Second monitor doesn't work on MacBookAir3,1 with nvidia-current driver

[Sean Sosik-Hamor]

When plugging-in an external monitor on my MacBookAir3,1 using a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter my screens go garbled after detecting and activating the second monitor using nvidia-settings. Uploading video to next comment.

My hardware previously worked fine in Maverick and Natty.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: nvidia-current 280.13-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-10.16-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-10-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl nvidia
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 280.13 Wed Jul 27 16:53:56 PDT 2011
 GCC version: gcc version 4.6.1 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.1-9ubuntu2)
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 1.22.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CheckboxSubmission: 15c9c9b122c9273f52b28c9a5df794ac
CheckboxSystem: 7e42599bda39ea7ff8b528272b6ef52b
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,vpswitch,regex,animation,snap,expo,move,compiztoolbox,place,grid,imgpng,gnomecompat,wall,ezoom,workarounds,resize,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,scale,session,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Thu Sep 8 17:37:42 2011
DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-09-07 17:56:12.528248
DistroCodename: oneiric
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 bcmwl, 5.100.82.38+bdcom, 3.0.0-10-generic, x86_64: installed
 nvidia-current, 280.13, 3.0.0-10-generic, x86_64: installed
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 nVidia Corporation Device [10de:08a2] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Apple Computer Inc. Device [106b:00d4]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Beta amd64+mac (20110901)
JockeyStatus:
 kmod:wl - Broadcom STA wireless driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use) [auto-install]
 xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookAir3,1
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-10-generic root=UUID=f1ecb7d8-5574-470d-b78e-030315e3a87a ro quiet splash reboot=pci acpi_backlight=vendor vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: nvidia-graphics-drivers
UnitySupportTest: Error: command ['/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test', '-p', '-f'] failed with exit code -11:
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-09-08 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 11/18/10
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MBA31.88Z.0061.B01.1011181342
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag#
dmi.board.name: Mac-942452F5819B1C1B
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-942452F5819B1C1B
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBA31.88Z.0061.B01.1011181342:bd11/18/10:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookAir3,1:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-942452F5819B1C1B:rvr1.0:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-942452F5819B1C1B:
dmi.product.name: MacBookAir3,1
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.5.92+bzr2791-0ubuntu2
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.26-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu6
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.0-1ubuntu13
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.15.901-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110411+8378443-1

[Sean Sosik-Hamor (sciri)]

Video of screens garbling after activating external monitor.

[Adam Dingle (adam-yorba)]

I'm seeing this too. I'm on a MacBook7,1.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hey sciri,

Hi, thanks for reporting this issue during the development period of
Ubuntu.

I notice there's not been further comments to the bug report since the
release came out, would you mind updating us on the status of it in the
release?

Are you still able to reproduce the issue? If not, do you think the bug
report can be closed, or do you think we should continue tracking it?

[Adam Dingle (adam-yorba)]

To chime in here, as I mentioned above I have a newer Macbook (a MacBook7,1) and am still seeing this behavior running Oneiric with all the latest updates. More specifically:

1. I start my laptop with an external monitor connected. After I log in, the external monitor is still blank.
2. I run nvidia-settings and select X Server Display Configuration on the left. nvidia-settings shows both the laptop display and the external monitor. I select the external monitor and choose Configuration: TwinView.
3. I press Apply. The laptop display flashes briefly, but nothing else changes. The external monitor is still blank.
4. I press Apply a second time. Now I briefly see garbage on both displays. After a few seconds it goes away, and I see a dialog box on the external monitor asking me whether I want to accept the display change. I click OK.
5. Unfortunately, at this point Unity is no longer running (the sidebar and panel have vanished) and so I can't run any programs. I have to switch to a different terminal console and reboot.

As a result, I can't use an external monitor with Ubuntu on this Macbook.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

We're closing this bug since it is has been some time with no response from the original bug reporter. However, if the issue still exists in the latest development version of Ubuntu and you are the original reporter please feel free to reopen with the requested information. If you are not the original reporter, please don't reopen this one but instead file a new bug and reference this one.