Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-nv package

New laptop with 12.04 not connecting to external monitor

Asked by Lucy Dixon

I have installed Ubuntu 12.04 on my boyfriend's new Dell XPS15z laptop. With his old laptop (& windows) he used an external monitor - an Acer X203h.

We've tried connecting it to the new laptop now that it has Ubuntu, but they're just not talking to each other! An Ubuntu icon briefly flashed up on the screen when we switched off the laptop, but nothing since then. Under System Settings/Displays only the laptop screen is showing up...

Are there particular drives I need to install? I've been reading up on it, and the word Nvidia keeps popping up, but I'm rather in the dark here.

I've tried using Fn F1 and modifying all the options...

HELP!

Lucy

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu xserver-xorg-video-nv Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Lucy Dixon (lucyfdixon) said : 		#1

This is the output of sudo lshw -C display; lsb_release -a; dpkg -l | grep nvidia....

*-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: GF108 [GeForce GT 540M]
       vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: a1
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=nouveau latency=0
       resources: irq:16 memory:f0000000-f0ffffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:d0000000-d1ffffff ioport:3000(size=128) memory:f1000000-f107ffff
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:53 memory:f1400000-f17fffff memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:4000(size=64)
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise
ii nvidia-common 1:0.2.44 Find obsolete NVIDIA drivers

Revision history for this message
Lucy Dixon (lucyfdixon) said : 		#2

One more thing: the laptop only has HDMI ports, and the monitor only has VGA ports, so we have an HDMI to VGA adaptor connecting them...

Revision history for this message
Lucy Dixon (lucyfdixon) said : 		#3

My laptop has Ubuntu 11.10 on it, and is working perfectly with the monitor and adaptor cables.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

Dual GPU is a massive headache in Linux and is best avoided. This may help
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HybridGraphics

Revision history for this message
Lucy Dixon (lucyfdixon) said : 		#5

Urgh. Migraine-inducing. But thank you!

Revision history for this message
Bart Verwilst (verwilst) said : 		#6

The Dell XPS 15z laptop has a hdmi and a mini displayport connector. The HDMI doesnt work. For mini-DP, you better buy an apple connector mini-DP to VGA ( since that one surely works, a lot of cheap adapters are passive and will not work anyways ).

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Laptops/Dell/XPS/15z has more information about all parts of the laptop.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Lucy Dixon for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.