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Dell XPS 14z; up-to-date Trusty, nVidia 520m (I think), display port wired to nVidia card.

I had nvidia-prime running on Trusty all fine, with an extended desktop to an external monitor via the display port.

In December, some updates were installed and following a restart, I am unable to get an extended desktop to work. I have been waiting in case a fresher update fixes this, but no such luck so far.

When enabled as an extended desktop, it appears that the two monitors are somewhat overlayed on each other, but the image on the screens appears stretched too. Certain areas of the screen, mouse clicking is offset somewhat too.

Attached are a photo of the 'corrupted' display, a screenshot of the display when corrupted (though this actually looks reasonable) and a screenshot of the updates that were installed in December, to cause the issue.

Any idea what has caused the fault or how I can fix it?

Thanks, Whytey

Photo of corrupted desktop Screenshot, mostly OK Updated Package

Whytey
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  • Sounds similar to this issue too. http://askubuntu.com/questions/573465/14-04-nvidia-dual-display-externallaptop-stretched-display-offset-desktop?rq=1 – Whytey Feb 20 '15 at 07:34

3 Answers3

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The compiz fix suggested here solved the problem for me.

Francisco Gouveia (fgouveia87) wrote on 2015-03-10:

After days lost with replacing NVidia drivers and manually editing xorg.conf file, I finally found this!

Rockwalrus (rockwalrus) solution works!

On CompizConfig Settings Manager, go to "General Options", then "Display Settings" and do the following:

  • Uncheck "Deteck Outputs"
  • In the Outputs array, set the resolutions of each of your screens. The numbers after the resolution "1920x1080+0+0" are the offset. It's important to add this offset according to your needs. I have two full HD screens, so I added the following configuration: 1920x1080+0+0 1920x1080+1920+0

The second output has an offset of 1920, because it is on the right side of the first output, which has a width of 1920.

Community
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mesk
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So, there have been a couple of updates come through since I posed the question, but they didn't seem to solve my ability to configure dual screen using the 'Screen Display' applet.

Through a stroke of genius, I wondered what would happen if I use the Fn + F1 keys on the laptop to cycle through the display options. Lo-and-behold, it is back to good again.

Not too sure what the difference is, happy to answer anyones questions that they might have.

Regards, Whytey

Whytey
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  • Actually, correction, after a reboot, the issue is back again. Not too sure why it worked that one time noted above. – Whytey Mar 17 '15 at 12:15
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Tried using the HDMI output on the laptop rather than the mini-display port and it is working perfectly with extended monitors. Seems to survive a reboot too.

Whytey
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