E/Port, 130W Simple Port Replicator for Latitude E-Family

[firenice03]

[member=5239]torreydale[/member]


Yeah I'm with you, you'd think it be "easier" ...
The 1st link did mention scripting and another at start up...


Wonder if a different kernel would help??


About to try on the mini with a external plugged in - I've used in the past I'll see if settings are there, make a few changes and see if they stick.
The mini is on kernel 4.4 and Intel graphics, similar...

[firenice03]

Peeking around - waiting on updates  ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/displays.xml
Looking at mine it calls out both the laptop screen and what I have used as a secondary..

- I can reboot now

UPDATE
So after reboot, got past grub.. LL feather splash screen was cloned across both using the secondary resolution (Mini was offset and off screen).
Login prompt was similar cloned and offset
Once desktop loaded display was extended with correct position (to right) and resolutions 1024x600 on mini and 1680x1050 on secondary; also background we set (I use different on each).. Widget was pushed to second screen.

I configured originally using "display" (type from menu) along with "desktop" for backgrounds...

Going to test with laptop moved to top and 2nd on bottom - clicked apply, close and reboot...

[torreydale]

[member=5414]firenice03[/member]


Thanks.  I'll revisit tomorrow.  At first glance, that looks like it might be the monitors.xml we were looking for.


On a different kernel, Manjaro was the only distro I tried with a kernel different than 4.4.  It had 4.9 if I recall correctly.


When you say you can reboot now, does that mean you can reboot and the settings stay saved?  If so, did you delete the displays.xml file like your link http://bernaerts.dyndns.org/linux/74-ubu...ition-lost suggested?

[firenice03]

[member=5239]torreydale[/member]
I can reboot = I was patiently awaiting updates to finish (1st line)  it had been 9 days LOL..
I updated my previous post - probably at the same time you posted...

I haven't deleted anything although thus far settings are keeping after making changing and rebooting.
I also tried pulling the cable everything bounced back to mini screen, reinsertion didn't automatically restore (or wake 2nd monitor - assuming using display would initialize).

Boot up and log in screens are cloned - its not until the desktop loads does the settings initialize.

Perhaps renaming the displays xml?? -- I may attempt in meantime

[firenice03]

So I renamed displays.xml and rebooted leaving 2nd hooked up. Everything started cloned using a single resolution (larger - mini offset) no new displays file was created until I opened "display", adjusted settings and clicked apply. New displays.xml was created..

I think this might be what you looking for..??..

Rebooted and setting held..

[torreydale]

[member=5414]firenice03[/member] ,


Felt like this was the answer.  The challenge in comparing my situation with yours is when I reboot leaving the laptop hooked up to the docking station, I can't get to the Display settings.  With me it isn't a matter of just saving the display settings, it's getting a display at all on boot.  When connected to the docking station, after GRUB, the screen goes dark.


For the record, I did try booting disconnected from the docking station, getting to the LL desktop, attaching to the docking station, renaming the displays.xml file to displays_old.xml, adding the screens connected to the docking station and disabling the laptop screen using the Advanced Display settings, clicking Apply, and then rebooting.


My results are the same.  Dark screen after GRUB.

[torreydale]

I've also now posted the same question on the following forums:

Dell Community
Ask Ubuntu
Linux.com

[firenice03]

[member=5414]firenice03[/member] ,
My results are the same.  Dark screen after GRUB.

Wonder... out on a limb if adding nomodeset to grub (in place of quietsplash)????

Good Luck!!

[torreydale]

[member=5414]firenice03[/member] ,


I think you were on to something.  When using nomodeset, I was able to get to the Linux Lite login screen.  So using a tip from here https://askubuntu.com/questions/38780/ho...led-ubuntu, I made nomodeset persistent in the grub.  But doing that only allows one monitor to be seen in the display settings, and that one monitor is either one of the docking station monitors when the laptop is connected to the docking station, or the monitor of the laptop itself when the laptop is not connected to the docking station.

[firenice03]

We've poked around this thing, gotta be close

Reply #3 (last) modify screen res in displays.xml (if it doesn't match)
https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2221038

-- It may, similar to the post your res looks to be set to 1366x768

Fingers Crossed