hi,

What's the output of:

Code:

xrandr

That will tell us how your monitor(s) are detected and what resolutions are supported. There should also be a key combination on your laptop to switch between different display modes (look for a key with a monitor like icon on it). You can try to see if that changes anything.

Kind regards,

Eric

Hi,

Thank you so much for your time.

This is the output:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 4096 x 4096
VGA1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 433mm x 271mm
1680x1050 60.0 +
1280x1024 75.0 60.0
1280x960 60.0
1152x864 75.0
1024x768 75.1 75.0 70.1 60.0*
832x624 74.6
800x600 75.0 60.3
640x480 75.0 60.0
720x400 70.1
640x350 70.1
LVDS1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 303mm x 190mm
1280x800 60.0 +
1024x768 60.0*
800x600 60.3 56.2
640x480 59.9
DVI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
TV1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

About the key combination, yes ... in fact the external screen displays the mirror after press that combination, if I am not confused on what you are talking about Fn+CRT/LCD (over F8 key)

Btw, Monitor Setup only show me one Monitor, this is what upset me. (see the screenshot I linked on previous post)

With unity on an Ubuntu Distro it was working from the first installation.

What we need to do more ?

Thank you Eric !

Keep well,
·_-

Hi,

Ok, so your two displays get detected correctly. I don't know Xfce so I don't know where to point you to in order to fix this in Xfce directly. What you could try is use xrandr to set up your displays. Try to run in a terminal:

Code:

xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1280x800 --output VGA1 --mode <the resolution you want on that external display, for example 1280x1024> --above LVDS1

See what that does. It should give you an extension of your display on your laptop above its own display. If that works you could put it in a script to start upon boot or run it manually until someone points you to a solution in Xfce.

On a side-note, I've found this which indicates there is no user interface to setup dual display in Xfce but don't know if it's still valid. Some ideas are mentioned in that link too.

Kind regards,

Eric

[SOLVED ]how-to-set-up-dual-monitor-on-xfce4-debian-squeeze

Hi Eric,

Perfect dude, thank you so much for your worry about... you has been more clever than me researching over the net.

With your line the resolution of both screens has been updated, but they were still one a mirror from the other. Btw, following your link I understood that it is just a matter to know to use xrandr, since after execute this line

xrandr --output VGA1 --right-of LVDS1

I have what I need and want to :)

I don't mind to run both commands on a console, but finally probably I will feel useful to add on some rc.d script or something like that.

Thank you very much for your inestimable help.

Take care and keep well,

One Love,
·_- manou

Hi again,

Sorry, I forgot the option --above after the resolution, so yeah ... the line you gave me worked perfectly ;)

ZENks again!

·_- manou

Hi,

You're welcome! Thanks for marking the thread as solved. Have fun with Linux.

Kind regards,

Eric

What less I can do dude ;)

... just say ZENks again mate, ...

Sure ! in fact, this is a new account btw... check Help Recipes
@ http://amimusa.net/govinda/

I prefer to say, GNU/Linux :p

Thank you again, I am enjoying a lot my dual screen now with a professional distro ! I moved to *buntu as Desktop for practical reasons quite time ago ... but my servers has been always Debian 2.0 and so :D

Hi,

You're right, it should be GNU/Linux ;). Personally I've never been found of Ubuntu, I'm on a Linux Mint Debian Edition with Gnome3 and Awesome window manager. Servers have always been Debian except the occasional RHEL installations I inherited.

Kind regards,

Eric

eric @Barcelona ?

So you will probably understand:
http://amimusa.wordpress.com/

I like how the post ...

Me gusta como ha quedado la entrada. Muchas gracias amigo !

Conozco Mint de oídas, aunque nunca la he probado ... al igual que gnome3, he oído maravillas pero mi sistema es de pocos recursos, así que esperaré a mejorar la máquina para probarlo. Mi antiguo Director (y amigo) con quien aprendí mucho en fluendo (WTC) la última vez que fui a visitarle - no hace mucho - también estaba con gnome3

Did you understand Spanish btw? well, don't need to replay, this is going into a chat session and it is a good post to help others with the same problem, so ... write me back to amimusa_at_yahoo_es if you like/feel

What ever the case, THANK_U again

Enjoy this if you didn't see before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m24FOnCkV7A

We are still alive !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIUjZVz1iac

Que todos los seres deseemos ser felices
Que todos los seres deseemos Amar Incondicionalmente (=aceptar)

hello.

if you use lubuntu or use xubuntu and you have to set double monitor manually, maybe you need this scripts.

This scripts do this automatically (minimal change )

Firts - Open and terminal and run:

xrandr -q

You'll see some similar to:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3120 x 1050, maximum 4096 x 4096
LVDS1 connected 1440x900+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 367mm x 23000mm
1440x900 59.9 + 59.9*
1360x768 59.8 60.0
1152x864 60.0
1024x768 60.0
800x600 60.3 56.2
640x480 59.9
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DVI1 connected 1680x1050+1440+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 474mm x 296mm
1680x1050 60.0*+
1400x1050 60.0
1280x1024 75.0 60.0
1440x900 59.9
1280x960 60.0
1152x864 75.0
1024x768 75.1 70.1 60.0
832x624 74.6
800x600 72.2 75.0 60.3 56.2
640x480 72.8 75.0 66.7 60.0
720x400 70.1
TV1 unknown connection (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
848x480 59.9 +
640x480 59.9 +
1024x768 59.9
800x600 59.9

LVDS1 is the main screen (the lapto screen), and of course, is connected
DVI1 is the second and auxiliary screen from and external monitor. SEE the word "connected"

Now, you need this two scripts whith minimal changes.

If you user is called "miuser"
Firts script called "test_secondmonitor.sh" and save into "/home/miuser/.config/autostart/"

The only change you have to do (if necessary) is the value of the variable

Code:

STRING_EXT_MONITOR="DVI1 connected"

Put here the value of the string that result from the first command 'xrandr -q' that identify to your second monitor and add the word "connected"

Code:

#!/bin/sh



#Put into this variable the string assigned

#to the second external monitor for the output of

#the command 'xrandr -q' 

STRING_EXT_MONITOR="DVI1 connected"



xrandr -q | grep "$STRING_EXT_MONITOR" >/dev/null

if [ $? -eq 0 ];

then

  echo "External monitor connected"

  . $HOME/xrandr_set.sh  

else

  echo "External monitor not connected"

fi

The second script is:
You must change
- name of monitors
- resolution
- rate refresh

you can get all this params of the output from "xrandr -q" command.

Save this script into /home/miuser/xrandr_set.sh

Both script must be executable ( chmod +x )

Code:

#!/bin/bash

#

# To activate double monitor configuration at XFCE

#

# Main Monitor LVDS1 screen of laptop

/usr/bin/xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1440x900  --rate 59.9



#This line put external monitor right of main monitor

/usr/bin/xrandr --output DVI1  --mode 1680x1050 --rate 60 --right-of LVDS1



#This line put external monitor left of main monitor 

#/usr/bin/xrandr --output DVI1  --mode 1680x1050 --rate 60 --left-of LVDS1

Goog luck :)

you might try arandr. this is a gui front end to xrandr. It might save some time.