Popup dialog "could not set the configuration for CRTC 65" steals keyboard, hinders login in 3-monitor configuration

[Neal McBurnett]

Every time I boot, while I'm trying to enter my password in the initial login screen (from Unity?), a dialog box pops up saying "Could not switch the monitor configuration could not set the configuration for CRTC 65".

The dialog box also steals the keyboard focus, which is very confusing if for some reason you're entering the password on an external display while the normally unused laptop display is not visible. For example, three times in a row this morning I rebooted and tried unsuccessfully to log in. Since the dialog box is only displayed on the laptop display, which I never use when external monitors are available, I had no idea why my keyboard seemed broken.

Background:

My Lenovo Thinkpad X230 Tablet laptop has a VGA and a DVI connector. I have the VGA hooked up to a Viewsonic 1920x1080 monitor, positioned above the laptop display. I have a Samsung monitor to the right of the Viewsonic. Since my laptop seems to only support two displays (which also seems true in Windows), I normally disable and totally ignore my laptop display, and may have papers propped up in front of it etc.

Note that when I initially configured the third display I saw the following highly confusing behavior. From Settings I tried to add a Samsung monitor to the right of the Viewsonic, via a DVI-to-HDMI passive connector, and got this dialog box when I hit "Apply":

   The selected configuration for displays could not be applied
   could not set the configuration for CRTC 65

I clicked "OK" and got another dialog box:
   Failed to apply configuration: %s
   Can't add monitor: GDBus.Error:org.gtk.GDBus.UnmappedGError.Quark._gnome_2drr_2derror_2dquark.Code2: could not set the configuration for CRTC 65

It works if I disable my laptop monitor, so it looks like the problem is with adding a third display. I would think it would be a pretty common use case to use two nice external displays and disable the laptop display.

Even when the hardware can't handle a third display, the error messages should not be so confusing, and the login process shouldn't result in the keyboard being mysteriously stolen by a dialog box on a display which may never be visible.

This is on Trusty 64-bit, up-to-date with upgrades.

This bug seems similar to bug 1304627, but it seemed cleanest to get all the right information reported via ubuntu-bug.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu8
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-43.72-generic 3.13.11.11
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-43-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.6
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Fri Jan 9 15:35:57 2015
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: trusty
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, including running git bisection searches
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo Device [17aa:2203]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-01-01 (8 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
MachineType: LENOVO 343522U
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-43-generic root=UUID=6dce26c4-3d5b-4980-880e-06f249f77c57 ro rootflags=subvol=@ quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 10/22/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GCET96WW (2.56 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 343522U
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Defined
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGCET96WW(2.56):bd10/22/2013:svnLENOVO:pn343522U:pvrThinkPadX230Tablet:rvnLENOVO:rn343522U:rvrNotDefined:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 343522U
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X230 Tablet
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.56-1~ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.1.3-0ubuntu0.2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.1.3-0ubuntu0.2
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.6
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.8.2-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.3.0-1ubuntu3.1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.910-0ubuntu1.3
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.10-1ubuntu2
xserver.bootTime: Thu Jan 8 07:07:01 2015
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id 728
 vendor LGD
xserver.version: 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.6
---
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.16.2-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CasperVersion: 1.356
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
CurrentDesktop: Unity
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: vivid
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, including running git bisection searches
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo Device [17aa:2203]
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" - Beta amd64 (20150326)
MachineType: LENOVO 343522U
Package: xorg 1:7.7+7ubuntu4
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=(loop)/casper/vmlinuz.efi boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/images/username-15.04-beta2-desktop-amd64.iso quiet splash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-10.10-generic 3.19.2
Tags: vivid ubuntu compiz-0.9
UdevLog: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/var/log/udev'
Uname: Linux 3.19.0-10-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 10/22/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GCET96WW (2.56 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 343522U
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Defined
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGCET96WW(2.56):bd10/22/2013:svnLENOVO:pn343522U:pvrThinkPadX230Tablet:rvnLENOVO:rn343522U:rvrNotDefined:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 343522U
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X230 Tablet
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.12.1+15.04.20150303-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.59-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.5.0-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.5.0-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.17.1-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.9.0-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.5.0-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917-1~exp1ubuntu2build1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.11-1ubuntu2build1
xserver.bootTime: Wed Apr 15 10:07:11 2015
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id 728
 vendor LGD
xserver.version: 2:1.17.1-0ubuntu3

[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

apport information

[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

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[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

Confirmed also that this bug happens the same way on Vivid Vervet beta2, live CD

[Neal McBurnett (nealmcb)]

OK, I updated the BIOS and it is now up-to-date:

$ sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
[sudo] password for neal:
GCETA1WW (2.61 )
02/12/2015

The original problem remains, so I marked the bug "Status Confirmed". Thanks.

[Manny Kayy (mannykayy)]

Can't add third monitor:
DBus.Error:org.gtk.GDBus.UnmappedGError.Quark._gnome_2drr_2derror_2dquark.Code2:
could not set the configuration for CRTC 65

[Bernhard Zürn (bernhard-zuern)]

Same problem here on Dell and 16.04. but sometimes it works. Very annoying. What can wie do to help ?

[Xpistos Ekimogloy (xpistos)]

I am also having the same issue (I have tested this with both Ubuntu 16.04 and Linux Mint 18. It did work with Windows 10.)

GDBus.Error:org.gtk.GDBus.UnmappedGError.Quark._gnome_2drr_2derror_2dquark.Code2: could not set the configuration for CRTC 65 When I try to enable a two external monitors in extended display. It does work as a mirrored display.

If it helps I have a Lenova Ideapad Y580.

[squigley (squigley)]

I am having the same issue under 16.10 running 4.8.0-34-generic on an X230. BIOS is latest:

G2ETA7WW (2.67 )
09/09/2016

X fails to start if I have both a VGA and mini DP (active clock, to DVI adapter) external monitors connected. I can use 2 external displays if I disable the LCD screen. I do not have a dock to test using 2x DVI or HDMI and not VGA.

Trying to enable all 3 displays results in "Could not switch the monitor configuration could not set the configuration for CRTC 65" (or 64).

[squigley (squigley)]

After some more research, attempting to use VGA+DP+LVDS is not a valid configuration. The X230 is missing something (TMDS?) to allow this, even though the chipset allows it.

X should have a handler for this. If I manually attach the extra display(s) after logging in, it will restore my config of 2 external displays and disable the LVDS/internal screen. Attempting to add/re-enable the LVDS as a 3rd in this configuration fails, but this is due to the hardware, and it would be nicer to get an explanatory error message rather than:

"Failed to apply configuration: %s
   Can't add monitor: GDBus.Error:org.gtk.GDBus.UnmappedGError.Quark._gnome_2drr_2derror_2dquark.Code2: could not set the configuration for CRTC 65"

So the issue seems to be 1) allowing you to attempt something which isn't valid, and then giving a not very helpful error message, and 2) it's not able to catch/trap the error condition of 3 displays attached prior to attempting to start X, and realising that it can only use 2, which stops X from starting.

Knowing that the configuration of VGA+DP+LVDS is not valid may not be something that can be detected, other than by identifying that the model is an X230 and contains the Intel HD graphics, and not the NVIDIA graphics (which does include the TMDS or other hardware to enable this config to work).

(Apparently the way to be able to continue using the internal LVDS display along with 2 external displays is to not use the VGA port, which requires that you use the DP on the laptop, and with the laptop in a docking/station port replicator, have the second external screen attached via DP on the dock. A 4th screen/3rd external can also apparently be added with the use of the USB based port replicator, which contains another display adapter).

[WinEunuchs2Unix (ricklee518)]

I've been using LVDS + HDMI for a few years first under Ubuntu 14.04 and currently under Ubuntu 16.04.

Today I setup an second external TV using the VGA port and an in-line VGA to HDMI converter box that's worked before. The necessary xrandr commands are given:

`xrandr --newmode "1920x1080_60.00" 173.00 1920 2048 2248 2576 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync`
`xrandr --addmode VGA1 "1920x1080"`

However the CRTC 65 popup error message results.

Although I am long-term shopping for a new laptop with HDMI + one or two DP's, it would be nice to have HDMI+VGA working now.

[WinEunuchs2Unix (ricklee518)]

Have a three screen setup now:

1) Laptop screen primary gets User ID password on boot. After boot chrome windows which were on screen 2 are restored here along with this screens chrome windows.
2) HDMI nVvidia hardwired TV, steals focus on resume to password.
3) Thunderbolt 3 USB-C HDMI TV which occasionally doesn't get signal when rebooted and has to be powered off and on.

Other notes when booting all three monitors turn on and off a few times. There is one patch applied during boot to enable nVidia HDMI sound:

    setpci -vD -s 01:00.0 0x488.l=0xffffffff:0xffffffff
    sh -c 'echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:01:00.0/remove'
    sh -c 'echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:00:01.0/rescan'
    systemctl restart lightdm.service

Ubuntu 16.04.3, Kernel 4.14.4, Skylake 6700HQ, nVidia GTX 970M, Samsung Pro 960 NVMe SSD.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thank you for reporting this bug to Ubuntu.

Ubuntu 16.04 (xenial) reached end-of-standard-support on April 29, 2021.
Ubuntu 14.04 (trusty) reached end-of-standard-support on April 25, 2019.

See this document for currently supported Ubuntu releases:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

We appreciate that this bug may be old and you might not be interested in discussing it anymore. But if you are then please upgrade to the latest Ubuntu version and re-test. If you then find the bug is still present in the newer Ubuntu version, please add a comment here telling us which new version it is in.