Welcome the n00b with Dual Monitor and Sound Card Questions

**modestmelody** · 09-19-2005

I am new to the world of Linux, using Ubuntu on a friends suggestion. I am having some problems with my setup so I figured I'd post a few questions here. FIrst off, I've been trying to setup my dual display to no avail. I attached my xorg.conf file that I thought I had properly setup.
Second, I have no sound. I did start up the ALSA drivers (/etc/init.d/alsa start I think) but still nothing. I have a Voyetra Turtlebeach Santa Cruz sound card.
Third, I've been wondering about installing KDE. It seems to have more support. Anyone know a place I can read on the + and - of the two?
Fourth, and finally. Does anyone know a decent book that I can use to get started with? I've learned a lot the past few days but I feel like it's mostly memorizing certain situations and not really learning how to use the terminal etc.

**modestmelody** · 09-19-2005

Forgot to add the contents of the file:
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following commands:
#
# cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.custom
# sudo sh -c 'md5sum /etc/X11/xorg.conf >/var/lib/xfree86/xorg.conf.md5sum'
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
FontPath "unix/:7100" # local font server
# if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# paths to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "record"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Primary"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "geForce 6800GT"
BusID "PCI:5:0:0"
Screen "First"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Secondary"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "geForce 6800GT"
BusID "PCI:5:0:0"
Screen "Second"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "SyncMaster"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Dell"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "First"
Device "Primary"
Monitor "Dell"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Second"
Device "Secondary"
Monitor "SyncMaster"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "First"
Screen "Second" RightOf "First"
Option "Xinerama" "On"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

**Vergil83** · 09-19-2005

for the sound run

Code:

alsaconf

it should find your sound card. Then run

Code:

alsamixer

to unmute the speakers...

Here are a few links for the dual moniters (I have never done it, or tried myself)
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Xinerama-HOWTO/
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Dual_Monitors (I know you don't have gentoo, but it should still help)
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-31686.html

**modestmelody** · 09-19-2005

Thanks for alsamixer. Actually, I believe this has helped me find the true problem-- right now, Linux thinks I am using the onboard audio (I'm to lazy to switch to see if that'll work). How can I switch it to the sound card I am using?

I'll check those sites to see if there something that I haven't yet done.

**modestmelody** · 09-20-2005

Ok well I tried going through the tutorials you posted for dual monitors, but when I entered the last step

Code:

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option "Xinerama" "true"
  
EndSection

X can no longer startup and I am forced to replace what I did with my backup xorg.conf file.[/code]

**Vergil83** · 09-20-2005

Originally Posted by modestmelody

Thanks for alsamixer. Actually, I believe this has helped me find the true problem-- right now, Linux thinks I am using the onboard audio (I'm to lazy to switch to see if that'll work). How can I switch it to the sound card I am using?

I'll check those sites to see if there something that I haven't yet done.

turn off that onboard sound in the bios

Originally Posted by modestmelody

Ok well I tried going through the tutorials you posted for dual monitors, but when I entered the last step

Code:

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option "Xinerama" "true"
  
EndSection

X can no longer startup and I am forced to replace what I did with my backup xorg.conf file.[/code]

do you have Xinerama installed?

Code:

apt-get install libxinerama1

**modestmelody** · 09-20-2005

Well you fixed my sound (just had to turn off in the bios and my sound card appeared as an option).

I had Xinerama installed and the newest version.

**Vergil83** · 09-20-2005

what does

Code:

/var/log/Xorg.0.log

say? It should have some more info why it failed when you included the xinerama line....

**Brayn** · 09-23-2005

ive got my ati radeon 9200se working with dual screen.

heres my xorg.cong:

Code:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf &#40;xorg X Window System server configuration file&#41;
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# &#40;Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.&#41;
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following commands&#58;
#
#   cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.custom
#   sudo sh -c 'md5sum /etc/X11/xorg.conf >/var/lib/xfree86/xorg.conf.md5sum'
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
	FontPath	"unix/&#58;7100"			# local font server
	# if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/&#58;unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/&#58;unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        # paths to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"dbe"
	Load	"ddc"
	Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	Load	"record"
	Load	"type1"
	Load	"vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"keyboard"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "Monitor0"
	VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
	ModelName    "Monitor 1600x1200"
	DisplaySize  370	280
	HorizSync    31.5 - 94.0
	VertRefresh  50.0 - 90.0
	Option	    "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "Monitor1"
	VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
	ModelName    "Monitor 1280x1024"
	HorizSync    31.5 - 79.0
	VertRefresh  50.0 - 90.0
	Option	    "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Videocard0"
	Driver      "radeon"
	VendorName  "Videocard vendor"
	BoardName   "ATI Radeon 9200SE"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Videocard1"
	Driver      "radeon"
	VendorName  "Videocard Vendor"
	BoardName   "ATI Radeon 9200SE"
	BusID       "PCI&#58;1&#58;0&#58;0"
	Screen      1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     16
		Modes    "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     24
		Modes    "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1152x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen1"
	Device     "Videocard1"
	Monitor    "Monitor1"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     24
		Modes    "1600x1200"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
	Group        0
	Mode         0666
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier     "Multihead layout"
	Screen      0  "Screen0" LeftOf "Screen1"
	Screen      1  "Screen1" 0 0
	InputDevice    "Configured Mouse" "CorePointer"
	InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard" "CoreKeyboard"
	Option	    "Xinerama" "on"
	Option	    "Clone" "off"
EndSection

hope that helps

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