dual monitor help

[ThumbBumpkins]

Hello, I've been running Ubuntu for a few months now and I love it, but I have one major complaint: for some reason I can't get dual monitors working. I was hoping that the supposed new screen manager in 8.04 would fix my problems, but so far no such luck.

I'm running a widescreen LCD monitor, 1680x1050. I also have a small LCD tv that supports VGA input that I've been running in windows in a dual monitor setup at 1440x900. However, whenever I boot up linux with this hard drive plugged in, my main monitor goes blank and it tries to display everything on my second monitor, horribly distorted. I go to the screen resolution manager, but it fails to recognize my other monitor. Can anyone help me, I would love to finally get Ubuntu working with dual monitors.

[16777216]

What kind of graphics card are you using in your computer? ( ATI, nVidia, Intel, Cirrus, etc. )
And posting the contents of your
/etc/X11/xorg.conf file would help us diagnose and hopefully fix the problem.:)

[ThumbBumpkins]

I'm using an nVidia GeForce 6800.

/etc/X11/xorg.conf:

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "nVidia Corporation NV41.1 [GeForce 6800]"
Driver "nvidia"
Busid "PCI:5:0:0"
Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
Horizsync 30-70
Vertrefresh 50-160
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "nVidia Corporation NV41.1 [GeForce 6800]"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
Defaultdepth 24
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen "Default Screen"
Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection

[16777216]

I have adapted my xorg.conf for your use.
The second monitor will need to be plugged in and powered on at boot to be recognized and usable.

You will need to edit a few things but I have cut that to a minimum, plus I have added comments in the file for help.
( You can safely remove them though. )

I also recommend you install the nVidia settings program.

sudo apt-get install nvidia-settingsIf nvidia-settings is run as root it will allow you to save a xorg.conf file with the settings you configure with it. ( A good GUI for xorg.conf :) )

Back up your original xorg.conf by renaming it xorg.conf.original or the like.

Start Gedit as root
sudo gedit then copy and paste the code below and save as /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by Paul and nvidia-settings using values from the internet.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg


Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection
# the wacom stuff below can be removed if you don't have a tablet.
Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce 6800"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "Coolbits" "1" # For over clocking
Option "TwinView" "1" # This is what makes dual screen work with nVidia
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf" # you may need to change this to LeftOf or Above or Below.
Option "NoLogo" "1"
Option "RenderAccel" "1"
Option "HWCursor" "1"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "1"
Option "AllowDDCCI" "1"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "1"
Option "AIGLX" "1"
Option "DamageEvents" "1"
Option "UseEvents" "1"
Option "TripleBuffer" "1"


EndSection

Section "Monitor"
VendorName "Dell Computer Manufacturing Inc." # Replace this with information about your main monitor.
ModelName "DELL M991" # Look up your monitor model on the net to get the relevant information.
Identifier "Monitor0" # Do not change this option unless you also change the Monitor option in the Screen section below to match.
HorizSync 30.0 - 96.0 # This is what you need to really edit.
VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0 # This too.
Option "DPMS" # Probably safe to leave this alone it is power saving stuff.
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0" # You may want to edit the metamodes option below.
DefaultDepth 24
Option "metamodes" "CRT-0: 1152x864_85 +0+0, CRT-1: 1152x864_75 +1152+0; CRT-0: 1024x768 +0+0, CRT-1: nvidia-auto-select +1024+0; CRT-0: 800x600 +0+0, CRT-1: nvidia-auto-select +800+0; CRT-0: 640x480 +0+0, CRT-1: nvidia-auto-select +640+0; CRT-0: 1024x768 +0+0, CRT-1: null"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24 # as well as the modes under here with what your monitor can do. The @nn at the end of each mode is the refresh rate and can be safely left off.
Modes "640x480@60" "640x480@72" "640x480@75" "640x480@85" "800x600@56" "800x600@72" "800x600@75" "800x600@85" "800x600@60" "832x624@75" "1024x768@85" "1024x768@75" "1024x768@70" "1024x768@60" "1024x768@43" "1152x864@75" "1280x1024@75" "1280x960@60" "1280x960@85" "1280x1024@85" "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@75" "1400x1050@60" "1400x1050@75" "1600x1200@65" "1600x1200@60" "1600x1200@75" "1600x1200@70" "1792x1344@60" "1856x1392@60" "1920x1440@60" "2048x1536@60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen "Screen0"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection


Section "Extensions"
Option "DAMAGE" "Enable"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
Option "RENDER" "Enable"
EndSection