Bug#431032: xserver-xorg-video-i810: LCD won't turn off when docked, on Dell laptop

[Brice Goglin <Brice.Goglin@ens-lyon.org>]

Guy Heatley wrote:
> Upgrading to xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.0.0-5 did not solve the
> problem directly, but the xrandr program did!
> (I didn't try xrandr before upgrading, so the upgrade may not have
> actually been required).
>
> Anyhow I'm quite happy with the result.
>
> Two questions:-
> 1) How could I automate the xrandr process on boot?

You can setup a small script (for instance in your .xsession if you are
using this during your login) to do the xrandr stuff. You can even
detect whether the CRT is connected by grep'ing the output of xrandr and
react accordingly. However, I am not sure it is possible to do that
something before your login.

> 2) Can I use the laptop screen + CRT as a dual display setup when the
> laptop is docked? (I think I probably can't as the output is not dual
> headed)

You can create a big virtual screen where outputs will be placed. You
just need to add a line
    Virtual 2048 2048
or so in SubSection "Display" in your xorg.conf. Then it is possible to
do something like
    xrandr --output LVDS --right-of VGA
to place one output right to the other. Look at the xrandr manpage for
details and other features. However, note that lots of Intel board do
not support DRI on more than 2048x2048. It means that if you want DRI,
you need to limit your Virtual line to 2048 2048 and place all outputs
in there, and it is not easy when your screen is large.

Now we need to find out whether the driver/server should actually be
turning the LCD internal panel off when it's closed. If so, booting with
the LCD panel closed without any other monitor plugged in would create a
strange case since the server wouldn't have any output at its disposal
when starting. Not sure it could work. It might be better to enable the
panel and place it in DPMS mode, but I am not sure it is possible to
DPMS one monitor and not the other one (for when the panel is closed and
CRT is plugged).

Brice



I don't any bug regarding this in the upstream bugzilla
(bugzilla.freedesktop.org). We need to open it and place your Xorg.0.log
when booting with the screen closed. Could you either

Brice