Ubuntu – Ubuntu not detecting second monitor

12.04displayintel graphicsmonitor

I'm running Ubuntu 12.04 on a Lenovo x61s Thinkpad. As the screen's rather small and I want to do some video editing, I thought I'd plug in a monitor and use that. The monitor is Relisys JM777 (quite old).

When I plug it into my other computer, which is running Windows 7, it immediately mirrors the display; but when plugged into the Lenovo the monitor screen remains blank. The graphics card on the Lenovo is a "VGA compatible controller" according to SysInfo.

Anybody got any suggestions for getting this monitor to work? I'm quite new to Linux.

Best Answer

I had a similar problem with my HP Elitebook 8530w, which uses an NVidia Quadra graphics card. I use the recommended NVidia drivers in Ubuntu 12.04.

In Applications > System Tools > System Settings > Display it will not detect my secondary display.

However when I go to Applications > System Tools > Administration there is the option Nvidia X Server settings. Here I can select another display which is being detected properly and I can immediately use my secondary display.

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Ubuntu – Unknown monitor, intel driver, want to set VGA resolution to widescreen TV

From a Google+ discussion from Dean Wallace:

xrandr -q gives you list of modes and displays. The Sony is connected to VGA1 on my setup.

cvt 1360 768 outputs this

# 1360x768 59.80 Hz (CVT) hsync: 47.72 kHz; pclk: 84.75 MHz
Modeline "1360x768_60.00"   84.75  1360 1432 1568 1776  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync

copy everything AFTER Modeline and paste to xrandr:

xrandr --newmode "1360x768_60.00"   84.75  1360 1432 1568 1776  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode VGA1 1360x768_60.00
xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1360x768_60.00

now that should adjust your resolution, look in the monitors applet in system prefs, should be there, set it and apply... if it doesnt keep after a reboot then add the commands to .xprofile in your home folder. so add

xrandr --newmode "1360x768_60.00"   84.75  1360 1432 1568 1776  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode VGA1 1360x768_60.00
xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1360x768_60.00

save/quit/reboot

(I have yet to save these for a reboot)

Ubuntu – VGA not detected on a Lenovo T420

With the following steps I succeeded to get the Lenovo T420 intel graphic running properly:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-generic-lts-backport-natty linux-headers-generic-lts-backport-natty

Then just change the following line in your /etc/default/grub (edit as root!)

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quite splash"

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quite splash i965.modeset=1"

don't forget

sudo update-grub

and of course a reboot!

You often can read something about 'i915...' but this seems to be for older Intel graphics (compatibility issues?). I found (somewhere?) the device code for the Intel HD 3000 which is i965.

Best Answer

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Ubuntu – Unknown monitor, intel driver, want to set VGA resolution to widescreen TV

Ubuntu – VGA not detected on a Lenovo T420

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