[i945gm] dual screen not working with virtual resolution enabled: just a blank screen with a mouse pointer

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

I have a dual screen setup:
 * Dell Latitude's D820 own screen (1680x1050)
 * a LG secondary monitor (1280x1024)

To enable dual screen, I had to add
 SubSection "Display"
  Virtual 2960 1065
 EndSubSection
in Section "Screen" of /etc/X11/xorg.conf (this was added automatically by the "Display" applet).

I just ran a dist-upgrade which brought a new kernel:
   Linux lethe 2.6.30-7-generic #8-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 25 13:53:42 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux
and a new xserver-xorg-video-intel:
   gringo@lethe:~$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel
   xserver-xorg-video-intel: 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1

I rebooted the system, and after the system started I was left with a blank background and a working mouse pointer (by working I mean I can move it around and between the screens).

I Alt+Ctlr+F2'd and tried a few times to restart gdm but found the same result.
I removed the Subsection I mentioned above from xorg.conf and restarted gdm again. This time the menu and task-bar have loaded, but the screens are mirrored.

I proceeded to setting them as separate screens in the "Display" applet (from System->Preferences). I was notified that the "Virtual" line was going to be added to xorg.conf and that I should log out and in again, which I did. Unfortunately I had the same blank screen with functional mouse pointer.

I mention that I do not have Desktop Effects enabled as they are not supported in combination with the "Virtual" line in xorg.conf for my card: 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Wed Jun 3 23:21:33 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
MachineType: Dell Inc. Latitude D820
Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=04f2beb3-eaec-4174-bbd9-5d37c19979fb ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=ro_RO.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.30-7.8-generic
RelatedPackageVersions:
 xserver-xorg 1:7.4~5ubuntu20
 libgl1-mesa-glx 7.4.1-1ubuntu1
 libdrm2 2.4.11-0ubuntu1
 xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
 xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.12.2-1ubuntu1
SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-intel
Uname: Linux 2.6.30-7-generic i686
dmi.bios.date: 10/13/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A04
dmi.board.name: 0GF470
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA04:bd10/13/2006:svnDellInc.:pnLatitudeD820:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0GF470:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Latitude D820
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
fglrx: Not loaded
fglrx-loaded: Error: command ['grep', 'fglrx', '/var/log/kern.log', '/proc/modules'] failed with exit code 1:
system:
 distro: Ubuntu
 architecture: i686kernel: 2.6.30-7-generic

The xorg conf file submitted by "ubuntu-bug -p xserver-xorg-video-intel" locate at http://launchpadlibrarian.net/27469629/XorgConf.txt is the one I currently use and which works, but gives me only mirrored dual screen.

Oh, and I forgot to mention: I have autologin enabled on my desktop.

I tried a few other resolution configurations.

In each configuration in which the Display applet alerted me that the "Virtual" line needed to be added to xorg.conf I was left with the blank screen I mentioned.

In each configuration in which the "Virtual" line was *NOT* needed I could successfully setup two different monitors without mirroring. For example now I have a working 1024x768 on both monitors and I had 800x600 on both working previously.

Just to make it clear, setups with *different* resolutions on the screens work too. E.g. 800x600 on the external screen and 1024x768 on the laptop screen works fine.

1. I selected a resolution that works fine if the Virtual line is not present in xorg.conf: both screens at 1024x786, and I added the Virtual line to xorg.conf.

After restarting gdm I was greeted by the same blank screen with a mouse pointer.

2. Taking a suggestion from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting, I tried adding
        Option "DRI" "false"
while still having the "Virtual" line in xorg.conf. Unfortunately, after restating gdm I was left with the same blank screen.

3. As suggested in xorg.conf, I ran
    sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
and I was left with a xorg.conf with no "Virtual" line, with which I could use dual-screen without mirroring for some configurations that do not need the Virtual line.

I created a new PPA with the latest sources from upstream:
https://launchpad.net/~lucian.grijincu/+archive/xserver-xorg-video-intel

Unfortunately the problem is present in HEAD too.

I can confirm that this problem is not present in the previous version of xserver-xorg-video-intel=2:2.7.1-1ubuntu1

A workaround for the problem for now is to install the previous version which can be downloaded from:
  http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/x/xserver-xorg-video-intel/
  http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/x/xserver-xorg-video-intel/xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.7.1-1ubuntu1_i386.deb

Updated according to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Triaging and setting status to Confirmed.

I have similar problems on i915. In my case I don't even have to have virtual resolution enabled to encounter the problems. The only dual-head that works is mirroring screens. After I get black screen with movable mouse pointer the server doesn't react neither to ctrl+alt+F<n> nor ctrl+alt+backspace (I have DontZap set to false so this normally works). I can ssh to the machine: sending SIGTERM to X process doesn't have any effect. Sending SIGKILL freezes whole machine. I'm attaching Xserver logs, config and output of lspci.

Cheers

  Morg

The server that produced this log file started from mirroring screens. After I logged in I tried to make them independent which resulted in black screen with movable mouse pointer. Pressing ctrl+alt+{backspace,F<n>} had no effect. Then I sent SIGTERM to the server which also didn't have any effect. Then I sent SIGKILL and machine froze.

I tried to update the kernel to 2.6.30 but it didn't help much and I had black screen after attempt to use second screen. I'm attaching the logs.

I tried to investigate in which upstream commit this problem was introduced and it seems it was exactly the one from which the release was made (http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-video-intel/commit/?id=ec2fde7c8250fdc30984f16c8a1d3587d70b0144).
I prepared packages from the previous commit (http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-video-intel/commit/?id=704771f1c595df481d244a6f074e9f5620d4a720) in this PPA: https://launchpad.net/~morgwai/+archive/bug383345 (both for karmic and jaunty). If someone could check if they work for him also then we would have confirmed information that the bug was introduced exactly in the commit I mentioned.

Thanks

  Morg

One thing that I just noticed: on Intel Mobile 4 Series card the packages from my PPA solve the problem completely. However on i915 if virtual width is bigger than 2048 I get the results similar to those described initially by Lucian. Below 2048 it also works fine.

Cheers

  Morg

I tried xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.7.99.1+git20090528.704771f1-0ubuntu0morgwai1 but got the same result: black screen with working mouse.

Note that unlink Piotr's case, I can Alt+Ctrl+Fn just fine and restart the server with
  /etc/init.d/gdm restart

Maybe these are two distinct bugs with similar symptoms?

Lucian,
Did you try reducing virtual resolution so both dimensions are lower than 2048?
Please also note that with the driver I provided and virtual width > 2048 I have *exactly* the same results as you: I can switch virtual console with alt+ctrl+F<n> and restart the server. Sorry if I didn't made this clear previously.

Cheers

  Morg

I can confirm this bug in the xorg-edgers PPA package version 2:2.7.99.1+git20090605.66ceedc0-0ubuntu0sarvatt2~jaunty on kernel 2.6.30-rc8.

The login screen remains black with a movable mouse courser, when a virtual resolution above 2048 is configured.

Hi,
Confirming this bug.

Running on
https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa
(newest xorg, intel driver and kernel)
(so only UXA and DRI2)

I have some xrandr configurations bind to keyboard shortcuts, so it's easy for me to test without restarts.

Without compiz, everything works (curently running 2048x768 dual). Even resolutions greater than 2048x2048.

With compiz:
1. xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1024x768 --right-of LVDS
Black or corrupt screen (but mouse shows it is in correct resolutions next to each other).

2. xrandr --output LVDS --mode 800x600 --primary --output VGA --mode 1024x768 --right-of LVDS
WORKS
3. xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 800x600 --right-of LVDS
WORKS
4. xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1024x768 --same-as LVDS
WORKS
5. xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1360x768 --above LVDS
WORKS - today morning worked :)

For compiz settings "loose bindings" or "indirect rendering" in any configuration have no effect.

Tested xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.7.99.1+git20090528.704771f1-0ubuntu0morgwai1~jaunty1
No change.

Tested kernels 2.6.30-9 and 2.6.30-8 with no difference.

X log shows nothing interesting.

If you need anything to test, I'm availiable.

xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.7.1-0ubuntu1~xup~1
from
https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat/+archive/x-updates

xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1024x768 --right-of LVDS
WORKS with compiz enabled

with "loose bindings", problem with window textures not updating (for example, scrolling in firefox is not visible until compiz restarted or turned off). But this setting is primary for nvidia.

virtual entry beyond 2048x2048 in xorg.conf results in white screen with compiz enabled, regardless of resolution (even in clone setup) (without compiz works everything)

Please, is here anyone able and willing to create .deb for us mortals :)

I'd like to check the fix reported:
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22328

(acording to : Comment #10 From Keith Packard 2009-07-07 15:25:53 PST
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22076#c10 )

todays update :
xorg-server - 2:1.6.2~git20090708+server-1.6-branch.6f1aff5a-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty
xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.7.99.901+git20090708.r1.40e7c950-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty

xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1360x768 --above LVDS
works with or without compiz.

xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1024x768 --right-of LVDS
does NOT work with compiz. (nothing new)
does work without compiz. (nothing new).

Even with
Virtual 2732 2048
unable to set
xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1360x768 --right-of LVDS

(not using xrandr but gnome display settings because of bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xrandr/+bug/394490 .
I write xranrd commands only to show the configuration.)

Activated KMS on 2.6.30-10
still the same.

With the new kernel, "Virtual" setting in xorg.conf crashes xserver on startup.
$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1360 x 1536, maximum 2048 x 2048

Unable to set resolutions beyond 2048.
With compiz on 2048x768, black/white/or garbage screen (mostly black) with correct resolution and moving mouse between screens.

So the possibilities:
1 ) https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22076 is NOT duplicate of https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22328
2 ) This bug is not related to https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22076
3 ) I have completely different bug.

If you need testing, put a .deb somewhere and I'll test it as soon as an email comes to me :)

@Lucian
Please write if it's fixed for you.

It's not fixed for me, and even it's worse (xorg doesn't start with "virtual" in xorg.conf).

So It's possible I have different bug.

I built the git HEAD last night and ran some tests:
* without "Virtual" in xorg.conf everything seems to work fine (no change)
* with "Virtual" in xorg.conf I tested two cases:
** Virtual 2960 1065 -- gdm would not start, and it seamed stuck in a loop trying to start the x server
** Virtual 2048 1065 -- gdm would start, but the image on the screen was destroyed (thin lines from the images dispersed over the screen), BUT the mouse pointer was displayed correctly.

@Lucian
Please for clarification.
You have "destroyed screen" before login on login screen, or after login in gnome.

It never happened to me before login. On login screen I have Always cloned outputs.
After Login, only with compiz enabled, I have the bug you described.

@Lucian
... or do you have autologin enabled?

Yep, autologin is enabled.
I'll try to check tonight what happens without autologin.

@Lucian
Try also to disable Desktop Effects (compiz).
You can find the setting on tle last tab of "Appearance" setings.

Without Desktop effects 2048x1065 should work.

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=21190#c7
  ------- Comment #7 From Keith Packard 2009-07-11 09:33:45 PST -------
I've pushed driver fixes for this to master in patch:

d655a3ff423e69c19a5dc07140cbf3caaa32cb86 Remove NoAccel support.

There's an associated fix necessary in the kernel to bump the framebuffer limit
from 2048 to 4096 for KMS which should land shortly.

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=21190#c11
  ------- Comment #11 From Gordon Jin 2009-07-14 19:09:47 PST -------
I've seen the kernel fix in drm-intel-next:
drm/i915: Allow frame buffers up to 4096x4096 on 915/945 class hardware

And verified 945GM works with the fixes for both KMS and UMS.

In xf86-video-intel it should be fixed.
But xorg-edgers does not have the fix in repository.

I'm too lame still to compile my own kernel, so would here be some good soul to update kernel in xorg-edgers? :)

There is some confusion in here by a few of the other posters (not the original reporter that knows about the limitation). The 2048x2048 3D texture limitation is a _hardware_ limitation, it has never worked under compiz with a virtual above 2048x2048 on intel chip older than 965. It used to be possible to use higher virtual sizes if you removed accel support but that has been broken under KMS since it came out. Try booting with i915.modeset=0 added to grub until the patch supporting it under KMS lands Lucien, it should still be possible to use >2048 virtual sizes (without accel) under UMS with the git20090702 driver thats currently in karmic.

I forgot to mention a very important thing.

When there is a black screen with mouse on resolution 2048x768 (on compiz)
there is a *first pixel coulumn* which is the real living first pixel.
I do see moving of windows in that first pixel.

For me it looks like a typo in texture transformation (or clipping) which does :
if (w == 2048) w = 1;
(in php syntax :) )

@Jay

You were right: I had compiz enabled (I forgot I enabled it after I stuck to no Virtual line in xorg.conf).

Without compiz, virtual resolutions that DON'T exceed 2048 pixels on either axis work fine: X starts correctly even if xorg.conf contains a Virtual line; I can use two monitors without having them mirrored.

Unfortunately setting a virtual line with either axis larger than 2048 will not work, due to a kernel limitation (apparently the fix is in upstream kernel):
[ 7099.508567] [drm:drm_mode_addfb] *ERROR* mode new framebuffer width not within limits

that fix works in kernel works.
right now I running on sarvatts kernel linux-source-2.6.31-rc3-sarvatt_20090715, which he kindly gave me for testing, until xorg-edgers have a kernel update

Most probably NOT a bug in intel drivers!

I found old .dsc files on xorg-edgers. And compiled many of them.
Right now I'm running on
xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.6.99.1+git20090416.b9716b83-0ubuntu0tormod_i386
and kernel 2.6.30-8
And I can reproduce this bug.

In the evening I'll try to go further back, and search what else was updated in that time.
It would help if somebody could give me hint what packages.

all tests with all other packages up-to-date to from xorg-edgers.

xserver-common_1.6.1.901+git20090523+server-1.6-branch.5cd5a012-0ubuntu0sarvatt5_all
xserver-xfbdev_1.6.1.901+git20090523+server-1.6-branch.5cd5a012-0ubuntu0sarvatt5_i386
xserver-xorg-core_1.6.1.901+git20090523+server-1.6-branch.5cd5a012-0ubuntu0sarvatt5_i386
- white screen bug with compiz

xserver-common_1.6.1.901+git20090622+server-1.6-branch.dbac41b6-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_all
xserver-xfbdev_1.6.1.901+git20090622+server-1.6-branch.dbac41b6-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_i386
xserver-xorg-core_1.6.1.901+git20090622+server-1.6-branch.dbac41b6-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_i386
- complete black screen on all dualscreen configurations with compiz - mouse visible, showing correct resolution.

xserver-common_1.6.1.902~git20090629+server-1.6-branch.5b49aff4-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_all
xserver-xfbdev_1.6.1.902~git20090629+server-1.6-branch.5b49aff4-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_i386
xserver-xorg-core_1.6.1.902~git20090629+server-1.6-branch.5b49aff4-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_i386
- complete black screen on all dualscreen configurations with compiz - mouse visible, showing correct resolution.

xserver-common_1.6.1.902~git20090701+server-1.6-branch.a7a93c12-0ubuntu0sarvatt4~jaunty_all
xserver-xfbdev_1.6.1.902~git20090701+server-1.6-branch.a7a93c12-0ubuntu0sarvatt4~jaunty_i386
xserver-xorg-core_1.6.1.902~git20090701+server-1.6-branch.a7a93c12-0ubuntu0sarvatt4~jaunty_i386
- complete black screen on all dualscreen configurations with compiz - mouse visible, showing correct resolution.

xserver-common_1.6.2~git20090707+server-1.6-branch.6f1aff5a-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_all
xserver-xfbdev_1.6.2~git20090707+server-1.6-branch.6f1aff5a-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_i386
xserver-xorg-core_1.6.2~git20090707+server-1.6-branch.6f1aff5a-0ubuntu0sarvatt~jaunty_i386
- black screen on 2048x768 with compiz - mouse visible, showing correct resolution, one pixel column on left

I'm unable to find any working configuration.
I tryed lots of combinations of driver, xserver, kernel, mesa7.6 and mesa7.5.
Either black screen or white screen (frustrating).

even thou I reported a month ago that xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.7.1-0ubuntu1~xup~1 works...
It doesn't any more ... the same version (damn...)

I give up, until someone has an usable idea to try out.

Today I found a very interesting situation.
To describe it I attach fotos.

This one is :
xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --primary --output VGA --mode 1024x768 --right-of LVDS

dual_screen_compiz_virtualbox.jpg
is the same configuration
But before activating compiz, i had full-screen virtualbox on right display.
As you can see it's "unharmed". I'm able to normally work in it.
As I pressed ctrl+f, to leave full-screen, virtualbox disappeared behind the "wall" :) .

I hope this helps.

tseliot, could you please ensure that we are picking up a patch, etc... for this if available. Feel free to assign to bryce if timely

Hi, i have ubuntu 9.10, intel 945gm express family video card etc...
i was trying somehow to setup dual monotors but always with problems like.. on both monitors black screen and with freez..
then i red somewhere that the default virtual screen is movin around 2000x2000
i got internal 1280x800 lcd on my notebook and external lcd has 1920x1080... i installed ArandR and i saw that my virtual screen is set to 1920x1080, so its same as my actual output on external monitor (1920x1080) So a set my internal lcd to 1024x768 and my external lcd to 832x624 so they both could fit to virtual screen size 1920x1080... and voila... my dual monitor set up works...
except one problem... small not native resolutions...
and second thing... i am able to use native resolutions (1280x800 and 1920x1080) on both monitors in dual monitors setup but one of them must be above the other. its wierd. Its like the virtual screen resolution needs to change x and y axis..
in my case from 1880x1920 (works,one above the other) to 3200x1080 (one to the left/right the other)
I dont know what to do about that, thats why i posted this..maybe it helps, may be not, iam not even sure if it fits to this bug u r discusing about... but could u plz at least tell me why this is happening and how could i repair it? thx

iam sry my last post is irrelevant for this bug

As the release of Karmic nears, this bug gets spookier :) (imagine the number of forum questions :) )

So I prepared for you 2 videos:
http://launchpad.jay.cz/intel-compiz-pixel3.avi
http://launchpad.jay.cz/intel-compiz-pixel4-zoom.avi
(1280x720, xvid, 60MB and 40MB)
(because of the size, I left it on my page)

I think, this could be the main lead to track the problem.

In video is the first pixel, which stays intact.
Objects can be seen moving in it.

(running up-to-date karmic)

I had an idea :)

Do desktop effects work in that "garbaged" state?

Yes they work.

In that one pixel I could see, changes of opacity, "wobbly" windows ...
That means that bug is somewhere, in manipulation with 3D texture and sending it to display.

And if I take into consideration, that even older intel driver (deb package) doesn't help anymore (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/383345/comments/36 ),
I'd say, that there were two bugs in game.
One in intel driver - black/white screen with moving mouse (didn't have that special one pixel). That is fixed.
And one in mesa/3D (I believe), or xserver - the garbaged screen with texture cropped to 1px.

But don't take me too seriously ;)

> One in intel driver - black/white screen with moving mouse (didn't have that special one pixel). That is fixed.

Yep that one's long fixed.
I can't say anything about the "garbaged screen with texture cropped to 1px." one, because I don't have desktop effects enabled and I can't enable them :(

Shortcuts I use for easier testing:

$ cat /usr/local/bin/compiz-start.sh
#!/bin/bash
compiz --replace &

$ cat /usr/local/bin/compiz-kill.sh
#!/bin/bash
killall compiz.real
metacity --replace &

Menu -> preferences -> Keyboard shortcuts

compiz-start.sh -> Ctrl+Alt+1
compiz-kill.sh -> Ctrl+Alt+5

:)

If you have problem directly to start compiz in any configuration, write me a direct mail (that we are not spaming launchpad). Maybe I can help :) .

Would it be possible to just set Virtual to 2048x2048 again? xrandr says the maximum is 4096x4096 and adding the virtual line on xorg.conf doesn't work in any way, for some reason it's being ignored or something.

A college just updated to karmic.
he has i965GM
Compiz working perfectly on 2048x768 and 2304x1024

So this is only i915/i945 chipset problem.

@Viktor
If I'm not mistaken, "Virtual" line is in KMS mode (default in karmic) irrelevant.
Kernel is now managing resolutions, not xserver, and according to hardware abilities.

sorry for spam, but that was a terrible misspell :)
"A colleague just updated to karmic." is correct :)

For those who have the black screen problem with i945gm (e.g. eeepc 1005ha) try to boot with the vga cable attached. This works perfectly on my system (I use compiz on extended monitor setup).

@ vincenzo
Interesting comment of yours.

Attached VGA cable is regretfully not a solution, I nearly always start system with attached VGA cable.

And could you please provide lspci -vvn
and information if you are realy running on full karmic system and/or xorg-edgers repository?

I confirm this problem with Dell Latitude D420 after upgrading to 9.10
I have it connected to an external display 1680x1050 (AOC 2216a)
When I set them mirrored I cannot set higher resolution;
When they are unmirrored after setting external display resolution screen gets dark with activer mouse pointer. After some time system stops to respond all together.
I didn't have this issue with 9.04.

lspci -nn |grep VGA
     00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a2] (rev 03)

sudo lshw -c video
  *-display:0
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 03
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:16 memory:eff00000-eff7ffff ioport:eff8(size=8) memory:d0000000-dfffffff(prefetchable) memory:efec0000-efefffff
  *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
       description: Display controller
       product: Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2.1
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
       version: 03
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:eff80000-efffffff

I can confirm that this bug must be in desktop effects. When I have desktop effects enabled and connects a second screen, both screen blanks and the system crashes.

Has anyone made a bug-report of the problem in the desktop effects project?

Based on input from http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Xorg_RandR_1.2#Now_automate_it_on_login the following .xprofile fixed dual screen on Lenovo T60 for me:

$ cat .xprofile
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1280x800 --output VGA1 --mode 1680x1050
xrandr --output VGA1 --off
xrandr --output VGA1 --auto --right-of LVDS1

Based on input from

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Xorg_RandR_1.2#Now_automate_it_on_login

the following .xprofile fixed dual screen on Lenovo T60 for me:

$ cat .xprofile
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1280x800 --output VGA1 --mode 1680x1050
xrandr --output VGA1 --off
xrandr --output VGA1 --auto --right-of LVDS1

Was that with or without desktop effects enabled?

I was enabled, but I can see I was a bit too quick. In the end it only
worked with the xfce desktop. The Gnome desktop still doesn't work - at all.

On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 6:58 PM, Andcor <email address hidden> wrote:

> Was that with or without desktop effects enabled?
>
> --
> [i945GM] dual screen not working with virtual resolution enabled: just a
> blank screen with a mouse pointer
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/383345
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in X.org xf86-video-intel: Confirmed
> Status in “xserver-xorg-video-intel” package in Ubuntu: Triaged
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel
>
> I have a dual screen setup:
> * Dell Latitude's D820 own screen (1680x1050)
> * a LG secondary monitor (1280x1024)
>
> To enable dual screen, I had to add
> SubSection "Display"
> Virtual 2960 1065
> EndSubSection
> in Section "Screen" of /etc/X11/xorg.conf (this was added automatically by
> the "Display" applet).
>
> I just ran a dist-upgrade which brought a new kernel:
> Linux lethe 2.6.30-7-generic #8-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 25 13:53:42 UTC 2009
> i686 GNU/Linux
> and a new xserver-xorg-video-intel:
> gringo@lethe:~$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel
> xserver-xorg-video-intel: 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
>
> I rebooted the system, and after the system started I was left with a blank
> background and a working mouse pointer (by working I mean I can move it
> around and between the screens).
>
> I Alt+Ctlr+F2'd and tried a few times to restart gdm but found the same
> result.
> I removed the Subsection I mentioned above from xorg.conf and restarted gdm
> again. This time the menu and task-bar have loaded, but the screens are
> mirrored.
>
> I proceeded to setting them as separate screens in the "Display" applet
> (from System->Preferences). I was notified that the "Virtual" line was going
> to be added to xorg.conf and that I should log out and in again, which I
> did. Unfortunately I had the same blank screen with functional mouse
> pointer.
>
> I mention that I do not have Desktop Effects enabled as they are not
> supported in combination with the "Virtual" line in xorg.conf for my card:
> 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS,
> 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> Architecture: i386
> Date: Wed Jun 3 23:21:33 2009
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
> MachineType: Dell Inc. Latitude D820
> Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
> ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=04f2beb3-eaec-4174-bbd9-5d37c19979fb ro quiet splash
> ProcEnviron:
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> LANG=ro_RO.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.30-7.8-generic
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> xserver-xorg 1:7.4~5ubuntu20
> libgl1-mesa-glx 7.4.1-1ubuntu1
> libdrm2 2.4.11-0ubuntu1
> xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
> xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.12.2-1ubuntu1
> SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-intel
> Uname: Linux 2.6.30-7-generic i686
> dmi.bios.date: 10/13/2006
> dmi.bios.vendor: De...

I have notebook with intel 855
1400x1050 screen and 1600x1200 external monitor
it was working corectly in 8.10 (and 8.04 )
after upgrade on 9.04 I didnt found any way how to configure both screens, I was believe in 9.10 and it dont work also

if is screen wider than 2048 login box is not displayed
If I set autologin both screens are black with bliking text console login but no input is possible

I have compiz uninstalled

@milos
your problem is unrelated.
i8xx HW cannot display framebuffer larger then 2048x2048.
It's a hardware limitation, not a system BUG.

@Radomirs
Please, at which combined resolution you get the black screen?

@Andcor
Please, what is your hardware?
Ubuntu does not automatically change resolutions after attach of external display.
Your BUG is unrelated to this one, in this BUG system does not crash.

@MJB-ESOFT
Please write you hardware.
Compiz cannot work at resolution higher that 2048x2048 (yet) on i915/945 hardware.

Output from lspci:

VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS,
943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML
Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

I did not mean to say that ubuntu automatically changes resolution to
external display. But when an external display is connected, and the
command

xrandr -q

is runned, the system will find the external screen and change to the
resolution last used with this external screen. At least that is what
my system does and I haven't done anything to make it do so. I'm not
so sure my bug is unrelated in the fact that the system doesn't
totally crash, but just shows me two blank screens which i cannot do
anything about other than a hard reboot.

Specs in file.

On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 11:25 AM, jayprakash <email address hidden> wrote:

> @milos
> your problem is unrelated.
> i8xx HW cannot display framebuffer larger then 2048x2048.
> It's a hardware limitation, not a system BUG.
>
> @Radomirs
> Please, at which combined resolution you get the black screen?
>
> @Andcor
> Please, what is your hardware?
> Ubuntu does not automatically change resolutions after attach of external
> display.
> Your BUG is unrelated to this one, in this BUG system does not crash.
>
> @MJB-ESOFT
> Please write you hardware.
> Compiz cannot work at resolution higher that 2048x2048 (yet) on i915/945
> hardware.
>
> --
> [i945GM] dual screen not working with virtual resolution enabled: just a
> blank screen with a mouse pointer
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/383345
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in X.org xf86-video-intel: Confirmed
> Status in “xserver-xorg-video-intel” package in Ubuntu: Triaged
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel
>
> I have a dual screen setup:
> * Dell Latitude's D820 own screen (1680x1050)
> * a LG secondary monitor (1280x1024)
>
> To enable dual screen, I had to add
> SubSection "Display"
> Virtual 2960 1065
> EndSubSection
> in Section "Screen" of /etc/X11/xorg.conf (this was added automatically by
> the "Display" applet).
>
> I just ran a dist-upgrade which brought a new kernel:
> Linux lethe 2.6.30-7-generic #8-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 25 13:53:42 UTC 2009
> i686 GNU/Linux
> and a new xserver-xorg-video-intel:
> gringo@lethe:~$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel
> xserver-xorg-video-intel: 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
>
> I rebooted the system, and after the system started I was left with a blank
> background and a working mouse pointer (by working I mean I can move it
> around and between the screens).
>
> I Alt+Ctlr+F2'd and tried a few times to restart gdm but found the same
> result.
> I removed the Subsection I mentioned above from xorg.conf and restarted gdm
> again. This time the menu and task-bar have loaded, but the screens are
> mirrored.
>
> I proceeded to setting them as separate screens in the "Display" applet
> (from System->Preferences). I was notified that the "Virtual" line was going
> to be added to xorg.conf and that I should log out and in again, which I
> did. Unfortunately I had the same blank screen with functional mouse
> pointer.
>
> I mention that I do not have Desktop Effects enabled as they are not
> supported in combination with the "Virtual" line in xorg.conf for my card:
> 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS,
> 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> Architecture: i386
> Date: Wed Jun 3 23:21:33 2009
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
> MachineType: Dell Inc. Latitude D820
> Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
> ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=04f2beb3-eaec-4174-bbd9-5d37c19979fb ro quiet splash
> ProcEnviron:
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> LANG=ro_RO.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.30-7.8-ge...

@jayprakash
I got the black screen with folloing crashing at compbined resolution:
- Laptop : 1280 x 800
- External monitor: 1680 x 1050

BTW: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8221370&postcount=9

@Radomirs:
Please, before setting dual screen, disable desktop effects (compiz).
Compiz cannot work at resolution higher that 2048x2048 (yet) on i915/945 hardware, limitation of HW 2048x2048 max texture size.
Without Desktop effects your dual screen configuration should work. (it is then limited to 4096x4096 framebuffer size.)
With Desktop effects and resolution 1024+1024, you probably will experience this BUG.

@MJB-ESOFT:
The same as Radomirs.

@Andcor:
Please disable desktop effects. Then attach external display. Do what yo do to activate it.
Check combined screen resolution.
If it is 2040 width, then it is this BUG.
If it is larger, then the same as Radomir.
If lower, then different BUG.

Sorry, its larger, and I kinda knew that. But it's a bug that desktop
effects cannot support desktops larger than 2040 isn't it?

Mvh

Andreas Corneliussen

2009/11/4 jayprakash <email address hidden>:
> @Radomirs:
> Please, before setting dual screen, disable desktop effects (compiz).
> Compiz cannot work at resolution higher that 2048x2048 (yet) on i915/945 hardware, limitation of HW 2048x2048 max texture size.
> Without Desktop effects your dual screen configuration should work. (it is then limited to 4096x4096 framebuffer size.)
> With Desktop effects and resolution 1024+1024, you probably will experience this BUG.
>
> @MJB-ESOFT:
> The same as Radomirs.
>
> @Andcor:
> Please disable desktop effects. Then attach external display. Do what yo do to activate it.
> Check combined screen resolution.
> If it is 2040 width, then it is this BUG.
> If it is larger, then the same as Radomir.
> If lower, then different BUG.
>
> --
> [i945GM] dual screen not working with virtual resolution enabled: just a blank screen with a mouse pointer
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/383345
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

sorry, there was a typo. Correct is 2048.

And it is NOT a BUG.
It is Hardware limitation of i915/i945 graphics cards.
i965 works with compiz (desktop effects) until 4096x4096

Ok. Thanks for the clarification.

Thank you very much.

On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 1:29 PM, Andcor <email address hidden> wrote:

> Ok. Thanks for the clarification.
>
> --
> [i945GM] dual screen not working with virtual resolution enabled: just a
> blank screen with a mouse pointer
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/383345
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in X.org xf86-video-intel: Confirmed
> Status in “xserver-xorg-video-intel” package in Ubuntu: Triaged
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel
>
> I have a dual screen setup:
> * Dell Latitude's D820 own screen (1680x1050)
> * a LG secondary monitor (1280x1024)
>
> To enable dual screen, I had to add
> SubSection "Display"
> Virtual 2960 1065
> EndSubSection
> in Section "Screen" of /etc/X11/xorg.conf (this was added automatically by
> the "Display" applet).
>
> I just ran a dist-upgrade which brought a new kernel:
> Linux lethe 2.6.30-7-generic #8-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 25 13:53:42 UTC 2009
> i686 GNU/Linux
> and a new xserver-xorg-video-intel:
> gringo@lethe:~$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel
> xserver-xorg-video-intel: 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
>
> I rebooted the system, and after the system started I was left with a blank
> background and a working mouse pointer (by working I mean I can move it
> around and between the screens).
>
> I Alt+Ctlr+F2'd and tried a few times to restart gdm but found the same
> result.
> I removed the Subsection I mentioned above from xorg.conf and restarted gdm
> again. This time the menu and task-bar have loaded, but the screens are
> mirrored.
>
> I proceeded to setting them as separate screens in the "Display" applet
> (from System->Preferences). I was notified that the "Virtual" line was going
> to be added to xorg.conf and that I should log out and in again, which I
> did. Unfortunately I had the same blank screen with functional mouse
> pointer.
>
> I mention that I do not have Desktop Effects enabled as they are not
> supported in combination with the "Virtual" line in xorg.conf for my card:
> 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS,
> 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> Architecture: i386
> Date: Wed Jun 3 23:21:33 2009
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
> MachineType: Dell Inc. Latitude D820
> Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
> ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=04f2beb3-eaec-4174-bbd9-5d37c19979fb ro quiet splash
> ProcEnviron:
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> LANG=ro_RO.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.30-7.8-generic
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> xserver-xorg 1:7.4~5ubuntu20
> libgl1-mesa-glx 7.4.1-1ubuntu1
> libdrm2 2.4.11-0ubuntu1
> xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.99.1+git20090602.ec2fde7c-0ubuntu1
> xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.12.2-1ubuntu1
> SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-intel
> Uname: Linux 2.6.30-7-generic i686
> dmi.bios.date: 10/13/2006
> dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.bios.version: A04
> dmi.board.name: 0GF470
> dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.chassis.type: 8
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dm...

I experience this bug even if both monitors are set to 1024x768. I can only run dual monitors w/ Compiz turned on if I set the LCD to 1024x768 and the external monitor to 800x600 or lower.

Stats from compiz-check below:

$ ./compiz-check

Gathering information about your system...

 Distribution: Ubuntu 9.10
 Desktop environment: GNOME
 Graphics chip: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
 Driver in use: intel
 Rendering method: AIGLX

Checking if it's possible to run Compiz on your system...

 Checking for texture_from_pixmap... [ OK ]
 Checking for non power of two support... [ OK ]
 Checking for composite extension... [ OK ]
 Checking for FBConfig... [ OK ]
 Checking for hardware/setup problems... [ OK ]

Added a kernel task and adjusted priority and status to match the Xorg task.

-JFo

Hi All,
      In my readback, and please correct me if I am wrong, I did not see where anyone had tested this against the latest Lucid Alpha 3? Would it be possible for those of you experiencing this to try this against a Live image? Many of you may be aware that modesetting has migrated into the kernel. As such, there have been a number of drivers changed to run as KVM enabled. I would really appreciate some testing in Lucid. I'd also appreciate a test against the latest mainline build of the kernel in the team PPa to verify if this issue is showing up in a generic linux kernel.

Thanks!

~JFo

set Xserver-xorg task as invalid.

-JFo

I can confirm this bug on an updated Lucid Beta 1.
When the width of both screens together is 2048px.
The screen now is not always black, see attachments.
There is a difference between switching from metacity to compiz, and switching with compiz from 800 to 1024px resolution, see attachments.
The first pixel column is still normal.
Mouse-cursor is still changing when hovering a text field.

@Laurens
on the left side,

you have 1px visible or more?
(that white left border)

I had always 1px.
But on your screens it looks like more. (But probably just an illusion after img resize)

It is only 1px. It just on the photo where it seems to be more.

last night upgrade 9.10 to 10.04:

Confirming Bug in 10.04.
No change.

I found out that in lucid, it is only a resolution of exactly 2048px in total, which is a problem.
If the total width is greater, for example 1280 + 800 = 2080px, then compiz is automatically replaced by metacity and things work fine. While in karmic it is everything >= 2048px that won't work.

@jayprakash can you confirm this too?

Could it be that there is a misunderstanding if compiz should run until and with 2048px or until and without 2048px, because of hardware limitations?

@Laurens
my comments 42-43
compiz works even on that 1px.

In jaunty I was on my daily work on 1024+1024 with compiz.
Since Karmic I use 1024+1280 without compiz.

The switch from compiz to metacity on changed resolution is without problems (gnome always starts with black screen 2048, I have keyboard shortcut to 1024+1280 - xrandr).

Kwin nearly always crashes the whole xserver on this resolution change. Sometimes (20%) it's succesfull in survival after compositing is auto turned off.

The maximum size of a 3D texture on i915/i945 is 2048x2048px.
Since compiz is one big texture, it is supposed to work on that resolution.

(Somewhere I red, that compiz developers plan to make compiz multitextured. I that case also older HW would manage big resolutions. Don't ask me how. I just red it on some compiz blog.)

This issue apparently has been fixed with the latest update.
Compiz is now already replaced by metacity with a resolution width of 2048 px in total.

compiz --replace
compiz (core) - Warn: Exceeded max texture size
Launching fallback window manager

oh no no no no no
this is wrong
The texture size is not exceeded.

for 1&half years i was daily working on 2048 with compiz.
:'(

@jayprakash:
And you have an Intel 945GM?
AFAIK 2048 pixel is a hardware limit here, see http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/intel-gfx/2009-December/005243.html

@Jakob:
yes,
the limit is 2048x2048
But 2048 is the maximum size of a texture. that means that texture CAN BE 2048.
2049 is 1px over the maximum.

Anyone with 945 can test it with intrepid live CD. Compiz WILL WORK on 2048x786 dual screen.

This bug is not about disabling compiz at 2048,
but about some mathematical problem with maximum size of a texture.

I'd bet somebody on i965 would have the same problem on 4096 size of a screen.