Well, this would be the last update on this matter as I have left my last job and do not have access to the Acer Laptop anymore.
Conclusion: As long as I have dual monitor, I could get BOTH monitor to work by simply disable, reboot and re-enable the laptop monitor.
When laptop screen not displaying after login:
i) on 2nd monitor, right mouse click on desktop
ii) select [Open in Terminal]
iii) $ gnome-display-properties
iv) in [Monitor Preferences] dialogue box, click to select laptop screen
v) click to set monitor from 'On' to 'Off' to disable the laptop screen
vi) click [Apply] and follow by [Make Default]
vii) Restart the laptop
viii) Repeat the above steps to switch the Laptop from 'Off' back to 'On' and BOTH monitor will be activated!
**** I have tried this every week days for about 2 months and it works every time *******
------ End of Status Summary 02 ------
------ Status Summary 01 (Sun 21 Aug 2011) --------
Objective: Install Linux Mint on Portable Hard Disk to carry it around
Note: Initial testing on Linux Mint 11 LiveCD first
Problem: Blank screen when booted on Acer Aspire 4736Z LCD Monitor
Solution: (provided by Edwardr, his post below) to use "i915.modeset=0" boot option at the boot screen
What I did:
i) On LIveCD, use
ii) On Live-Portable HDD, use [e] to edit the boot option - only if my laptop is not connected to a 2nd LCD Monitor
iii) Did not edit the "Grub" configuration b/c I use this Portable HDD on different machines. If you are installing this for good on the Laptop please read Edwardr's post below to see how.
NOTE: I always boot it up normal on my laptop when connected to a 2nd Monitor because sometimes I am able to use both.
iv) Will try to open another New Topic regarding Linux Mint on Portable Hard Disk and my experience on different PC or Laptops that I booted to.
Thanks again!
---- End Status Summary 01 ------
--------- Original Post: Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:49 pm --------------
Hi,
I am very new to Linux and glad that I have found a wonderful beautiful magnificent distro - Linux Mint.
I am posting to share my experience and hope that this would make it easier for people to adopt Linux and esp. Mint
Just a little way to contribute back.
Problem: Linux Mint 11 - 64bit Live DVD booted ready with a blank screen on ACER Aspire 4736Z LCD panel. The reason I know it booted ready is because it showed on my 2nd Monitor and a blank on my laptop.
Solution: Use boot options -- vga=xxx to boot into 1024x768 mode
Steps (what i did):
i) Press up/down arrow keys when liveCD is booting
ii) Highlight the desired option and Press
iii) Type in after the -- : eg: "-- vga=xxx" you may google for your desired resolution
Note: I actually type in a wrong resolution and Mint prompted me a menu to pick from and i picked option #9 from the list - ie: 1024x768 (i think it's VESA mode)
iv) Voila after a little waiting the beautiful Mint 11 screen smiled at me brightly!
v) Document this experience and Post to Mint Forum before forgetting the steps.
vi) Try to follow "Before you post read this" forum rule.
Have I search forum and googled? YES, i did.
I have included the lspci info to make it easier for everybody.
Next Step: Need to figure out how to install Mint 11 into this Laptop so that display isn't an issue. Probably, I could install it and use my 2nd Monitor to do an update from Mint Repository, but than again not everybody could do that.
Out put of:
lspci -vvnn
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a42] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0260]
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 45
Region 0: Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable)
Region 2: Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable)
Region 4: I/O ports at 60f0
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915
Well, hope this would help somebody.
Need to get back to have fun with my Mint LiveCD!
hmmmm....
Just took the liveCD for a spin on this laptop:
1) WIFI works out of the box -- need i mention that, else how could i type this stuff in
2) Music/Sound and Video also works out of the box -- took a spin at (a) youtube and (b) grooveshark
------ hey the lastest Flash is working
Cheers!
-------- End of Original Post: Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:49 pm ---------