Switching external display to highest resolution: screen goes blank

[Ardoban Parwinzel]

Binary package hint: gnome-control-center
Machine: Lenovo Thinkpad X201

Important(?) remark: I switched back to a previous linux kernel to write this report in a decent way, the collected information is therefore not accurate, the uname should be the newest kernel now used, not the one that is in the list.
Bug is critical - I cannot use my machine in any normal way with Ubuntu.
In the previous version of Ubuntu (10.64) the following problem did not occur - it all worked like a charm. After the upgrade my machine became virtually unusable due to the following video problem.

Details: by default Ubuntu 11.04 does not start in full resolution on my external display. Only a small square is visible in the middle of my screen. That is no real issue for me, however:

if I use Monitors (gnome-display-manager) to switch to the appropriate resolution for my external display, and switch off my laptop screen, the following happens:

- external screen goes blank (dark color, not off), mouse still visible and movable
- laptop screen is switched off (not dark color, really off) (thats good)
I cannot do anything, so have to wait until it automatically switches back to previous settings. However, this goes wrong as well:
- laptop screen joins the party: same as external screen now, also a movable mousepointer with a blank, dark colored, screen.
Machine is unusable from now on.

Hope you can solve this soon. I've tried it with 2 different installations of Ubuntu 11.04 on my machine - same problem. Thanks.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: gnome-control-center 1:2.32.1-0ubuntu15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-28.50-generic 2.6.35.11
Uname: Linux 2.6.35-28-generic x86_64 (NOT CORRECT: should be the newest 64 bit kernel, see remark on top of this bug description)
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Jun 18 17:24:05 2011
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/gnome-display-properties
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release amd64 (20101007)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: gnome-control-center
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-05-09 (40 days ago)

[Brendan Donegan (brendan-donegan)]

Hi Ardoban,

This is not a problem in gnome-control-center. It's likely to be one of the many problems with external monitors that afflicted Natty. Two quick questions before doing something with this bug:

1.) Does it still happen after applying all updates?
2.) If it does can you check if it happens when using Classic Gnome session?

---
Ubuntu Bug Squad volunteer triager
http://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

[Ardoban Parwinzel (parwinzel)]

Hi Brendan,

Thank you for your reply. I couldn't respond earlier, because of my work. The problem with my Ubuntu installation, however, persists, and I would be very happy if it could be solved.

>This is not a problem in gnome-control-center. It's likely to be one of the many problems with external monitors that afflicted Natty.

I already thought so, however, I didn't know in what category to place it.

> Two quick questions before doing something with this bug:
>
>1.) Does it still happen after applying all updates?

Yes, if you mean with this: applying the Ubuntu Update Manager . I do that every day. It upgraded to a new kernel not too long ago, but that made no difference. Therefore, I still use the old kernel (2.6.35-28-generic, used under Maverick Meerkat), that one gives the least problems (however, it is also far from flawless: it also crashes regularly when monitors are attached or detached).

>2.) If it does can you check if it happens when using Classic Gnome session?

Same problem. The problem(s) occur under Unity and under Classic Gnome. As a matter of fact - I use classic gnome by default.

Ardoban

PS I love Ubuntu, it is very user friendly and it is quite stable apart from these video problems (hibernation and standby are also weak spots though). However, this is a problem that is so essential for being able to use Ubuntu in a normal way, that I think it is crucial that it gets fixed to the benefit of Ubuntu's popularity. I don't have an exotic notebook with non-standard hardware - it is a Thinkpad, so I imagine many potential users have tried it - and switched back to their previous OS (without filing a bugreport). Which I regret, because I'm always trying to promote Ubuntu.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for gnome-control-center (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]