Extended Desktop, Which Distro?

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#1 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:00 pm

Are there any distros out there that get extended desktop (dual head) right on initial install?. Seems to me that would be a frequent requirement for owners of Thinkpads docked with an external LCD running Linux. I got it working well once on openSUSE, but even then it was not automatic...took some xorg.conf tweaking and then only with ATI 3D drivers installed used in conjunction with the ATI tool. I don't have anything fancy, a simple 19" 1280x1024 LCD with a Thinkpad dujour, currently an X30/X3 Ultrabase, so we're looking at Intel graphics here. I don't want cloning, just extended desktop.

syedj · #2 Post by **syedj** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:42 pm

I have seen a few tutorials but after spending a lot of time trying to configure I gave up. Basically, I was also seeing similar problem as yours. If once it gets working then either after the next boot or detaching from the external monitor (not docked) the X-server would fail to start.

FWIW, on a HP workstation with nVidia FX330 card and using nVidia's own driver and matching configuration GUI while running Kubuntu 7.10 it was very trivial to get dualhead working.

Sorry can't help you but can definitely wish you good luck with your research.

Jedacite · #3 Post by **Jedacite** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:01 pm

I haven't had a dual-head setup on my T60 in a while, but I had no problems getting it working.

I used Ubuntu (I forget if it was 7.10 or 7.04 at the time.) to get it working. I also had the ATI drivers installed, but that is pretty much automatic in Ubuntu (well 7.10 at least.)

I was running the external monitor at 1920x1200. You should be able to do it via "System->Administration->Screens and Graphics" if you are under 7.10. I think under 7.04 I had to use the ati-config to create the initial config.

I have a Thinkpad T60 with ATI X1300, seeing as you have an Intel Graphics card I do not know if you experience would also be the same.

Good luck

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:04 pm

Thanks for the replies. The kicker in this situation is the Intel chipset. I haven't run across a howto for getting dual head working with an Intel i830MP chipset laptop. ATI I know I could get working eventually, and NVidia is a no brainer with xinerama. I'm going to play with a few live CD's..downloading Fedora 8 Live at the moment, will try Ubuntu next.

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:10 pm

Harry...

You may curse me for this one, but try out Dream Linux 2.2....I don't have an external LCD to test it out, but I somehow suspect it'll work...

#6 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:17 pm

I've run Dream before George, it's definitely a thought. I bet it would run well on an X30 because it's XFCE and lightweight on resources. I'll make it #3 on the 'to try list'. Thanks!

tylerwylie · #7 Post by **tylerwylie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:46 am

Use xrandr to extend your desktop, rather easy. For me on my GMA x3100 I use this command:
xrandr --output VGA --auto --left-of LVDS

Puts VGA left of my laptop screen, of course you can write a script, and there are a bunch out there so that you can use fn+f5 or whatever to extend your desktop as well.

Extended Desktop, Which Distro?

Extended Desktop, Which Distro?

Re: Extended Desktop, Which Distro?

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