1

I just got a new computer (W520, Graphics card nVidia GF106 [Quadro 2000]) and installed ubuntu on it using wubi. I have everything working, so I wanted to set it up to be able to use two monitors with an extended screen. I figured I had to edit Xorg.conf, but the file didnt exist. So I tried to create it by booting in recovery mode, and executing

 Xorg -configure

but I am getting these errors:

(EE) Failed to load module "vmwgfx" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) vmware: Please ignore the above warnings about not being able to load module/driver vmwgfx
(++) Using config file: "/root/xorg.conf.new"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(EE) [drm] No DRICreatedPCIBusID symbol
Number of created screens does not match number of detected devices.
    Configuration failed.
  ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log

Any idea how I can get Xorg -configure to work, so that I can have an xorg.conf file that I can edit to enable twinview?

Why can't I boot with an xorg.conf file generated by nvidia-xconfig? Is there something in the generated xorg.conf file that might need editing?

I have an nVidia Optimus technology which seems like it precludes me from running Unity 3d. Can I have dual monitors while running unity 2d?

Braiam
  • 67,791
  • 32
  • 179
  • 269
TJ Shah
  • 177
  • Is this W520 a Lenovo Laptop? Are you able to Run unity 3d? if so you should just use the Nvidia X Server Settings configuration application – itnet7 Dec 01 '11 at 00:53
  • Yes it is a lenovo laptop. I'm not positive how to check if I am running unity 3D. $DESKTOP_SESSION is set to ubuntu-2d so I guess I am not running 3d. The nVidia X Server Settings configuration app gives me this error: "You do not appear to be using the NVIDIIA X-driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run nvidia-xconfg as root), and restart the X server." But when I follow these instructions my boot always freezes, and I have to boot in restore mode and rm the xorg.conf file. Presumably the xorg.conf file has the wrong options set, which messes up boot. – TJ Shah Dec 01 '11 at 01:01
  • I'm using also a W520 Notebook. First i would go into BIOS and check if you have disabled the "automatical detection of NV Optimus". (This was my first problem) Now i'm a step forward. I can use dual monitor with the Nvidia X Server Settigns but only if i use the same screen on both monitors. I i'd like to have a 'bigger' screen - this doesn't work. But i don't know why, because with this graphic card it should easily be possible to use two monitors with diffrent screens.... has someone an idea? – benjyacki Dec 05 '11 at 10:49

1 Answers1

2

You shouldn't really need to worry about xorg.conf. You need to install your nvidia drivers. The first thing you need to do is login normally, hit SuperKey and type in: Additional DriversOpen the Additional Drivers. You should see the following:

Addtional Drivers Window

Select the one of your choice, and hit activate. The drivers should download for you, and install. Once the download/installation is complete, it will let you know that you will need to restart.

Once restarted you should then have access to the Nvidia X Server Settigns Application. You'll be able to find it by hitting SuperKey again and typing in: nvidia

Nvidia Xserver Settigns Application

You can then go to:

Xserver display configuration option

Hit Detect Displays, Set the Resolution, and Twinview or with one of your displays (whichever you prefer) set to primary.

I have access to a W520 at work. Let me know if this helps or if you need a little more info and I'll try to see what I can do to add more detail.

itnet7
  • 3,489
  • Once your machine has the drivers installed, I believe it will then default to Unity. If not you will need to go to the greeter, and click on the little gear. You will need to select just Ubuntu instead of Ubuntu 2D – itnet7 Dec 01 '11 at 23:33
  • In my screenshot, The Nvidia Driver that I'm using on the machine I used to make screenshots with is using a PPA for the latest nvidia drivers. Your actual driver numbers will more than likely not match. – itnet7 Dec 01 '11 at 23:36
  • Thanks a lot for the detailed answer, but I think that I have bigger issues. It seems like since I have nVidia optimus, installing drivers is the last thing I want to do. I posted a new question here – TJ Shah Dec 01 '11 at 23:37
  • Check out this link, They described adding the ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates and how to setup up bumblebee (Which is even mentioned in the very top of that forum post that you linked us to. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/jockey/+bug/660443/comments/7 – itnet7 Dec 02 '11 at 18:10