"apply" button grayed out "nvidia X Server Settings

**TheWSD** · April 8th, 2011

Still pretty new to this, from what i have read, the more info i give the better, I am running ubuntu 11.04 with KDE installed via the terminal. I was trying to get my TV to work as another display, I don't know what I have done, after my earlier problems I have learnt to back up and restore my xorg.conf file but with no luck, I now can't change any settings as the title says the apply button is grayed out and when i try and save it to the xorg.conf file and restart the xserver it says that
"Your current changes to the X server display configuration may no longer be applied due to changes made to the running X server.

You may either reload the current X server settings and lose any configuration setup in this page, or select "Cancel" and save your changes to the X configuration file (requires restarting X to take effect.)

If you select "Cancel", you will only be allowed to apply settings once you have reset the configuration.Your current changes to the X server display configuration may no longer be applied due to changes made to the running X server.

You may either reload the current X server settings and lose any configuration setup in this page, or select "Cancel" and save your changes to the X configuration file (requires restarting X to take effect.)

If you select "Cancel", you will only be allowed to apply settings once you have reset the configuration.Your current changes to the X server display configuration may no longer be applied due to changes made to the running X server.

You may either reload the current X server settings and lose any configuration setup in this page, or select "Cancel" and save your changes to the X configuration file (requires restarting X to take effect.)

If you select "Cancel", you will only be allowed to apply settings once you have reset the configuration."

when I booted last i got terminal with this showing, for the first time,

Xlib: extension "RANDR" missing on display ":0".

(orca:1984): Wnck-WARNING **: Property _NET_WM_NAME contained invalid UTF-8

My xorg.conf is
# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 270.29 (buildd@roseapple) Fri Feb 25 14:43:24 UTC 2011

Section "ServerLayout"

# Removed Option "Xinerama" "0"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
Screen 1 "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
Option "Xinerama" "1"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

# HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Acer AL1716A"
HorizSync 30.0 - 83.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor1"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "SAMSUNG"
HorizSync 15.0 - 68.0
VertRefresh 49.0 - 61.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce 9600 GT"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device1"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce 9600 GT"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "TwinView" "0"
Option "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "CRT-0"
Option "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0; CRT: 1280x1024_60 +0+0; CRT: 1280x960 +0+0; CRT: 1152x864 +0+0; CRT: 1152x864_75_0 +0+0; CRT: 1152x864_70 +0+0; CRT: 1152x864_60 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768_70 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768_60 +0+0; CRT: 960x600 +0+0; CRT: 960x540 +0+0; CRT: 840x525 +0+0; CRT: 840x525d70 +0+0; CRT: 840x525d60 +0+0; CRT: 840x525d60_0 +0+0; CRT: 832x624 +0+0; CRT: 800x600 +0+0; CRT: 800x600_72 +0+0; CRT: 800x600_60 +0+0; CRT: 800x600_56 +0+0; CRT: 720x450 +0+0; CRT: 700x525 +0+0; CRT: 700x525d60 +0+0; CRT: 680x384 +0+0; CRT: 680x384d60_0 +0+0; CRT: 640x480 +0+0; CRT: 640x480_73 +0+0; CRT: 640x480_73_0 +0+0; CRT: 640x480_60 +0+0; CRT: 640x480_60_0 +0+0; CRT: 512x384 +0+0; CRT: 512x384d60 +0+0; CRT: 400x300 +0+0; CRT: 320x240 +0+0; CRT: 320x240d60 +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen1"
Device "Device1"
Monitor "Monitor1"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "TwinView" "0"
Option "metamodes" "DFP: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Thanks in advance!

**BicyclerBoy** · April 9th, 2011

Just edit the file directly..
sudo kedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

(kedit for kde ? gedit for gnome)

The modes listed in the metamode list (or anywhere) need to be internally defined or user defined in a modes section.

Some of your modes listed look wrong/incorrect (AFAIK) I could be wrong.
I would set xinerama off "0" , twinview off "0" so you have separate X screens; this is best for full screen TV video on big screen (IMO).
Separate X screens allows easy launch to screen & independent resolution & refresh rate & no panning nonsense..
Downside is no icons on second screen since 8.04..& no dragging to/from screens.

Delete the metamode cruft except for:
Option "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0".

Reboot run nvidia-settings check what you have..check you have separate X screens & configure the resolution/refresh for each.

Post your:
/var/log/Xorg.0.log as attachment .txt file.

You could try to run nvidia-settings from terminal with sudo..this might let you save back to xorg.conf file...This is not necessary with 10.04 or 10.10..

**TheWSD** · April 9th, 2011

I tried Kate and Gedit to modify xorg.conf but I can't

sudo kate /etc/Xll/xorg.conf
[sudo] password for scott:
No protocol specified
kate: cannot connect to X server :0

sudo gedit /etc/Xll/xorg.conf
No protocol specified

(gedit:3782): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display: :0

I did try sudo nvidia-settings and then the suggested nvidia-settings --help but that looked a bit scary, lol!

I have had to split Xorg.0.log into to parts as too large to upload in one,

Thanks for the help

**BicyclerBoy** · April 10th, 2011

There is something badly wrong if you can not edit the xorg.conf file.

You need to disable xinerama..it is stopping glx & RandR modules loading..
The vertical freq range in the samsung monitor needs to be 23-73 Hz.

You could backup/rename/delete /etc/X11/xorg.conf (11 is eleven not lower case LL)
reboot & run
nvidia-xconfig
This will recreate a new xorg.conf

The X server does not need any xorg.conf to boot up..

**TheWSD** · April 12th, 2011

xorg.conf deleted using sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf , ran sudo nvidia-xconfig, all is good now! Set it up as twinview and can finally watch films on the TV!

Thanks so much for your help

**BicyclerBoy** · April 14th, 2011

Good stuff..
I prefer separate X screens over twinview...but if it works okay don't break it..

Twinview forces both screens/monitors to be the same refresh rate & meta-mode.
IMO For full screen XBMC & MythTV separate X screens is the better method.