radeon + xrandr + laptop/external monitor display problem

[Alex Deucher]

On Feb 19, 2008 2:58 AM, kewlemer <kewlemer at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 18, 2008 4:56 PM, Alex Deucher <alexdeucher at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > On Feb 18, 2008 7:32 PM, kewlemer <kewlemer at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Feb 18, 2008 2:52 PM, Alex Deucher <alexdeucher at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > On Feb 18, 2008 3:12 AM, kewlemer <kewlemer at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > > Can anyone please tell me why when the same script is in rc.local,
> > > > > > > it's not working properly? i.e.,  I can't get the display on the
> > > > > > > monitor unless I open the laptop initially.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If rc.local is executed before X is started it will do nothing.  Also
> > > > > > depending on the context that script is executed in you will probably
> > > > > > have to specify the DISPLAY for randr to connect to.
> > > > > >
> > > > > Thank you very much for the note. Your tip of running "xrandr --auto"
> > > > > works neatly when I log in and type it. But I still have a problem -
> > > > > how do I automate this at boot up? When I boot the laptop with the lid
> > > > > closed, keeping it plugged to the monitor, it fails to display
> > > > > anything. I then open the laptop lid and it now throws me the laptop
> > > > > screen display on the monitor. Then I log in and run "xrandr --auto"
> > > > > and the display  resizes to the monitor size. I want to automate this.
> > > > > How I can do so ?
> > > >
> > > > you'll probably want to remove any old gnome randr stuff in:
> > > > /desktop/gnome/screen/$hostname/$screennum/
> > > >
> > > Thanks very much for the reply Alex. Excuse me for asking these basic
> > > questions, my knowledge about X is limited, but I'm learning. I looked
> > > randr stuff -
> > > [root at x1002us ~]# locate "/gnome/screen/"
> > > /home/holler/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/%gconf.xml
> > > /home/holler/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/x1002us
> > > /home/holler/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/x1002us/%gconf.xml
> > > /home/holler/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/x1002us/0
> > > /home/holler/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/x1002us/0/%gconf.xml
> > > [root at x1002us ~]#
> > >
> > > Here is %gconf.xml -
> > > <?xml version="1.0"?>
> > > <gconf>
> > >         <entry name="rate" mtime="1202371546" type="int" value="60">
> > >         </entry>
> > >         <entry name="resolution" mtime="1202371546" type="string">
> > >                 <stringvalue>1680x1050</stringvalue>
> > >         </entry>
> > > </gconf>
> > >
> > > Is it alright?
> > >
> >
> > I'm not familiar with the gconf stuff unfortunately.  I think you want
> > to remove it.
> >
> Thanks very much for the reply Alex. Removing gconf did'nt help
> unfortunately. I will research on gconf. But I have ONE last question.
> I realized that if I force the display to external monitor by default,
> I can use the function key to  switch back to the laptop screen if
> needed. So my LAST question is how do configure my xorg.conf that uses
> radeon to default to external display ?
>

It should work if the monitor provides an edid and it's connected when
you start X.  You might want to try a newer version of the driver.  I
just released 6.8.0 last night.

> I found this link that mentioned defaulting external display but since
> it uses fglrx, I think  "Generic Autodetecting Monitor" option didn't
> work for me -
> http://tilmanfrosch.de/wp/index.php/2007/05/05/howto-make-a-ubuntu-linux-on-an-ibm-t41-thinkpad-work-with-an-external-widescreen-wxga-display/
>
> I also tried -
> Section "Monitor"
>            Identifier      "LVDSMonitor"
>            Option          "Disable"    "TRUE"
> EndSection
>
> The result was
> ......
> (II) RADEON(0): Output VGA-0 disabled by config file
> (II) RADEON(0): Output LVDS disconnected
> (II) RADEON(0): Output S-video disconnected
> (EE) RADEON(0): No valid modes.
> (II) UnloadModule: "ati"
> (II) UnloadModule: "int10"
> (II) Unloading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//libint10.so
> (II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
> (II) Unloading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//libvgahw.so
> (II) UnloadModule: "radeon"
> (EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.
> ........
>
> Here is the complete Xorg.0.log -
> http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddjtzn4_5dq2n9w
>
> Here is my xorg.conf-
> http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddjtzn4_2pns85s

you need to associate that monitor section with your lvds output.
it's getting associated with VGA-0 now:
(II) RADEON(0): Output VGA-0 using monitor section LVDSMonitor

You'll need to add the following to your device section to associate
the monitor section with the output:
Option "Monitor-LVDS" "LVDSMonitor"

Alex