viewsonic VG2230 & VX2250, DVI/HDMI and Lubuntu not working

[crazyJay648]

Here's the problem:
I cannot get lubuntu to work with either a viewsonic VG2230 or Vx2250 through my PCs HDMI port. It does work through the VGA though. I'm still not 100% if the problem is lubuntu, the viewsonic monitors or my PC.

Here's the troubleshooting I've done thus far:
- The PC is a Foxconn nettop. It has a VGA port and a HDMI port. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119056)
- I'm using a HDMI -> DVI adapter to connect it to the VG2230, and I have the VX2250 on VGA.
- I confirmed that the HDMI-DVI adapter works by connecting a windows laptop with HDMI out to the VG2230 and even the VX2250, and it works just fine.
- I connect the PC running lubuntu to a TV through the HDMI with no HDMI->DVI adapter (straight HDMI). That works just fine. I was able to turn my TV into a second monitor.
- However, when I connect any of these viewsonic monitors to the PC with the HDMI->DVI adapter, they don't work. Only the VGA connection works.

It's like this particular PC and these particular monitors just don't like each other. Any ideas?

Here is a description of the hardware I'm running:
-Computer-
Processor : 4x Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU D525 @ 1.80GHz
Memory : 4040MB (324MB used)
Operating System : Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Date/Time : Wed 30 May 2012 09:37:01 PM CDT
-Display-
Resolution : 1920x1080 pixels
OpenGL Renderer : Unknown
X11 Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
-Multimedia-
Audio Adapter : HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
-Input Devices-
Power Button
Power Button
AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
HOLTEK Evoluent VM3 Wireless
No brand 2Port KVMSwicther
Microsoft Natural® Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
Microsoft Natural® Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
HDA Intel Mic
HDA Intel Front Headphone
HDA Intel Line-Out
-Printers (CUPS)-
Brother_MFC-495CW : <i>Default</i>
-SCSI Disks-
ATA Corsair Accelera

OS info:
-Version-
Kernel : Linux 3.2.0-24-generic (x86_64)
Compiled : #39-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 21 16:52:17 UTC 2012
C Library : Unknown
Default C Compiler : Unknown
Distribution : Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
-Current Session-
Desktop Environment : LXDE (Lubuntu)
-Misc-
Uptime : 25 minutes
Load Average : 1.11, 0.94, 0.67

Display info:
-Display-
Resolution : 1920x1080 pixels
Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
Version : 1.11.3
-Monitors-
Monitor 0 : 1920x1080 pixels
Monitor 1 : 1366x768 pixels
-Extensions-
BIG-REQUESTS
Composite
DAMAGE
DOUBLE-BUFFER
DPMS
DRI2
GLX
Generic Event Extension
MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
MIT-SHM
RANDR
RECORD
RENDER
SECURITY
SGI-GLX
SHAPE
SYNC
X-Resource
XC-MISC
XFIXES
XFree86-DGA
XFree86-VidModeExtension
XINERAMA
XInputExtension
XKEYBOARD
XTEST
XVideo
-OpenGL-
Vendor : Unknown
Renderer : Unknown
Version : Unknown
Direct Rendering : No

[crazyJay648]

Just an update:

When I connect the monitor with the HDMI->DVI adapter, the monitor doesn't say "No signal" or "Out of range." IT looks like it does detect something, because once I unplug the HDMI cable it then say's "no signal."

Also, I'm using an actually HDMI-DVI cable, not an adapter that takes a HDMI cable and converts it to DVI.

[crazyJay648]

Here's another update:

When I run xrandr I get this:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 4096 x 4096
LVDS1 connected 1366x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
1366x768 60.4*+
1360x768 59.8 60.0
1024x768 60.0
800x600 60.3 56.2
640x480 59.9
VGA1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 477mm x 268mm
1920x1080 60.0*+
1600x1200 60.0
1680x1050 60.0
1400x1050 60.0
1600x900 60.0
1280x1024 75.0 60.0
1440x900 59.9
1280x800 59.8
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


It looks like the display is set to a size of 0mm by 0mm. It's not clear how I can change this. Any ideas?

[marinara]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Documentation/FAQ/Workarounds#Can.27t_Change_to_Screen_Resolution_I_ need_For_My_Monitor_or_Laptop_Screen

sorry i can't help more

[crazyJay648]

Thanks for the help. Yea, all that stuff doesn't really talk about how to get the display to not be 0mm x 0mm. I'm wondering if maybe this just isn't possible with my monitor. >=\

[crazyJay648]

I officially give up. I'm going to sell the VG2230, never buy Viewsonic monitors and never buy foxconn nettop boxes. :(

[poikiloid]

Hello crazyJay648,

I am having the same problem as you.

I recently got a viewsonic VX2336S-LED monitor after upgrading to ubuntu 12.04. This monitor has VGA and DVI input. I am using a system76 pangolin (panp5) laptop specially made for ubuntu. This laptop has only VGA and HDMI.

The VGA cable input works well.

The HDMI-DVI cable input at first wouldn't work, then suddenly it worked for a while until I restarted laptop, and since then will not work anymore at all. It is a brand new cable, so I don't think it is bad, but I have no other way of testing it. Ubuntu KNOWS that a viewsonic 23" monitor is connected, because it shows it in the "Displays" manager. However, nothing shows up on the external screen.

Very frustrating!!!!

It may be something wrong with Ubuntu itself however, because this person appears to be having the same problem as we are, with an HDMI-DVI cable setup: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1933078

[crazyJay648]

I see,

Well, it's nice to know I'm not alone in this. lol. I will post if I discover anything that fixes this.