How to connect to a TV as monitor

English Hardware
1

I have an HP laptop running Opensuse 13.2 64 bit. I’ve connected the laptop to the HDMI port but can’t see the desktop. How can I do this and have the laptop screen turn off at the same time? Just want to stream some movies from the old Internet.

Thanks

2

  1. Which desktop environment? (Gnome and KDE both have utilities for display management.)

  2. With the display plugged in, what is reported by

xrandr
3

KDE When suse is booting and the splash screen with tools etc loading it for a second flashes on the TV.

danorske@linux-8j2w:~> xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3360 x 1080, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-0 connected 1920x1080+1440+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 1040mm x 580mm
1920x1080 60.00*+ 60.00 59.94 24.00 23.98 23.98
1920x1080i 60.00 59.94
1280x720 60.00 59.94
1024x768 75.08 70.07 60.00
800x600 72.19 75.00 60.32 56.25
720x480 60.00 59.94
640x480 75.00 72.81 60.00 59.94
720x400 70.08
LVDS connected primary 1440x900+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 367mm x 230mm
1440x900 60.00*+
1280x854 59.89
1280x800 59.81
1280x720 59.86
1152x768 59.78
1024x768 59.92
800x600 59.86
848x480 59.66
720x480 59.71
640x480 59.38

Thanks,
Ron

4

It’s reported

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3360 x 1080, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-0 connected 1920x1080+1440+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 1040mm x 580mm
   1920x1080     60.00*+  60.00    59.94    24.00    23.98    23.98  
   1920x1080i    60.00    59.94  
   1280x720      60.00    59.94  
   1024x768      75.08    70.07    60.00  
   800x600       72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   640x480       75.00    72.81    60.00    59.94  
   720x400       70.08

Try configuring via

System Settings (AKA Configure Desktop) >> Display and Monitor, configure as you like from there.

Alternatively

xrandr --output HDMI-0 --auto

Similarly, it is possible to configure so that the virtual desktop is extended and the second display is to the right, left, above, or below the existing.

Refer

man xrandr
5

Using System Setting.
TV screen doesn’t show up exept as extended, BUT, I can’t tell as the TV screen is still blank. The mouse curser disappears to the left (TV).
As I said earlier that the TV does flash for a second as it is booting (loading Suse’s tools and stuff).
Thanks,
Ron

6

Just an idea - Is the TV set to the right input?

7

Yes, when I let laptop boot to windows it’s OK.

8

So doing something like

xrandr --output HDMI-0 --auto

doesn’t result in an active display?

9

nothing on the TV. but the mouse curser does disappear on the left. Also more desktops appear when I open Firefox then I can’t access it or to dumb to figure it out. Or click to configure desktop opens offscreen.
Maybe I should just do a full install…

10

[QUOTE=danorske;2676006]nothing on the TV. but the mouse curser does disappear on the left. Also more desktops appear when I open Firefox then I can’t access it or to dumb to figure it out. Or click to configure desktop opens offscreen.
Well, it seems as though it is working, as you mention that the mouse cursor can traverse two displays. Try

xrandr --output VGA1 --right-of LVDS

Then if you-right click on the second display, you should be able to set a background wallpaper for example. Can you drag an open window (eg Dolphin, or terminal across)?

Maybe I should just do a full install…

I’m not sure what you mean by this. I don’t think it will solve anything.

11

[quote="“deano_ferrari,post:10,topic:104446”]

i’ll give that a shot tomorrow. No time now.

=I’m not sure what you mean by this. I don’t think it will solve anything.

HAHAHA that was just just me getting tired. No worry ;):wink:
Thanks,
Ron

12

[quote="“deano_ferrari,post:10,topic:104446”]

deano,
With the TV HDMI cable connected, the laptop screen is just a desktop display with noway to access any applications. Took a lot of dragging the mouse to get the mouse pointer over onto the laptop screen, I guess it was on the TV. (TV screen is black). I guess all the default Suse home screen is on the TV. If I do start an application it is apparently on the TV. I’m at a lose as to how to get the screens switched so I can run your command line stuff. or even to change the settings.

Sorry for being a pain.
Ron:shame:

13

I finally got to try
xrandr --output VGA1 --right-of LVDS

message said not found

14

UPDATE

I changed from HDMI to RGB cable and it works. Thanks
Ron

15

try this,
switch on tv and select input as HDMI, tv should show ‘no input’ or something like,

then switch on pc (HDMI cable connected of course)

in - Desktop Settings
– Display and Monitor
— Display Configuration
---- Primary dispay,
---- select ‘No primary output’ and
---- Unify outputs
then select apply, if asked to confirm configuration reply YES even if tv screen is blank

then switch off pc and then tv in that order

switch back on tv and make sure the HDMI input is selected
then again switch back on pc

this time the tv and laptop screens should show similar views
if so, after login go to

  • Desktop Settings
    – Display and Monitor
    — Primary dispay
    — Display Configuration
    and change ‘No primary output’ to ‘HDMI-x’

now after a power OFF/ON cycle,
if the HDMI cable is attached the tv screen should be functioning
if not the laptop screen should

hth, YMMV

16

It’s always good to see the the command and any output , rather than descriptions, and good practice to use

[/CO..] tags (the '#' icon in the editor). Maybe a typo was made.
17

Okay, if you’re happy with that…good. :slight_smile: