I have a dv7t-4000 laptop, 11.3 x64, KDE, with a second monitor through the HDMI cable. I have an ati video card, and am using the driver from the ati repository. The trouble is, whenever I attach the second monitor, it always grabs the taskbar and desktop folder away from the laptop (main) monitor, but not one of the apps (gkrellm) nor the Alt+F2 dropdown. Other apps seem to appear on screens at random. I’ve looked through both KDE’s configurator (that pops up whenever I attach the second monitor) or AMD’s configurator (AMDCCCLE). There are no options at all that I can find in these configurators that tell KDE which monitor to use as the “default” or “home” monitor. Does anyone know of a setting I can make that won’t mess up X? I ask because once before I tried manually moving the desktop and taskbar back on the laptop’s monitor, but then they would be gone whenever I ran with only the laptop’s monitor! So I was really trying to get to the root of the problem rather than a bandaid fix
For the xrandr-complient drivers, you can specify the primary monitor with something like this
xrandr --output LVDS --primary
However, I’m not sure if the proprietary driver will cooperate with this. Give it a go, and see how it behaves. (Get the name of the display devices with ‘xrandr’).
It accepted the command you suggested but it didn’t seem to change anything. Although resolutions etc., are correct, it always wants to put the taskbar and Desktop Folder on the “secondary” monitor. I’ll check that other thread. Thanks! PattiM
EDIT: Actually, new dialog boxes, shells, etc., appear on the correct (laptop) monitor - it’s just that the taskbar and Desktop Folder don’t. What I mean is, the correct primary monitor may be identified, it’s just that Desktop Folder and Taskbar aren’t going there! So it may not be a primary/secondary monitor problem.
EDIT: Actually, new dialog boxes, shells, etc., appear on the correct (laptop) monitor - it’s just that the taskbar and Desktop Folder don’t. What I mean is, the correct primary monitor may be identified, it’s just that Desktop Folder and Taskbar aren’t going there! So it may not be a primary/secondary monitor problem.
Yes, As I thought the proprietary drivers are not fully xrandr compliant, (although I remember being able to switch display mode with the fglrx driver via xrandr), so you can take keellambert’s advice and use the open source driver (as I do), or you could try the advice in the thread I linked to (which has some additional links that may be helpful).
It would be interesting to see what this does (if anything)
aticonfig --swap-monitor --effective=now
(If it works, it could be added as a startup script at login).
patti@dv7t-lappie:~> su
Password:
dv7t-lappie:/home/patti # aticonfig --swap-monitor --effective=now
Error: option --swap-monitor is not supported when RandR 1.2 is enabled!
dv7t-lappie:/home/patti #
I think I am using the drivers from the repo! How can I check? I had to install 11.3 several times because of “latest ATI drivers” (i.e., non-repo) borking my screens irreparably (not backing up x11.conf).
So it seems that all my new windows open on the laptop monitor (and gkrellm is there) but the taskbar and desktop folder are on the secondary monitor. If I move them to the laptop monitor, then they are gone if I boot with only the laptop monitor (i.e., the secondary screen disconnected. When I unplug the secondary monitor during a session, then the taskbar and desktop folder are automatically moved to the laptop screen, but as soon as I plug it back in, they’re swapped back to the secondary screen. maybe I should try a VGA connection instead of HDMI. Nope - same issue
So the issue is not a “primary monitor” issue - it’s a KDE issue (or something like that).
Patti I have a lappy ATM with a big screen atttached. If I use the HDMI connection I get the taskbar on the big screen but if I use the VGA connection I get the taskbar on the lappy screen. No way can I have a choice, KDE chooses.
Hi Swerdna! I hope you are well. I did try a VGA connection, but got the same result (perhaps because I had first done HDMI?). OK, so it’s a KDE problem then. Just a minor annoyance I suppose, really. I think KDE chooses the biggest monitor to put the taskbar on. Did you try making a second taskbar and a clone of the desktop folder? I’m pretty dumb with KDE4 (it’s still really difficult to use) - for instance, I have no idea how to name a session!! My little tab still says “unnamed” - and I clicked on everything I can think of…
OK, only the first one got a hit:
patti@dv7t-lappie:~> lsmod | grep radeon
radeon 868858 1
ttm 64561 1 radeon
drm_kms_helper 32944 1 radeon
drm 221516 3 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit 6728 1 radeon
… so my system is about as vanilla as it gets! So apparently, as Swerd suggested, it’s a KDE problem. The Shuttle had the same set of problems. When you try to create something entirely new (like the SSME’s or KDE4) instead of “evolving” them from previous generations, you get these unexpected problems.
OK, I’m sitting in Kubuntu 10.10 under KDE4 and it does NOT force the taskbar and Desktop Folder onto the secondary monitor. So now I’ve changed my mind - it’s not a KDE4 problem - but it may be a difference between the way Debian and SuSE implement KDE4?
Good to know Patti – and a bit frustrating too. I suppose if we purchased two identical large monitors and tried to use those, the software would be so frustrated in trying to choose, it would seize LOL.
Other apps seem to appear on screens at random. I’ve looked through both KDE’s configurator (that pops up whenever I attach the second monitor) or AMD’s configurator (AMDCCCLE).
I think I am using the drivers from the repo! How can I check? I had to install 11.3 several times because of “latest ATI drivers” (i.e., non-repo) borking my screens irreparably (not backing up x11.conf).
So , perhaps you had installed the proprietary driver at some stage, and thought you were still using it. It now appears (as keellambert was trying to determine), that you’re using the open source radeon driver, and that you may have bits of the proprietary libraries in place. I’m not sure how that might affect your desktop graphics, but if using the open source drivers, you should definitely be able to set the primary monitor (and that DOES determine which display KDE4 uses to put the taskbar on). I use a laptop and sometimes an external (VGA connected) LCD monitor at work. I experienced the same unwanted behaviour you described, until I set my LVDS (laptop) display to be primary. BTW, I’m using KDE 4.6 and it is now possible to save the preferred layout within System Settings, and survive a reboot.
Well, the System Settings layout has changed a little with 4.6, but there is a ‘Display and Monitor’ section where 'Primary ‘Output’ can be set, along with ability to configure additional connected displays. This can then be saved with ‘Save as Default’. Maybe its worth upgrading KDE for this.
However, I’m not sure why the ‘xrandr --output <your_display_interface_name> --primary’ didn’t work for you if using the radeon driver.
I think it is my main monitor - it’s just that for some reason the taskbar and Desktop Folder don’t get put there. I found a dialog similar to what you describe in Personal Settings (Configure Desktop) but I’m looking in YaST to see if you meant to look for it there…
EDIT: OK, it didn’t jump out and bite me in YaST, so in Personal Settings → Computer Administration → Display → Multiple Monitors, the closest thing I have is “Show unmanaged windows on:” and a choice of the two displays. It’s already set to the laptop display. …don’t know what an unmanaged window is… But nothing about “primary output” - but then, I’m not a good “finder.”
I found a dialog similar to what you describe in Personal Settings (Configure Desktop) but I’m looking in YaST to see if you meant to look for it there…
No, its the KDE System Settings.
EDIT: OK, it didn’t jump out and bite me in YaST, so in Personal Settings → Computer Administration → Display → Multiple Monitors, the closest thing I have is “Show unmanaged windows on:” and a choice of the two displays. It’s already set to the laptop display. …don’t know what an unmanaged window is… But nothing about “primary output” - but then, I’m not a good “finder.”
Which version of openSUSE are you using? I’m using 11.3 with KDE4.6. There have been significant improvements to KDE4, so you might be encountering an issue with an old version of KDE4. (Might be worth upgrading KDE4).
Thanks for the help. Here’s where my ignorance shines forth… I’m going to say that I’m just in vanilla OpenSuSE 11.3 x86_64 - whatever version of KDE that uses by default. I’ve no idea; since KDE3 sent away, I don’t know how to check what version. (In KDE3 there was an applet on the desktop to do that.) The only two things (or ‘portals’ into the system) that I know about are “YaST” and “Personal Settings (Configure Desktop)” - what is the “KDE settings” item that you’re mentioning?
KDE4 ‘Personal Settings’ is same as ‘System Settings’. Its easy to tell what version you’re running: From the Personal Settings itself (or another KDE app), click on ‘Help’ > ‘About KDE’. KDE4.4.4 is the version installed with openSUSE11.3. I upgraded to KDE factory (4.5 at the time) within 2 weeks of installation. Now, its moved on to version 4.6.0.
