xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default

[Only1KW]

Currently attempting to change my resolution on my Ubuntu laptop to use just the built-in screen instead of both the built-in and attached screens (currently configured with TwinView). When I run xrandr, I get the following error:

$ xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 1600 x 900, current 3648 x 1152, maximum 3648 x 1152
default connected 3648x1152+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   3648x1152      50.0* 
   1600x900_60.00   59.9

So no output is displayed. It used to be displaying VGA0 at one point when it was working. If I try and remove the current single-screen mode and start over I get:

$ xrandr --rmmode 1600x900_60.00
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
X Error of failed request:  BadAccess (attempt to access private resource denied)
  Major opcode of failed request:  153 (RANDR)
  Minor opcode of failed request:  17 (RRDestroyMode)
  Serial number of failed request:  19
  Current serial number in output stream:  20

I've done some research online, but everyone says post xorg.conf and then points out something that appears to have nothing to do with my issue. So here's my xorg.conf:

$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 280.13  (buildd@rothera)  Thu Aug 11 17:28:49 UTC 2011

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
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      "LEN"
    HorizSync       47.1 - 56.5
    VertRefresh     40.0 - 60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 880M"
    Option "RegistryDwords"     "EnableBrightnessControl=1"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+252, DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +1600+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

[Zorael]

Yes, for some reason randr support isn't enabled by default in the nvidia blob.

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "RandRRotation" "true"
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+252, DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +1600+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

It will still always complain about failing to get size of gamma etc, but at least now the randr extensions work.

[BicyclerBoy]

RandRotation kills video overlays & causes other openGL/GLX perform penalties.
It is not needed to just use xrandr
- set output to an internal defined mode
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode "1024x768"

but I think twinview confuses xrandr..

The OP could just run
nvidia-settings (from terminal or menu)
and adjust screen setup..

[Only1KW]

Unfortunately, the RandRRotation option didn't fix the issue.

$ xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 3648 x 1152, current 3648 x 1152, maximum 3648 x 1152
default connected 3648x1152+0+0 (normal left inverted right) 0mm x 0mm
   3648x1152      50.0*

$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 280.13  (buildd@rothera)  Thu Aug 11 17:28:49 UTC 2011

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
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      "LEN"
    HorizSync       47.1 - 56.5
    VertRefresh     40.0 - 60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 880M"
    Option "RegistryDwords"     "EnableBrightnessControl=1"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "RandRRotation" "true"
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: nvidia-auto-select +0+252, DFP-3: nvidia-auto-select +1600+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

- set output to an internal defined mode
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode "1024x768"

Doesn't work either. Any value I try for --output fails with the error "warning: output ____ not found; ignoring"

but I think twinview confuses xrandr..

I'm sure this was working for me just a week ago, if that.

The OP could just run
nvidia-settings (from terminal or menu)
and adjust screen setup..

When you say "from terminal", I assume you mean from a terminal within X, so the GUI version of nvidia-settings can load. This doesn't work always as I've had the window pop up at obscure places for me and have been unable to move it for unknown reasons (move doesn't seem to be working correctly with arrow keys with TwinView). Also, this assumes that I want to use one of the default resolutions, which isn't always the case (e.g. if I'm connecting to the console remotely using X11Vnc and want to resize the screen to fit my remote screen(s). Xrandr was doing this beautifully for me back when it was working.

If by "terminal", you mean run nvidia-settings with command-line parameters, (so I don't have to worry about the GUI window), I so far have been unable to figure out how to get the command-line to work for my purposes, and haven't found anything online to assist with that either.

[BicyclerBoy]

Yes an X terminal ..not a virtual console.
I think twinview creates a virtual display name (not LVDS1 or VGA1 etc).
I have not used twinview so hard to help..
Suspect nVidia labels internal laptop panels as DFP-0..

I note there is no VGA displays in your xorg.conf only DVI..

You can reconfigure nVidia X server with:
nvidia-xconfig --help
nvidia-settings --help

some things require restarts (logout/login).

Dynamic Twinview could be an ideal setup for you.. It allows using xrandr to switch between different twinview setups. One of these can be just one screen..
See chapter 13 of the driver readme.