Score:0

trouble with laptop / dual monitor

br flag

I have a laptop with 20.04 desktop loaded that I normally leave running 24x7 with the lid closed, it has a smashed display that is almost illegible... In the past, back with version 12 or 16 [edit: 12.04 and 16.04 LTS, both desktop], when I flipped open the lid, and connected a vga monitor to it, the display would pop up there; so if i needed the gui I would just temporarily plug it in and that worked fine. Now, with 20.04, no matter what i do, i can't get anything out on the vga monitor. I can (just barely) see that ubuntu detects the monitor, (it says "acer model so and so...") but none of the choices, like "mirror" send anything (no sync) to the monitor.

I also tried having monitor plugged in from power-on. It displays "Ubuntu" and an animated spinning thingie for awhile but within a few seconds, it goes dark (no sync).

bios settings seem to be no help; there are only two display choices: 1) internal lcd only, or 2) auto. According to the description, auto should work

the laptop is an older toshiba Satellite L455.

How do i FORCE ubuntu 20.04 [referring to desktop] to use the external monitor? some config somewhere?

guiverc avatar
cn flag
Your question is rather vague? You mention versions 12 or 16 of something but aren't specific? (Ubuntu releases using the *year* format are different products intended for *headless* operation, eg Ubuntu Core 16 has no desktop), however Ubuntu in the 2012-2016 era used a different desktop (Unity 7) with different DM - so are you comparing Ubuntu 20.04 with that desktop? (Unity 7/lightdm) or the modern Ubuntu 20.04 GNOME desktop (with gdm3), or what did you mean by 12 and 16? as Unity was at version 7 in 12.04 & 16.04; GNOME is 3.36 in 20.04
Ed Beighe avatar
br flag
sorry i was vague -- let me clarify... yes, i was referring to 20.04, 12.04 and 16.04 all desktop distributions. prior to 20.04, i would plug in an external monitor and the gui desktop would appear and i could do what i needed to to, log out, and unplug. Another point is if i boot up windows with the external plugged in, everything goes to the external just fine. That behavior would be fine, but for whatever reason 20.04 doesn't support that, at least not by default.
guiverc avatar
cn flag
Please correct the question; as 16 implies Ubuntu Core 16 which is a different product intended for devices, appliances or cloud use, etc. If you liked the older desktop/DM - it's still supported on 20.04 for example; it's just a different default for 17.10 & later releases.
Ed Beighe avatar
br flag
edited the OP to clarify versions refer to LTS desktop... i.e. 12.04, 16.04 were OK. 20.04 for some reason doesn't drive the external monitor.
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