Dual Monitors, NVidia, and 1 vs. 2 Screens

English Hardware
1

Problem: Two monitors act as a single screen. Popup dialog boxes are centered on split between monitors; maximize button expands window to entire display area (both displays). This has not always been the case, one day I had two screens (dialogs centered in each monitor, maximize expanded only to fill one monitor). I shut down, started up next day and, like magic, I had one instead of two screens. I would like my two screens back.

My Configuration: Pentium D 3.20GHz, HP openSuse 10.1, NVidia QuatroFX 540 card, two Samsung SyncMaster T220 monitors

What I’ve tried: I started with NVidia driver 1.0-8774. This worked fine until it decided to not work fine anymore. I tried to run (as root)

nvidia-settings

, but got only a minimal GUI … the only settings displayed were for the GUI itself, absolutely nothing about display settings. I looked into the .nvidia-settings-rc file, there were no entries under the Attributes tag.

I downloaded and installed the latest NVidia driver 173.14.12 … no change. When I try to run

nvidia-settings

, I now get a warning stating,

You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run nvidia-xconfig as root, and restart the X server.
So, as root, I

init 3

, and

nvidia-xconfig

. Some stuff happens, no error messages. I

init 5

… no change with displays or nvidia-settings. Checked the .nvidia-settings-rc file, same thing, nothing under the Attributs tag.

Also, performance of XWindows is now dog slow … I guess a feature of the newer driver.

My files:
—xorg.conf—

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Wed Oct  1 15:09:35 PDT 2008

# /.../
# SaX generated X11 config file
# Created on: 2008-10-15T08:42:03-0400.
#
# Version: 7.1
# Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005
# Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users>
#
# Automatically generated by [ISaX] (7.1)
# PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!
#

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout[all]"
    Screen         "Screen[0]" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Clone" "off"
    Option         "Xinerama" "off"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    InputDevices      "/dev/gpmdata"
    InputDevices      "/dev/input/mice"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/URW"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/PEX"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/Type1"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/kwintv"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/truetype"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/uni:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/hellas/Type1"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/xtest"
    FontPath        "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "glx"
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "v4l"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "AllowMouseOpenFail" "on"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Keyboard[0]"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "Protocol" "Standard"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "us"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc104"
    Option         "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Mouse[1]"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Buttons" "5"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Name" "Cypress Targus Wireless Mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
    Option         "Vendor" "Sysp"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
    Identifier         "Modes[0]"
    ModeLine     "1680x1050" 147.1 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087
    ModeLine     "3360x1050" 119.0 3360 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor[0]"
    VendorName     "--> LCD"
    ModelName      "1680X1050@60HZ"
    UseModes       "Modes[0]"
    DisplaySize     470    300
    HorizSync       30.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    Option         "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device[0]"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVidia"
    BoardName      "Quadro FX 540"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen[0]"
    Device         "Device[0]"
    Monitor        "Monitor[0]"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "SaXDualHead"
    Option         "TwinView" "true"
    Option         "SaXDualMonitorVendor" "SAM"
    Option         "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-81"
    Option         "SaXDualVSync" "50-75"
    Option         "MetaModes" "1680x1050,1680x1050;1600x1024,1600x1024;1600x1000,1600x1000;1400x1050,1400x1050;1280x1024,1280x1024;1440x900,1440x900;1280x960,1280x960;1366x768,1366x768;1280x800,1280x800;1152x864,1152x864;1280x768,1280x768;1024x768,1024x768;1280x600,1280x600;1024x600,1024x600;800x600,800x600;768x576,768x576;640x480,640x480"
    Option         "SaXDualOrientation" "RightOf"
    Option         "SaXDualResolution" "1680x1050"
    Option         "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
    Option         "SaXDualMode" "Xinerama"
    Option         "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50-75"
    Option         "SaXDualHSync" "30-81"
    Option         "SaXDualMonitorModel" "SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER"
#  Screen       0
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       15
        Modes      "1680x1050" "1600x1024" "1600x1000" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1440x900" "1280x960" "1366x768" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1680x1050" "1600x1024" "1600x1000" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1440x900" "1280x960" "1366x768" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1680x1050" "1600x1024" "1600x1000" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1440x900" "1280x960" "1366x768" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1680x1050" "1600x1024" "1600x1000" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1440x900" "1280x960" "1366x768" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

—.nvidia-settings-rc—

#
# /root/.nvidia-settings-rc
#
# Configuration file for nvidia-settings - the NVIDIA X Server Settings utility
# Generated on Thu Oct 30 17:30:59 2008
#

# ConfigProperties:

RcFileLocale = C
ToolTips = Yes
DisplayStatusBar = Yes
SliderTextEntries = Yes
IncludeDisplayNameInConfigFile = No
ShowQuitDialog = Yes

# Attributes:

— Xorg.0.log (errors(none) and warnings only) —

(WW) The directory "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo" does not exist.
	Entry deleted from font path.

.... same warning for all font paths listed in xorg.conf

(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1600x1000,1600x1000"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1440x900,1440x900"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1366x768,1366x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x800,1280x800"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x768,1280x768"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1280x600,1280x600"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "1024x600,1024x600"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): No valid modes for "768x576,768x576"; removing.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualHead" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualMonitorVendor" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualVSync" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualOrientation" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualResolution" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualMode" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualHSync" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "SaXDualMonitorModel" is not used
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Option "CalcAlgorithm" is not used
2

nVidia should work just fine. You didn’t say which version of openSUSE you are using, but assuming it is as least 10.1, there are nVidia packages in the repo that you should use. Hopefully you haven’t messed things up too much. What you can do is use the sax2 commandline to reset the driver:

#   sax2  -r  -m  0=nv

Use the package manager to install the nVidia package and run nvidia-settings as root:

$ kdesu nvidia-settings

(or gnomesu if you use GNOME). You’ll want to click the Configure… button and select TwinView.

3

You’re right, nVidia should work fine, but then I wouldn’t be here if it were.

I did mention the version of openSuse … 10.1.

The sax2 command you gave did bad things, after sax2 GUI was displayed, I clicked Test. The left screen went totally scrambled and the right screen had what appeared to be the left edge of the right screen about 1/3 the width of the right screen from the left. Of course, not really liking my new setting, I selected cancel, the screens went black, and the computer locked up hard … had to power off/on. Luckily it returned to my undesirable, yet usable state.

I searched in YaST software tool for nVidia, but didn’t find any drivers to install, unless you’re talking about NVIDIA video dummy driver … which is already installed.

And of course when I run nvidia-settings (as root), I get what I described above, a warning about not using NVIDIA X driver followed by an NVIDIA X Server Settings GUI with no settings to modify.

Any other ideas?

4

Hi
Have you installed the nvidia driver via 1-click? If not I recommend
the hard way, else follow the easy way here;
Nvidia

This is my canned response for doing it the ‘Hard Way’ :slight_smile:

You can download the driver for your arch from;
Nvidia Unix Drivers

On the download page, check that your card is supported by the driver
your about to download by using the following command;


/sbin/lspci -nv |grep VGA |cut -f4 -d ":"

From the above output use the four numbers from the output to look
at the Supported Products List (on the left) to verify your card is
supported by the driver.

You may wish to ensure your system is up to date. The first command
refreshes the repositories, the second lists any updates, the third
will apply the updates.


sudo zypper ref
sudo zypper lu
sudo zypper up

If you don’t have the kernel source and tools etc installed then


sudo zypper in kernel-source linux-kernel-headers kernel-syms
sudo zypper in -t pattern devel_basis devel_C_C++

Press ctrl+alt+F1 and login as your user :slight_smile:


su -
init 3

cd to the Nvidia Unix Driver you downloaded


sh NV*.run -q
sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia
init 5 && exit
ctrl+alt+F1
exit
ctrl+alt+F7

The ctrl+alt+F7 gets you back to the GUI (X session).

Now after a kernel update, you don’t need to run the sax2 command, just
the others to get to run level 3, rebuild the driver and exit.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.0 x86 Kernel 2.6.25.18-0.2-default
up 1 day 12:13, 1 user, load average: 0.25, 0.09, 0.10
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 177.80

5

Hi
Just realized you said 10.1, substitute the zypper commands with rug
commands or use YaST for the tools. I’m using SLED 10 (10.1 based) with
twinview and a 8600GTS it works fine using the ‘hard way’.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.0 x86 Kernel 2.6.25.18-0.2-default
up 1 day 12:46, 1 user, load average: 0.48, 0.15, 0.11
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 177.80

6

OK, I got my seperate screens back, here’s what I did:

  1. In reinstalled my original nVidia driver 1.0-8774. Why? Because I’ve actually seen my desired configuration work with this driver and the last two newest drivers really dogged down XWindows (and I don’t have enough spare time to figure out why).

  2. Reset driver with sax2. When in test mode, modify settings and enable twinview.


CTRL-ALT-F1
LOGIN AS ROOT
# init 3
# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8774-pkg1.run
# sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia
# init 5

P.S.
Malcom:
You may want to look at your hard way canned response, the command:

/sbin/lspci -nv |grep VGA |cut -f4 -d ":"

doesn’t yield anything, and even looking at the entire output of

/sbin/lspci -nv

didn’t provide any information with regard to VGA, NVidia, the mentioned four digits, etc. However, with


/sbin/lspci -v

I got

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV43GL [Quadro FX 540] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA])

Regardless, it works now. Thanks all.

7

Hi
Glad it’s all sorted, strange about the lspci command, tried on both
machine and it gives the info?


malcolml@kermit-opensuse:~$  /sbin/lspci -nv |grep VGA |cut -f4 -d ":"
0146 (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
malcolml@oscar-sled:~$  /sbin/lspci -nv |grep VGA |cut -f4 -d ":"
0400 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.0 x86 Kernel 2.6.25.18-0.2-default
up 1 day 14:06, 2 users, load average: 0.35, 0.26, 0.14
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 177.80