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Old 08-02-2014, 11:06 PM   #1
Kaiji
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Question Starting Multiple Monitors / Multiple Desktops at System Startup.


Hello Everyone

Ok, The question I have today is what do I need to do to have both of my 2 Monitors start with the system startup.

I am running Linux Mint KDE x86_64 Petra / Saucy, I have one video card, it is an older PCIE 16x2 RadeonHD Card. I have one each of a DVI, and VGA connectors, each connected to a different monitor. With both monitors active, I have my dual desktop situated in a way that I like, with one as the primary, and the other as the secondary. This setup is excelent for me, I can do different things, and keep, for example Netflix running on the secondary screen, and a File manager (Dolphin, my favorite FM), and a (Bash) terminal window, and any vartiety of other file editors, or applications, I am working with in the Main Screen...

Any how, all that aside, when I start the machine, or reboot, it always goes to one screen, the VGA-1 (My Secondary), disabling the DVI-1 (Main Screen).

I have to go to 'System Settings', then open 'Display and Monitors', drag the screen images to the proper arangement, and tick the inactive screen to active plus check the star to select it as the primary screen, hit the apply button, and now I can go about my business, with the dual monitor, desktop, arrangement, as I like it. It is not that this is an extreme hassle, but it can become annoying sometimes, especially knowing that I should be able to set this to the right settings at startup.

I have searched around a little, and I havent actually got to the solution yet... So I have been just living with it this way for quite some time now. Since I recently joined this forum and have already been helped quite a bit (From before I actually became a member too, and Thank You). Any way it is time to actually solve this...

Lately I have had to do more reboots than usual with generating arm images with debootstrap, and chrooting into the images, including varous image mounting / binding, which can cause the Host Linux Mint to get a little funky, and needs a restart

So I am sure that I can either add some lines to an X configure file, or maybe add some init file into an initrd?... or some such solution. Hopefully I can just edit one of the xorg.conf files and get this working.

So here is some info on the Video Card, followed by a few screenshots of this machine.

Lines containing information aboutr my video card, taken from an dmesg command:
Code:
[    0.284834] pci 0000:02:00.0: Boot video device
[0.284834 - 1.084968] skipped for this post
[    1.084968] [drm] radeon kernel modesetting enabled.
[    1.085317] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC8] enabled at IRQ 16
[    1.085546] [drm] initializing kernel modesetting (RV515 0x1002:0x7183 0x1028:0x0302).
[    1.085564] [drm] register mmio base: 0xFDCF0000
[    1.085565] [drm] register mmio size: 65536
[    1.085883] ATOM BIOS: 113
[    1.085907] [drm] Generation 2 PCI interface, using max accessible memory
[    1.085912] radeon 0000:02:00.0: VRAM: 256M 0x0000000000000000 - 0x000000000FFFFFFF (256M used)
[    1.085915] radeon 0000:02:00.0: GTT: 512M 0x0000000010000000 - 0x000000002FFFFFFF
[    1.085934] [drm] Detected VRAM RAM=256M, BAR=256M
[    1.085936] [drm] RAM width 128bits DDR
[    1.086011] [TTM] Zone  kernel: Available graphics memory: 1540712 kiB
[    1.086013] [TTM] Initializing pool allocator
[    1.086018] [TTM] Initializing DMA pool allocator
[    1.086042] [drm] radeon: 256M of VRAM memory ready
[    1.086044] [drm] radeon: 512M of GTT memory ready.
[    1.086057] [drm] GART: num cpu pages 131072, num gpu pages 131072
[    1.106440] [drm] radeon: 1 quad pipes, 1 z pipes initialized.
[    1.107411] [drm] PCIE GART of 512M enabled (table at 0x0000000000040000).
[    1.107449] radeon 0000:02:00.0: WB enabled
[    1.107454] radeon 0000:02:00.0: fence driver on ring 0 use gpu addr 0x0000000010000000 and cpu addr 0xffff880035c5c000
[    1.107457] [drm] Supports vblank timestamp caching Rev 1 (10.10.2010).
[    1.107458] [drm] Driver supports precise vblank timestamp query.
[    1.107489] [drm] radeon: irq initialized.
[    1.107509] [drm] Loading R500 Microcode
[    1.107688] [drm] radeon: ring at 0x0000000010001000
[    1.107718] [drm] ring test succeeded in 7 usecs
[    1.107897] [drm] ib test succeeded in 0 usecs
[    1.108179] [drm] Radeon Display Connectors
[    1.108181] [drm] Connector 0:
[    1.108183] [drm]   DVI-I-1
[    1.108184] [drm]   HPD1
[    1.108186] [drm]   DDC: 0x7e40 0x7e40 0x7e44 0x7e44 0x7e48 0x7e48 0x7e4c 0x7e4c
[    1.108188] [drm]   Encoders:
[    1.108189] [drm]     CRT1: INTERNAL_KLDSCP_DAC1
[    1.108190] [drm]     DFP1: INTERNAL_KLDSCP_TMDS1
[    1.108192] [drm] Connector 1:
[    1.108193] [drm]   SVIDEO-1
[    1.108194] [drm]   Encoders:
[    1.108195] [drm]     TV1: INTERNAL_KLDSCP_DAC2
[    1.108197] [drm] Connector 2:
[    1.108198] [drm]   VGA-1
[    1.108200] [drm]   DDC: 0x7e50 0x7e50 0x7e54 0x7e54 0x7e58 0x7e58 0x7e5c 0x7e5c
[    1.108201] [drm]   Encoders:
[    1.108202] [drm]     CRT2: INTERNAL_KLDSCP_DAC2
[    1.193647] [drm] fb mappable at 0xE00C0000
[    1.193650] [drm] vram apper at 0xE0000000
[    1.193652] [drm] size 7258112
[    1.193653] [drm] fb depth is 24
[    1.193654] [drm]    pitch is 6912
[    1.193733] fbcon: radeondrmfb (fb0) is primary device
[    1.195065] ata2: port disabled--ignoring
[    1.224201] Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 160x64
[    1.230097] radeon 0000:02:00.0: fb0: radeondrmfb frame buffer device
[    1.230099] radeon 0000:02:00.0: registered panic notifier
[    1.230106] [drm] Initialized radeon 2.34.0 20080528 for 0000:02:00.0 on minor 0
That was all the information I found in the dmesg related to video, display, or radeon. I will attach the whole dmesg.txt however, incase it has some other information needed to help solve this.

I did some other web searches to try and solve this, and I read through this post here, but still could not get both screens on at startup.

Here are the locations, and the list of xorg.conf files on this PC:
Code:
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/11-evdev-quirks.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/11-evdev-trackpoint.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-synaptics.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-vmmouse.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-wacom.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/51-synaptics-quirks.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/glamor.conf
There are 3 screenshots attached to this post, they show:
1. The pc started with only one screen (the way it always starts.).
2. The 'Display and Monitors' settings being changed (the way I like it.).
3. My dual Desktop / Monitor set properly (the way I want it to startup as.).

and you can look at the full dmesg output here; dmesg.txt

Also I can do whatever is needed to help solve this, dont hesitate to ask for any specific information, I will get it and post or PM whatever information I need to help come to a solution. Or if you know where a post or link to the instruction I need to get this right I would be very greatly appreciative.

Again thank you all for making this such a great website, and thanks in advance for anyone who can point me in the right direction to get both my screens to start with the system.

- Thank You, from: Kaiji
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Old 08-03-2014, 12:29 AM   #2
Kaiji
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Hi again, it's just me...

I know this seems like it should be something I already know how to do, or it at least should be easy to fix (or so I would think it is...) yet here I am, still doing the system settings at each startup, lol. I have been using Linux Mint KDE for a while now, and it is definitly my prefered OS over all the others. This particular installation has been running on this same PC for quite a while, it started out with LM 14 Nadia / Quantal - KDE amd64 , wow I think that was back in 2012, or even 11... Then it was Olivia / Raring for LM 15, and I am now up to Petra / Saucy now, but I am just about ready to do it again, to change up to LM 17 KDE amd64 Qiana / Trusty. Any way what I am saying is I have upgraded each time by editing the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list to reflect the new version, there are a few other files that also reflect the OS version, easily veiwed with the following:
Code:
# cat /etc/issue
# cat /etc/issue.net
# cat /etc/lsb-release
# cat /etc/os-releasethen the
Thos are automatically updated during the dist-upgrade procedure, which I am about to do again, soon.

I suppose you could update the files with sed too, like this:
Code:
# sed -i 's/saucy/trusty/' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
# sed -i 's/petra/qiana/' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
in my case, or whichever versions you need in place of mine, but I actually just open the folder in Dolphin, then edit the files with Kate. For one things I have a few other lists, added in that folder for things like Oracle Java, Pipelight, and Android. And I actually Like to actually see the whole file before I save it, and I also like to save the originals too, incase there are some issues, which there usually are.

But The Qiana version has been out for a little bit now, and the 'Qiana Linux Mint KDE x86_64' has been out now so most of the bugs are all worked out, which is about when I like to do the dist-upgrade. A very simple procedure (though fairly time consuming) is as simple as:

Code:
# apt-get update
# apt-get dist-upgrade
# apt-get upgrade
Perform these AFTER all the source.list repo's have been properly edited, and backed up.

Wow, now how did get into talking about upgrading my LM KDE.... oh yeah, I still havent fixed the multi monitor thing, and after all this time (a bit more than half of this PC's Linux Lifetime), and all the upgrades, and still going to 'System Settings' at each and every startup....... :/

Well hopefully this wont be going on much longer, I am going to solve it with, or before I run this next upgrade.

ps - On an unrelated side note, I am learning to speak Japanese (slowly but surely), and one of the best learning instructions I have found come from a free site (there are lessons you can pay for, at a very low price too), but I have been using the lessons at this site. That link is actually beginers lesson 1. I got a 100% free lifetime membership, not a penny has it cost me, and I am finding these lessons are working (for me) better than another package that I paid for the _____ stone, system. The paid system is good for sure, but I myself (after using the paid for system for while) have learned, and retained more of this language, and the Kanji & the Kana characters too. I think it may be the combination, but a few friends I showed the site (who also were not interested in learning Japanese) even said that the lessons were easy to folow. Any way I am just bragging up the free site, cause hey, Free is great! That is what got me started in Linux, many many moons ago, (that and a love for computers, coding, and understanding Operating Systems). And now, Linux is my main, almost only OS. In my personal opinion it is without doubt the best there is available, in every way. Plus in general open source always provide better security, functionability, and value every which way you look at it. Something someone whos work I admire says this; Open source = Security. It must be open for independent security analysis. Obscurity (closed source) is not security. But that is unrelated..

Well any how, enough of me going on about this, that and the other thing... I might have got a touch carried away this time, I apologize if my post it to long, hard to follow, or annoys anyone (I was diagnosed with Adult ADHD), but I am always hyperactive, and usually have about 10 or 15 things happining at the same time at any given time, in my head, and all around me, in the workshop, the PC shop, and the garage.

And also Thank You again everyone, for having a great Forum, and a giving the internet world a place to both enjoy, and learn from.

- Kaiji

Last edited by Kaiji; 08-03-2014 at 12:30 AM.
 
Old 08-03-2014, 01:50 AM   #3
descendant_command
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Yes, just set it how you want in /etc/X11/xorg.conf (or in separate .conf files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ ).

See 'man xorg.conf' for a start, or just search for some of the many of examples that are about.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 08-03-2014, 10:53 AM   #4
Kaiji
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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: Somewhere on the planet :)
Distribution: OS: Linux Mint KDE, Web Browser: Firefox 30 w/custom usergant string to enable Netflix via:Pipelight
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Wink

Quote:
Originally Posted by descendant_command View Post
Yes, just set it how you want in /etc/X11/xorg.conf (or in separate .conf files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ ).

See 'man xorg.conf' for a start, or just search for some of the many of examples that are about.
Thanks I am working through it.

Since I posted about upgrading I went ahead and am doing the Petra - Qiana upgrade now, in fact I am about to reboot I just ran apt-get upgrade, and as I am going along I am remembering more about when I ran this to go from LM 14 to LM 15 and I think I may have had some issues that run and had to reinstall from the iso image... but then when I went from 15 to 16 it went super smooth

Well this one 16 to 17 seems a little bumpy (I may have to many changes to the system) to where well hope fully the reboot goes good, we will see in a few minutes....

There were a lot of changes "2203 upgraded, 201 newly installed, 144 to remove and 3 not upgraded". With dist-upgrade, so I am a little worried.. the last time I had that many removed, and that many new, I think it is why I had to reinstall LM 15, but oh well, if I have to reinstall I will just do it, unfortunately, it is a pain to get everything back how I want, after a reinstall. A ton of stuff to install, and it takes a good week after that to get things back on track. But the good side is I get everything all cleaned up, and I get a freshh start of the layout, and everything is new, and first run. SO I get to make those first run adjustments, better, well hopefully bnetter....

Any way I am hoping to not have to reinstall..... And apt-get looks like it is about done, so it is approaching the moment of truth (fingers crossed) Hopefully a good restart, then takle the dual screen issue

Thanks guys

- Kaiji

Last edited by Kaiji; 08-03-2014 at 10:54 AM.
 
Old 08-04-2014, 05:18 PM   #5
Kaiji
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jul 2014
Location: Somewhere on the planet :)
Distribution: OS: Linux Mint KDE, Web Browser: Firefox 30 w/custom usergant string to enable Netflix via:Pipelight
Posts: 9

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Hi,

Argh, well trouble with upgrade to qiana, I am going to have to salvage as much as I can and start over . Bummer I had that last one going for a long time. I am even using my sisters laptop to post this, I had problems with X and then after a while it just got to be such a mess, so I am copying my work and stuff all to a network drive, then I will start over...... Man such a pain, its going to take like a week before I have things back to normal...

Oh well It will all be good again, Thanks

- Kaiji
 
  


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