MX Linux Forum

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am**

Hi everyone, I'll explain my problem: I've always used an external monitor and it always worked fine (so it's not a hardware problem).
For six months now, my 1920x1080 monitor blinking and fleackering and I have to plug in a smaller 1366x768 monitor.
In the meantime, I've tried everything:
- I uninstalled compiz
- I changed the hdmi cable
- I have tried all possible configurations of xorg
- I have installed several drivers for intel graphic
- I tried old versions of MX, MX kde and other distros
- I changed the resolution of the display layout
- I changed the refresh rate
But nothing seems to work.

I had an insight the other day, the 1920x1080 monitor is not working since I unplugged the laptop's internal monitor removing lid.
So I ask some super hero, is it possible to force the configuration of the screens to also have an internal monitor disabled? maybe it will solve my problem as it worked fine before

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:47 am**

Please run Quick System Info and post your system information whenever asking for help as per the forum rules (which please read.) Just run it then right-click paste in a reply, don't copy/paste. Instructions are here if you need them. Thanks.

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:50 am**

Code: Select all

System:
  Host: <filter> Kernel: 5.10.0-5mx-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A 
  parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.10.0-5mx-amd64 
  root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash 
  Desktop: Xfce 4.14.3 tk: Gtk 3.24.5 info: xfce4-panel, plank wm: xfwm4 
  dm: LightDM 1.26.0 Distro: MX-19.4_ahs_x64 patito feo March 31  2021 
  base: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster) 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Acer product: Extensa 2540 v: V1.18 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Acer model: BA40_SL v: V1.18 serial: <filter> UEFI [Legacy]: Insyde 
  v: 1.18 date: 01/02/2019 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT1 charge: 42.1 Wh condition: 42.1/48.9 Wh (86%) volts: 15.3/15.2 
  model: COMPAL 004B384234314341 type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Full 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i3-6006U bits: 64 type: MT MCP 
  arch: Skylake family: 6 model-id: 4E (78) stepping: 3 microcode: EA 
  L2 cache: 3072 KiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx 
  bogomips: 15999 
  Speed: 1046 MHz min/max: 400/2000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 500 2: 500 
  3: 500 4: 500 
  Vulnerabilities: Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled 
  Type: l1tf 
  mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT vulnerable 
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable 
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI 
  Type: spec_store_bypass 
  mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl and seccomp 
  Type: spectre_v1 
  mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization 
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Full generic retpoline, IBPB: conditional, 
  IBRS_FW, STIBP: conditional, RSB filling 
  Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode 
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520] 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
  chip ID: 8086:1916 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.10 driver: none compositor: compton 
  v: 0.1~beta2+20150922 resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 520 (SKL GT2) 
  v: 4.6 Mesa 20.3.4 compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI 
  driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:9d70 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.10.0-5mx-amd64 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 3000 
  bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 10ec:8168 
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter> 
  IF-ID-1: usb0 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 28.60 GiB (6.1%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Crucial model: CT500MX500SSD1 size: 465.76 GiB 
  block size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s 
  serial: <filter> rev: 023 scheme: GPT 
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw size: 31.25 GiB size: 30.63 GiB (98.03%) 
  used: 10.53 GiB (34.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 44.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list 
  1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-updates main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list 
  1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster main contrib non-free
  2: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/estmob-sendanywhere.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64,i386] http://update.send-anywhere.com/linux/debian/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list 
  1: deb http://it.mxrepo.com/mx/repo/ buster main non-free
  2: deb http://it.mxrepo.com/mx/repo/ buster ahs
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/various.list 
Info:
  Processes: 228 Uptime: 1h 28m Memory: 3.67 GiB used: 1.44 GiB (39.2%) 
  Init: SysVinit v: 2.93 runlevel: 5 default: 5 Compilers: gcc: 8.3.0 
  alt: 8 Shell: quick-system-in running in: quick-system-in inxi: 3.0.36

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:52 am**

Here's a live example:

This (famous :D ) very old laptop's monitor was broken by accident, so I removed even the lid and since a long time using it like a desktop with an old monitor with a simple VGA cable :)

When you boot (no matter you make any settings or not) monitor works. Also (though not required) I disabled LVDS1 (off) and left only VGA (and marked as primary).. Furthermore put a script in Autostart (to keep that setting) .. Consequently: directly external monitor as primary and nothing else.. no LVDS :)

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 6:46 am**

Huckleberry Finn wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:52 am Here's a live example:

This (famous :D ) very old laptop's monitor was broken by accident, so I removed even the lid and since a long time using it like a desktop with an old monitor with a simple VGA cable :)

When you boot (no matter you make any settings or not) monitor works. Also (though not required) I disabled LVDS1 (off) and left only VGA (and marked as primary).. Furthermore put a script in Autostart (to keep that setting) .. Consequently: directly external monitor as primary and nothing else.. no LVDS :)

Thank you for your reply, I don't understand how to implement your solution ... from grub? from xrandr?
I plugged the 1920x1080 monitor to test and I have difficolt to read and write since it blinking... therefore this is my output of xrandr

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Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
HDMI1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 1280mm x 720mm
   1920x1080     60.00*+  50.00    59.94    30.00    25.00    24.00    29.97    23.98  
   1920x1080i    60.00    50.00    48.04    59.94  
   1680x1050     59.88  
   1400x1050     59.95  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1440x900      59.90  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1280x800      59.91  
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1024x768      60.00  
   800x600       60.32  
   720x576       50.00  
   720x576i      50.00  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x480i      60.00    59.94  
   640x480       60.00    59.94

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 7:49 am**

PLX wrote:

I've always used an external monitor and it always worked fine (so it's not a hardware problem).
For six months now, my 1920x1080 monitor blinking and fleackering and I have to plug in a smaller 1366x768 monitor.

Just because a device has a history of working doesn't mean that it will always work. You need to test the 1920x1080 monitor with another laptop to see if the problem recurs.

We also need the make and model of this monitor.

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:28 am**

Yep, the best is to be sure first on another machine whether it's still healthy. (Meanwhile you can also use ARandR from Menu).

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:30 am**

On the bottom side of your Acer laptop there will be a square black sticker (with some white space at the bottom). The white space will have the exact model make and model as written by Acer. I'll need that info.

Also, which cable type are you using to connect the 1920 x 1080 monitor -- VGA, DVI, or HDMI?

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:32 am**

Looks like HDMI:

HDMI1 connected primary 1920x1080

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:49 am**

Huckleberry Finn wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:32 am Looks like HDMI:

HDMI1 connected primary 1920x1080

I missed that, thanks.

Here's my thinking on this: If the 1920 x 1080 monitor tests fine with another laptop, then the cause of the flickering could be a bad cable, a loose connection on either the monitor or the laptop, or the wrong refresh rate being used for the monitor.

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:49 am**

PLX wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am I've always used an external monitor and it always worked fine (so it's not a hardware problem).

...the 1920x1080 monitor is not working since I unplugged the laptop's internal monitor.

...is it possible to force the configuration of the screens to also have an internal monitor disabled? maybe it will solve my problem as it worked fine before

This is what I'd try.
1. Booting up with both monitors connected, open "Display" from the Whisker menu. You should see two monitors displayed since you have two monitors connected.

2. Make the external monitor the Primary since you don't want to use the internal monitor.

3. Make the internal laptop monitor inactive by un-checking the active/inactive button located to the immediate right of the display selection drop-down menu as shown by the arrow in the below image (the image shows the button as enabled/checked - you want this disabled/unchecked). When this is unchecked, the selected display will (should) be disabled.

Display_Make_Inactive.png

That should work. It's worth a try.

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:12 am**

So, you already tried these

PLX wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am - I changed the hdmi cable
...
- I changed the refresh rate

PLX wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am I had an insight the other day, the 1920x1080 monitor is not working since I unplugged the laptop's internal monitor.

I'd say maybe, but this time : the other one works ..

So, did you (if not, can you) try with an old VGA cable? (Or anything other than HDMI). Then at least you can be sure if the monitor itself is ok ...

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:43 am**

j2mcgreg wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:30 am On the bottom side of your Acer laptop there will be a square black sticker (with some white space at the bottom). The white space will have the exact model make and model as written by Acer. I'll need that info.

Also, which cable type are you using to connect the 1920 x 1080 monitor -- VGA, DVI, or HDMI?

EX2540-389Z MFG DATE:2017/06/01
S/N: NXEFHET01172206E713400
SNID: 72202827334

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:53 am**

Stuart_M wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:49 am
PLX wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am I've always used an external monitor and it always worked fine (so it's not a hardware problem).

...the 1920x1080 monitor is not working since I unplugged the laptop's internal monitor.

...is it possible to force the configuration of the screens to also have an internal monitor disabled? maybe it will solve my problem as it worked fine before
This is what I'd try.
1. Booting up with both monitors connected, open "Display" from the Whisker menu. You should see two monitors displayed since you have two monitors connected.

2. Make the external monitor the Primary since you don't want to use the internal monitor.

3. Make the internal laptop monitor inactive by un-checking the active/inactive button located to the immediate right of the display selection drop-down menu as shown by the arrow in the below image (the image shows the button as enabled/checked - you want this disabled/unchecked). When this is unchecked, the selected display will (should) be disabled.
Display_Make_Inactive.png

That should work. It's worth a try.

Thank you Stuart M, this is what I'have done before I removed the lid and always worked fine for me but now it's impossible to do...
Can you share your layout of this configuration ( internal off and external primary on)by open arandr and click save ?
Maybe I was able to force this configuration with an autostart script. Thank you

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:14 am**

Huckleberry Finn wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:12 am So, you already tried these
PLX wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am - I changed the hdmi cable
...
- I changed the refresh rate

PLX wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am I had an insight the other day, the 1920x1080 monitor is not working since I unplugged the laptop's internal monitor.
I'd say maybe, but this time : the other one works ..

So, did you (if not, can you) try with an old VGA cable? (Or anything other than HDMI). Then at least you can be sure if the monitor itself is ok ...

Thank you Huckleberry Finn and all of you that want to fix my problem... My laptop don't have a VGA port ...
But my original question was another , as someone running xrandr have 2 monitor connected when there is only one,
I want to try the opposite , set a laptop monitor connected and disabled when there is only the external.
Maybe this configuration solve my problem
I ask to Stuart M to share his arandr layout with laptop monitor disabled and external enabled primary maybe I can force this configuration with an autostart script

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:31 am**

Till then, here's mine (just to give idea)

#!/bin/sh
xrandr --output VIRTUAL1 --off --output LVDS1 --off --output TV1 --off --output VGA1 --primary --mode 1024x768 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal

You can save a .sh in ARandR with both monitors (or with the other one) and post here then we can try something manually similar to this..

But we don't know whether it'll go on blinking if we turn off all and leave HDMI only (also as primary). (I guess it may go on blinking..)

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:33 am**

Can you tell me what exactly mean when you say that you removed the lid?

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:41 am**

I guess he dismantled it (like me) :)

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:50 am**

PLX here is what my ARandR file looks like from a Live MX-19.4 Flash Drive using two 1920 x 1080 monitors, with one of those disabled (made "inactive"). I am using a PC, not a laptop.

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh
xrandr --output DisplayPort-1 --off --output DisplayPort-0 --off --output DVI-D-0 --off --output HDMI-A-1 --off --output HDMI-A-0 --primary --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal

The two 1920 x 1080 monitors are HDMA-A-0 which is the left Primary and HDMA-A-1 is the right monitor that is disabled.

I am using a GPU (RX-570) with multiple video outputs, but I am only using the two HDMI outputs, the other three (DisplayPort-0, DisplayPort-1, and DVI-D-0) are not connected to anything so you should omit those three listings in the ARandR file I gave since they are not available on your system.

FYI, you can also disable or "make inactive" by going to ARandR in the Whisker Menu > "Outputs" tab > select the monitor to disable by un-checking "Active". Both that and "Display" that I cited in my Post #11 do the same thing.

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:24 pm**

@PLX Also have a look at this thread: viewtopic.php?p=646697#p646697

(Yes, your aim is different, but just to see how it worked: Sometimes you need to first turn off them all, then turn on back the one you want..)

Posted: **Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:51 pm**

Could you please post the make and model of the 1980 x 1080 Monitor? I'm wondering if this just a case where MX has misidentified the monitor and is thus sending the wrong signals to it?

Posted: **Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:06 am**

j2mcgreg wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:51 pm Could you please post the make and model of the 1980 x 1080 Monitor? I'm wondering if this just a case where MX has misidentified the monitor and is thus sending the wrong signals to it?

It's likely right because my monitor Is identified as vestel elektronic instead my monitor Is Medion LIFE P13958
MD 31358 IT
156629.01
MSN: 30027375
SN: 8271835 900661

Posted: **Sat Sep 04, 2021 6:02 am**

And, is the other "smaller 1366x768 monitor" that works fine, connected same way ? Say, exactly with that HDMI cable and port in place of this Medion ?

( Meanwhile, Vestel is an electronics & household products company in Turkey but that monitor is essentially Medion because Vestel makes contracts with some far-east firms and produces them and uses its own brand when marketing ... )

Can you also post the output of ARandR when that's (Medion) connected ? no matter it's blinking ..

Posted: **Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:08 am**

Since your monitor is in reality a TV that's doing double duty I'm now wondering if, with this specific manufacturer, you have to use the TV's remote to select the laptop as the signal source before it will work properly and that you might have to do this every time (because on power-up its default setting is utilized).

Posted: **Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:42 am**

PLX wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:26 am ...I've always used an external monitor and it always worked fine...

...For six months now, my 1920x1080 monitor blinking and fleackering and I have to plug in a smaller 1366x768 monitor.

...I tried old versions of MX, MX kde and other distros

...the 1920x1080 monitor is not working since I unplugged the laptop's internal monitor removing lid.

These are my thoughts:

Is it possible to confirm that the 1920x1080 monitor is working now? The original post said that "...it always worked fine" and "...it worked fine before", but that was six months ago, right? It is possible that it was just a coincidence that the monitor stopped working when the laptop screen was disconnected and the lid removed. However, if it stopped working immediately after disconnecting the screen then I would be thinking the screen removal had more to do with the problem, e.g. something was damaged in the laptop during the removal process, etc. (could be many reasons). If the monitor had ever worked after the laptop screen was removed then I would be thinking the laptop and operating system are probably fine and the problem is with the monitor. Can you be more specific on the timing of when the television/monitor stopped working properly?

1. Test this television/monitor by connecting it to another computer.

2. Test this television/monitor by booting up to the BIOS from the laptop without a screen/lid (this will bypass the operating system controlling the video output). Does it still "flicker"?

3. Test the television/monitor under the same conditions as when it WAS working, e.g. when the laptop's screen and lid were connected. Does it work like it had before?

According to the original post, this television/monitor was working properly when used as an external monitor for a laptop with its screen and lid connected, presumably six months ago. If Step 3 can be done and the monitor does not work now like it did six months ago, then I think it could be safely said that the monitor is defective, especially if the monitor fails all three tests.

Edit: removed 5th line in quote window (partial duplicate of line above it)

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