Hi,

Ubuntu 7.10 working on a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop. The graphics card is an ATI Radeon... have worked out how to download and use graphics card driver using the "Restricted drivers manager". The screen is set to "Dell 1280 x 1024 laptop"... and this now works fine, with a high enough resolution.

In WXP, however, I normally use a standalone monitor, Iiyama ProLite E1900 S, 19" LCD - this is plugged into the video socket at the back of the laptop. With the occasional aberration, WXP usually handles it OK, using the full real estate of the Iiyama monitor (which is a different ratio from the laptop screen).

In Linux I have had no joy whatever ... my machine has never consented to display anything on the Iiyama monitor. Have tried messing around with with Administration --> Screens and graphics --> Screen 2... which I have set to "secondary screen" and "mirror default screen". The model is not listed (although other Iiyamas are)... so I tried one or two Iiyamas (no good) and "plug n play" - also no good.

If I boot up Ubuntu with the Iiyama plugged into the back the boot-up process fails: both screens twitch a bit but remain resolutely black... there is no intro music, no boot activity listing and I end up having to power down. Only if I unplug the Iiyama from the video socket at the back can I then boot Ubuntu up again.

Is there a way forward? Or am I stuck using the laptop screen with Ubuntu?

Thanks

I have never heard of a VGA cable causing a computer not to boot,
Does BIOS display on the LCD?
Make sure you use the Fn DIsplay keys as some laptops with manufacturer drivers Windows can override these keys to enable external screens

does CRLT+ALT+F1 display the console (if so the Monitor type is definitely set wrong)
just use Generic LCD monitor that matches the resolution of you monitor
1280 X 1024?

still doesn't work choose VESA from the graphic cards on Graphics config tool

Lastly get the latest ATI drivers from the ATI Site