2nd monitor replacement for built in laptop monitor

Fixit7 · 01-07-2015, 11:51 PM

Someone gave me a monitor that has a bigger screen than my laptop has.

The second monitor shows everything O.K.

But when I close the cover on my laptor so I can see the 2nd monitor, the "new" monitor goes blank.

How can I turn off the laptop monitor ?

yooy · 01-08-2015, 05:49 AM

you can use software to turn off main monitor. Best choice is arandr.

Fixit7 · 01-08-2015, 06:54 AM

Thanks a lot. :-)

For Puppy Linux, LXRandR 0.1.2 is what I ended up using.

Fixit7 · 01-09-2015, 12:10 PM

After turning off one monitor, the settings are not saved.

On each reboot, both monitors are on again ?

Fixit7 · 01-09-2015, 04:32 PM

I got the saving problem solved.

I would like to use 1600x900, but all open windows don't fill the screen like 1280x720 does without manually stretching them out ?

Fixit7 · 01-09-2015, 09:37 PM

Just noticed a new issue.:-(

When I boot, menu.lst does not show, so it boots into Puppy Linux with no chance of picking Windows.

Is this a LXRandR 0.1.2 issue or do you think the monitor just is not compatible.

I sure would like to use that larger monitor without problems. :-)

Teufel · 01-09-2015, 10:02 PM

Laptop need an extra time to recognize external monitor.
Try to increase boot Grub menu timeout.

Fixit7 · 01-10-2015, 12:34 AM

I went from 5 seconds to 30 seconds.

No go.

Doesn't Teufel mean devil ?

Teufel · 01-10-2015, 01:21 AM

Yes, it does.

Will laptop boot if timeout will be set to infinity (timeout=-1)?

Fixit7 · 01-10-2015, 01:35 AM

Your post makes no sense to me.

Can you clarify ?

Teufel · 01-10-2015, 05:23 AM

I just tested it with laptop and external monitor, it really doesn't matter how many seconds Grub menu waits for input.
External monitor doesn't show anything until video driver loaded.

Fixit7 · 01-10-2015, 05:52 AM

Thanks for your effort.

Like the Borg, I will adapt. :-)

Compared to other distros, Puppy is around 10th place.

Well, I am still left with no menu pick unless eye leave both monitors on.

I used to post on the Puppy forum but encountered "some imperial entanglements."

I apologized.

Teufel · 01-10-2015, 10:03 AM

I doubt it is Puppy issue. I tried it with Gentoo and with Windows. Seems external monitor activated by video driver, not by hardware, so it will not work until system started and driver loaded.

You could try to select Grub menu item blindly though... As temporary workaround.

Fixit7 · 01-11-2015, 04:34 PM

I set it to use both monitors so I can have an O.S. pick on bootups.

Teufel · 01-11-2015, 04:40 PM

I'm wondering where did you set it? In BIOS? If so, your BIOS is cool, I have no such an option in mine.