[SOLVED] Secondary (external) monitor not being seen

[neocube]

Hey there. I am a new user and just installed having most everything setup how I want it. However, for some strange reason, although it is properly hooked up, the system (OS) does not see my external monitor. Obviously I can operate with a single monitor but I prefer to have the secondary monitor. Is there something I may be missing that I perhaps overlooked? I would think once hooked up and plugged into my system, Linux Mint would see that second monitor yes?

I have a Dell Inpiron 5400 AIO.

Thanks in advance for any assistance that could be provided.

[nejat1960]

Hi does this laptop has an ATI video card? I have similar problem with HUAWEI Mate-book 14 which has ATI Radeon video card and working software rendering mode. I have installed UBUNTU 20.10 for trouble shooting purposes and it worked it recognised the second monitor...

[Hoser Rob]

Hi does this laptop has an ATI video card? I have similar problem with HUAWEI Mate-book 14 which has ATI Radeon video card and working software rendering mode. I have installed UBUNTU 20.10 for trouble shooting purposes and it worked it recognised the second monitor...

Irrelevant if you don't know what the OP's system has.

The OP needs to copy/paste the text output of inxi -Fxz ruin in the terminal.

[neocube]

Hi does this laptop has an ATI video card? I have similar problem with HUAWEI Mate-book 14 which has ATI Radeon video card and working software rendering mode. I have installed UBUNTU 20.10 for trouble shooting purposes and it worked it recognised the second monitor...

Irrelevant if you don't know what the OP's system has.

The OP needs to copy/paste the text output of inxi -Fxz ruin in the terminal.

Sorry just got back on. Below is the output from inxi -Fxz:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-90-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.7 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma 
  base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Inspiron 5400 AIO v: N/A 
  serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Dell model: 0VY7G1 v: A00 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: 1.6.0 
  date: 09/28/2021 
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard K360 
  charge: 100% (should be ignored) status: Discharging 
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 bits: 64 
  type: MT MCP arch: Tiger Lake rev: 1 L2 cache: 12.0 MiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx 
  bogomips: 44851 
  Speed: 684 MHz min/max: 400/4700 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 843 2: 948 
  3: 1056 4: 400 5: 881 6: 1018 7: 970 8: 944 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: fbdev 
  unloaded: amdgpu,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3 
  direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel 
  bus ID: 00:1f.3 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-90-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Intel driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: 4000 bus ID: 00:14.3 
  IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: Dell driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 3000 bus ID: 02:00.0 
  IF: enp2s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 9.56 TiB used: 1.08 TiB (11.3%) 
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 model: KBG40ZNS512G NVMe KIOXIA 512GB size: 476.94 GiB 
  ID-2: /dev/sda type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD easystore 2647 
  size: 4.55 TiB 
  ID-3: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD easystore 2647 
  size: 4.55 TiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 91.46 GiB used: 21.22 GiB (23.2%) fs: ext4 
  dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 49.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 1424 
Info:
  Processes: 272 Uptime: 1h 51m Memory: 15.28 GiB used: 3.01 GiB (19.7%) 
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 
  inxi: 3.0.38 

[SMG]

Your system does not have any graphics drivers installed because it is too new to be using the 5.4 kernel. The Linux Mint 20.2 "Uma" - Cinnamon (Edge, 64-bit) ISO has the 5.11 kernel and would have been a better choice for your very new hardware, but not everyone realizes it is available.

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: fbdev
unloaded: amdgpu,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3
direct render: Yes

You can upgrade the kernel to 5.11 with Update Manager.

Instructions for upgrading to the 5.11 kernel:

• Open Update Manager.
• Select View > Linux Kernels and click Continue.
• Make sure 5.11 is selected on the left panel and then click the top-most option on the right panel. An "Install" button will appear.
• Install the kernel and then reboot for it to become active.

See if that works. If not, there are some newer kernels we can try.

[neocube]

Your system does not have any graphics drivers installed because it is too new to be using the 5.4 kernel. The Linux Mint 20.2 "Uma" - Cinnamon (Edge, 64-bit) ISO has the 5.11 kernel and would have been a better choice for your very new hardware, but not everyone realizes it is available.

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: fbdev
unloaded: amdgpu,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3
direct render: Yes

You can upgrade the kernel to 5.11 with Update Manager.

Instructions for upgrading to the 5.11 kernel:

• Open Update Manager.
• Select View > Linux Kernels and click Continue.
• Make sure 5.11 is selected on the left panel and then click the top-most option on the right panel. An "Install" button will appear.
• Install the kernel and then reboot for it to become active.

See if that works. If not, there are some newer kernels we can try.

Thank you for the quick response. I did as you instructed and it was successful. However, the second monitor is still not detected at this time.

[SMG]

I did as you instructed and it was successful. However, the second monitor is still not detected at this time.

Please provide the output of inxi -SMCGx and let us know how you are connecting the second monitor (HDMI, DP, etc.) and what type of cable you are using.

[SMG]

I just noticed your install has amdgpu drivers listed as unloaded. Does your system have AMD graphics somewhere? The specs I found for this computer indicate it has Intel and possibly Nvidia.

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: fbdev
unloaded: amdgpu,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz
OpenGL:renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3
direct render: Yes

There should be no reason for AMD graphics to install unless the computer has that hardware.

[neocube]

I did as you instructed and it was successful. However, the second monitor is still not detected at this time.

Please provide the output of inxi -SMCGx and let us know how you are connecting the second monitor (HDMI, DP, etc.) and what type of cable you are using.

This was the output of the command:

Code: Select all

System:
  Host: ThinkPad-T480 Kernel: 5.4.0-74-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc 
  v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.7 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma 
  base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Inspiron 5400 AIO v: N/A 
  serial: <superuser/root required> 
  Mobo: Dell model: 0VY7G1 v: A00 serial: <superuser/root required> 
  UEFI: Dell v: 1.6.0 date: 09/28/2021 
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 bits: 64 
  type: MT MCP arch: Tiger Lake rev: 1 L2 cache: 12.0 MiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx 
  bogomips: 44851 
  Speed: 1046 MHz min/max: 400/4700 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1115 2: 1500 
  3: 1471 4: 1504 5: 822 6: 547 7: 1412 8: 757 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: fbdev 
  unloaded: amdgpu,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3 
  direct render: Yes 

I have it connected via HDMI adapter from a VGA connector (Manhattan HDMI to VGA Converter) which you can see here:
https://www.staples.com/Manhattan-9-HDM ... iAkdWNAGaA.

[neocube]

I just noticed your install has amdgpu drivers listed as unloaded. Does your system have AMD graphics somewhere? The specs I found for this computer indicate it has Intel and possibly Nvidia.

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: N/A bus ID: 00:02.0
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: fbdev
unloaded: amdgpu,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz
OpenGL:renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3
direct render: Yes

There should be no reason for AMD graphics to install unless the computer has that hardware.

I am new to this OS so please don't mind my lack of knowledge. Yes you are correct, I am having graphics errors each time I load into Linux Mint. The error states:

Check your video drivers
Your system is currently running without video hardware acceleration.
You may experience poor performance and high CPU usage.

Launch Driver Manager

When I launch the Driver Manager is scans my system and then gives me the message:

Your computer does not need any additional drivers.

But as I am new to Linux and still learning, I am unsure what to do or how to remedy that.

[SMG]

I am new to this OS so please don't mind my lack of knowledge. Yes you are correct, I am having graphics errors each time I load into Linux Mint. The error states:

Check your video drivers
Your system is currently running without video hardware acceleration.
You may experience poor performance and high CPU usage.

Launch Driver Manager

That is because the graphics drivers still did not load. It is still showing as N/A and the amdgpu driver is showing as unloaded.

X Server runs the graphics in Mint. Please use this command in a terminal to upload the X Server log file to termbin:
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | nc termbin.com 9999
It will return with a url address that you can post in your next reply.

[neocube]

I am new to this OS so please don't mind my lack of knowledge. Yes you are correct, I am having graphics errors each time I load into Linux Mint. The error states:

Check your video drivers
Your system is currently running without video hardware acceleration.
You may experience poor performance and high CPU usage.

Launch Driver Manager

That is because the graphics drivers still did not load. It is still showing as N/A and the amdgpu driver is showing as unloaded.

X Server runs the graphics in Mint. Please use this command in a terminal to upload the X Server log file to termbin:
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | nc termbin.com 9999
It will return with a url address that you can post in your next reply.

Yes it did. Here is the URL it spit out:

https://termbin.com/tk2s

[SMG]

Two problems at the very start. One is your system is still using the 5.4 kernel and not the 5.11 kernel (the inxi -SMCGx you posted does show the 5.4 kernel installed) and you are booting in recovery mode which prevents the graphics drivers from loading.

[ 35.211] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-74-generic root=UUID=f82e50d7-d0c3-470b-895e-b978bf89dc93 ro recovery nomodeset dis_ucode_ldr

Additionally, for some reason you created an xorg.conf file which is probably from where the amdgpu info is loading.

Code: Select all

[    35.212] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"

Remove that file with sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Then let us know why you are booting in recovery mode using the 5.4 kernel. You need to be booting normally and letting Mint install the highest number kernel which should be the 5.11 you installed.

[neocube]

Two problems at the very start. One is your system is still using the 5.4 kernel and not the 5.11 kernel (the inxi -SMCGx you posted does show the 5.4 kernel installed) and you are booting in recovery mode which prevents the graphics drivers from loading.

[ 35.211] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-74-generic root=UUID=f82e50d7-d0c3-470b-895e-b978bf89dc93 ro recovery nomodeset dis_ucode_ldr

Additionally, for some reason you created an xorg.conf file which is probably from where the amdgpu info is loading.

Code: Select all

[    35.212] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"

Remove that file with sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Then let us know why you are booting in recovery mode using the 5.4 kernel. You need to be booting normally and letting Mint install the highest number kernel which should be the 5.11 you installed.

Oh... lol, yeah it was the only thing I could do when I restarted all I got was a black screen with a blinking cursor up top. It did not boot back into LM. So I attempted a recovery. As for the xorg.conf, I have no idea what in the world that is. It does not look remotely familiar.

I ran sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf successfully and I am going to restart, hoping that it boots normally.

[SMG]

Oh... lol, yeah it was the only thing I could do when I restarted all I got was a black screen with a blinking cursor up top. It did not boot back into LM. So I attempted a recovery.

The system actually did boot back into LM, but, because there was no graphics driver to install, it could not produce graphics. That is why you ended up with the black screen and the flashing cursor.

Using recovery mode so you can get into the system to get things fixed is the correct step to take, but it would have been helpful to let us know that is what happened and what you did to address the issue.

[neocube]

Oh... lol, yeah it was the only thing I could do when I restarted all I got was a black screen with a blinking cursor up top. It did not boot back into LM. So I attempted a recovery.

The system actually did boot back into LM, but, because there was no graphics driver to install, it could not produce graphics. That is why you ended up with the black screen and the flashing cursor.

Using recovery mode so you can get into the system to get things fixed is the correct step to take, but it would have been helpful to let us know that is what happened and what you did to address the issue.

I apologize for that. When I booted up it did not seem any different so I assumed that it was back into normal mode. I really apreciate all of your assistance. This time it did allow me to boot as normal, AND the second monitor is now working. Was there any other commands that you would like for me to run? I want to make sure I completed all I need to even though the monitor is working.

[SMG]

Was there any other commands that you would like for me to run? I want to make sure I completed all I need to even though the monitor is working.

Run inxi -SMCGx again and we can verify the graphics drivers appear to be installed properly.

[neocube]

Was there any other commands that you would like for me to run? I want to make sure I completed all I need to even though the monitor is working.

Run inxi -SMCGx again and we can verify the graphics drivers appear to be installed properly.

Here is the output:

Code: Select all

System:
  Host: ThinkPad-T480 Kernel: 5.11.0-40-generic x86_64 bits: 64 
  compiler: N/A Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.7 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma 
  base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Inspiron 5400 AIO v: N/A 
  serial: <superuser/root required> 
  Mobo: Dell model: 0VY7G1 v: A00 serial: <superuser/root required> 
  UEFI: Dell v: 1.6.0 date: 09/28/2021 
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 bits: 64 
  type: MT MCP arch: Tiger Lake rev: 1 L2 cache: 12.0 MiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx 
  bogomips: 44851 
  Speed: 1104 MHz min/max: 400/4700 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 955 2: 1247 
  3: 1287 4: 1230 5: 1223 6: 1097 7: 1118 8: 1218 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: modesetting 
  unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz, 1920x1080~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel Xe Graphics (TGL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 21.0.3 
  direct render: Yes 

And yes, I clearly see where it is listed. I am learning and thanks to you I know a bit more. I thank you for all of your help with this. I owe ya a coffee!

[SMG]

And yes, I clearly see where it is listed. I am learning and thanks to you I know a bit more. I thank you for all of your help with this. I owe ya a coffee!

You're welcome. Glad it is all working now. Please go to your first post in this topic, click the pencil icon, and add [SOLVED] to the title so others know you are no longer seeking help on this issue.

[neocube]

Will do! Thanks again!