<SOLVED> Rotation of display on second monitor

[Old_Dog]

I hope this is the proper place to post this question. I'm using Linux Mint 18.1 64bit with the MATE desktop. I have two monitors, the second one of which I have turned up in 'portrait mode' (display rotated to the left 90 degrees). EXCEPT that today when I booted up, it is not rotated, and will not rotate. I go to Control Panel, Hardware, Displays, and sure enough it shows that monitor display in 'normal' position. I set it to left, apply, and nothing happens. Have tried multiple times. It is not hardware related, as everything works fine in LMDE2. Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

[roblm]

1. Use this command in the Terminal and post the output:

Code: Select all

xrandr --verbose

2. Open the File Manager and go to /home/your-user-name/.config and post the monitors.xml file.

[Old_Dog]

oldog ~/Desktop $ xrandr --verbose
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3360 x 1080, maximum 8192 x 8192
DVI-I-1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (0x65) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 510mm x 287mm
Identifier: 0x61
Timestamp: 31597
Subpixel: unknown
Gamma: 1.0:1.0:1.0
Brightness: 1.0
Clones:
CRTC: 0
CRTCs: 0 1
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
EDID:
00ffffffffffff00047213013a427014
2f15010380331d782ac2a5a4564d9c25
115054b30c00714f810081809500b300
d1c001010101023a801871382d40582c
4500fe1f1100001e000000fd00384b1e
5311000a202020202020000000fc0041
6365722047323335480a2020000000ff
004c4a4b3057303232343333360a0016
dithering depth: 6 bpc
supported: auto, 6 bpc, 8 bpc
dithering mode: off
supported: auto, off, static 2x2, dynamic 2x2
scaling mode: None
supported: None, Full, Center, Full aspect
color vibrance: 150
range: (0, 200)
vibrant hue: 90
range: (0, 180)
underscan vborder: 0
range: (0, 128)
underscan hborder: 0
range: (0, 128)
underscan: off
supported: auto, off, on
subconnector: DVI-D
supported: Unknown, DVI-D, DVI-A
1920x1080 (0x65) 148.500MHz +HSync +VSync *current +preferred
h: width 1920 start 2008 end 2052 total 2200 skew 0 clock 67.50KHz
v: height 1080 start 1084 end 1089 total 1125 clock 60.00Hz
1680x1050 (0x66) 119.000MHz +HSync -VSync
h: width 1680 start 1728 end 1760 total 1840 skew 0 clock 64.67KHz
v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1059 total 1080 clock 59.88Hz
1280x1024 (0x67) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 63.98KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 60.02Hz
1440x900 (0x68) 88.750MHz +HSync -VSync
h: width 1440 start 1488 end 1520 total 1600 skew 0 clock 55.47KHz
v: height 900 start 903 end 909 total 926 clock 59.90Hz
1280x800 (0x69) 71.000MHz +HSync -VSync
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1360 total 1440 skew 0 clock 49.31KHz
v: height 800 start 803 end 809 total 823 clock 59.91Hz
1152x864 (0x6a) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1152 start 1216 end 1344 total 1600 skew 0 clock 67.50KHz
v: height 864 start 865 end 868 total 900 clock 75.00Hz
1024x768 (0x6b) 75.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew 0 clock 56.48KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 70.07Hz
1024x768 (0x6c) 65.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew 0 clock 48.36KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 60.00Hz
800x600 (0x6d) 40.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 37.88KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 605 total 628 clock 60.32Hz
800x600 (0x6e) 36.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 824 end 896 total 1024 skew 0 clock 35.16KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 603 total 625 clock 56.25Hz
640x480 (0x6f) 30.240MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 704 end 768 total 864 skew 0 clock 35.00KHz
v: height 480 start 483 end 486 total 525 clock 66.67Hz
640x480 (0x70) 25.200MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 752 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.50KHz
v: height 480 start 490 end 492 total 525 clock 60.00Hz
720x400 (0x71) 28.320MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 720 start 738 end 846 total 900 skew 0 clock 31.47KHz
v: height 400 start 412 end 414 total 449 clock 70.08Hz
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
Identifier: 0x62
Timestamp: 31597
Subpixel: unknown
Clones:
CRTCs: 0 1
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
dithering depth: 6 bpc
supported: auto, 6 bpc, 8 bpc
dithering mode: off
supported: auto, off, static 2x2, dynamic 2x2
scaling mode: None
supported: None, Full, Center, Full aspect
color vibrance: 150
range: (0, 200)
vibrant hue: 90
range: (0, 180)
underscan vborder: 0
range: (0, 128)
underscan hborder: 0
range: (0, 128)
underscan: off
supported: auto, off, on
VGA-1 connected 1440x900+1920+0 (0x72) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 408mm x 255mm
Identifier: 0x63
Timestamp: 31597
Subpixel: unknown
Gamma: 1.0:1.0:1.0
Brightness: 1.0
Clones:
CRTC: 1
CRTCs: 0 1
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
EDID:
00ffffffffffff0010ac73a04c375143
261501030e291a78eeee95a3544c9926
0f5054bfef809500714f8180950f8100
0101010101019a29a0d0518422305098
360098ff1000001c000000ff00384a43
474831394f4351374c0a000000fc0044
454c4c2050313931310a2020000000fd
00384b1e530e000a202020202020006f
scaling mode: None
supported: None, Full, Center, Full aspect
color vibrance: 150
range: (0, 200)
vibrant hue: 90
range: (0, 180)
1440x900 (0x72) 106.500MHz -HSync +VSync *current +preferred
h: width 1440 start 1520 end 1672 total 1904 skew 0 clock 55.93KHz
v: height 900 start 903 end 909 total 934 clock 59.89Hz
1280x1024 (0x73) 135.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 79.98KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 75.02Hz
1280x1024 (0x67) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 63.98KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 60.02Hz
1440x900 (0x74) 136.750MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 1440 start 1536 end 1688 total 1936 skew 0 clock 70.64KHz
v: height 900 start 903 end 909 total 942 clock 74.98Hz
1280x800 (0x75) 83.500MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1352 end 1480 total 1680 skew 0 clock 49.70KHz
v: height 800 start 803 end 809 total 831 clock 59.81Hz
1152x864 (0x6a) 108.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1152 start 1216 end 1344 total 1600 skew 0 clock 67.50KHz
v: height 864 start 865 end 868 total 900 clock 75.00Hz
1024x768 (0x76) 78.800MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew 0 clock 60.06KHz
v: height 768 start 769 end 772 total 800 clock 75.08Hz
1024x768 (0x6b) 75.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew 0 clock 56.48KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 70.07Hz
1024x768 (0x6c) 65.000MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew 0 clock 48.36KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 60.00Hz
832x624 (0x77) 57.284MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 832 start 864 end 928 total 1152 skew 0 clock 49.73KHz
v: height 624 start 625 end 628 total 667 clock 74.55Hz
800x600 (0x78) 50.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 856 end 976 total 1040 skew 0 clock 48.08KHz
v: height 600 start 637 end 643 total 666 clock 72.19Hz
800x600 (0x79) 49.500MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 816 end 896 total 1056 skew 0 clock 46.88KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 604 total 625 clock 75.00Hz
800x600 (0x6d) 40.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 37.88KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 605 total 628 clock 60.32Hz
800x600 (0x6e) 36.000MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 824 end 896 total 1024 skew 0 clock 35.16KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 603 total 625 clock 56.25Hz
640x480 (0x7a) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 720 total 840 skew 0 clock 37.50KHz
v: height 480 start 481 end 484 total 500 clock 75.00Hz
640x480 (0x7b) 31.500MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 664 end 704 total 832 skew 0 clock 37.86KHz
v: height 480 start 489 end 491 total 520 clock 72.81Hz
640x480 (0x6f) 30.240MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 704 end 768 total 864 skew 0 clock 35.00KHz
v: height 480 start 483 end 486 total 525 clock 66.67Hz
640x480 (0x70) 25.200MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 752 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.50KHz
v: height 480 start 490 end 492 total 525 clock 60.00Hz
720x400 (0x71) 28.320MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 720 start 738 end 846 total 900 skew 0 clock 31.47KHz
v: height 400 start 412 end 414 total 449 clock 70.08Hz
oldog ~/Desktop $
<monitors version="1">
<configuration>
<clone>no</clone>
<output name="DVI-I-1">
<vendor>ACR</vendor>
<product>0x0113</product>
<serial>0x1470423a</serial>
<width>1920</width>
<height>1080</height>
<rate>60</rate>
<x>0</x>
<y>0</y>
<rotation>normal</rotation>
<reflect_x>no</reflect_x>
<reflect_y>no</reflect_y>
<primary>no</primary>
</output>
<output name="HDMI-1">
</output>
<output name="VGA-1">
<vendor>DEL</vendor>
<product>0xa073</product>
<serial>0x4351374c</serial>
<width>1440</width>
<height>900</height>
<rate>60</rate>
<x>1920</x>
<y>0</y>
<rotation>left</rotation>
<reflect_x>no</reflect_x>
<reflect_y>no</reflect_y>
<primary>no</primary>
</output>
</configuration>
</monitors>

[roblm]

The monitors.xml file stores the changes made in System Settings > Displays. The info for the VGA connected display shows that it is positioned to the right of the other display and correctly rotated to the left.

<output name="VGA-1">
<vendor>DEL</vendor>
<product>0xa073</product>
<serial>0x4351374c</serial>
<width>1440</width>
<height>900</height>
<rate>60</rate>
<x>1920</x>
<y>0</y>
<rotation>left</rotation>

However, it doesn't list which monitor is the primary one, the one with the Menu and panel on it. Which one is primary, the VGA or DVI connected monitor?

[Old_Dog]

The DVI is the Primary Monitor. The one to the right, which is the VGA, is the one that shows to be rotated to the left, but is not.

[Old_Dog]

So, just now, after your question about which monitor is primary, I went back into Displays, and changed to make the VGA be primary, and see if I could rotate it. No effect. Then I went back and put the DVI back as primary (although the menu and task bar had never moved from it) and then tried to rotate it. No effect. So the situation seems to be that the Displays setting is not affecting the monitors (is not having any effect on either of them). Changing the relative position of the monitors and then clicking Apply, also has no effect.

[roblm]

Open the File Manager and go to /home/your-user-name/.config and open the monitors.xml file.

Change this line, the 16th one from the top: <primary>no</primary>

To this: <primary>yes</primary>

Log out and back in. If the monitors are still not positioned correctly, then try using this command in the Terminal:

Code: Select all

xrandr --output DVI-I-1 --mode 1920x1080 --primary --output VGA-1 --mode 1440x900 --rotate left --right-of DVI-I-1

The effect will last only for one session. If the screen gets messed up, then just log out and back in.

[Old_Dog]

The first suggestion did not work, but the second one did. But you say this is only good for this session? Am I going to have to enter that command each session? I very much appreciate your help, and will copy that command and save it so I CAN enter it each session if I need to. Surely there is a more permanent fix though.

[roblm]

To allow the xrandr command to be executed automatically after each restart, use this command to open the Default file:

Code: Select all

gksudo xed /etc/mdm/Init/Default

Add the xrandr command at the bottom, just above the last line that says "exit 0".

[Old_Dog]

Very good. That worked. Thank you so very much. I certainly never would have figured that out by myself. Is there a way I give you credit for another job well done, another satisfied customer, or something? And I think I am supposed to mark this thread 'resolved' also, but I don't see where or how. I will do some looking though. So, thanks again. I do appreciate the help and the lesson in humility.

[roblm]

Log in, open your first post and click the EDIT button. In the Subject window, type the word Solved in front of the topic name.

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