Graphics driver acting strange

[MTK]

I have a dual monitor setup, and I noticed that when I installed the nVidia graphics driver, it kind of put the displays together so Linux thinks it is one monitor. This might be OK, but the problem is that I am running them at different resolutions, so there is this big piece of desktop that cannot be seen because Linux thinks is is just a big, strectched "Unknown" monitor instead of the proper shape (smaller on one side), thanks to the nVidia driver. If I happen to drag a window in there, it is very difficult to get it out.

Also when I click save to X11 configuration file in the driver settings, it fails because it does not have permissions, so I have to copy and paste the preview and do a lot of copying and switching to root to make it stay.

Note that I have the smaller monitor shifted to the bottom, this is because Linux doesn't know that it is not the main monitor and so popup messages from the bottom would otherwise be unseen (though I would really like the monitor to be to the top).

And lastly, it thinks the smaller monitor is a CRT.

[Lazydog]

If you are talking about the driver that you download from nVidia then in the K menu under System-Tools there should be NVIDIA X Server Settings. If I am not mistaking you should be able to set this up in there. I only run a single monitor here but have found this tool to be very helpful.

[MTK]

I'm not sure what the K menu is (maybe you are using KDE), but the screenshot with the error message in my previous post was the X server settings.

I did not find anything that could help there. I just wonder, is there a way for the Fedora display settings to be able to see the monitors seperate, Instead of the driver abstracting it to one big monitor (They were seperate before I installed the driver).

[waterhead]

You need to have root permissions to save the settings. Start the program from the terminal, but first gain root privileges using the su command.

su <enter>
Password:

nvidia-settings

[MTK]

That's good, but what about the way it doesn't tell the OS that it's actually 2 monitors?

I made a small diagram in the attachment.

[waterhead]

You can change the display settings using the nVidia configuration program. I don't have dual monitors. but I believe you use the "X Server Diplay Cofiguration" section. There is "Configuration:" option, and you want it as "Seperate X Screen". If you want to have the same diplay on both, I think that you woul then choose the "Twinview" option, although I am not sure.

Then select "Save to X Configuration File". You will most likely have to restart the X Server after making changes. Either logout, and back in, or reboot.

[MTK]

I did that, but it treats them as completely seperate desktops, so that I cannot move windows from one desktop to another, both monitors have their own GNOME Panels, and windows it the big monitor do not have a titlebar!

[waterhead]

Then don't chose Twinview, and see what that gives you.

I think that what you want is called Xinerama, but I don't know what nVidia calls it.

[MTK]

The only options it provides are:

Disabled

Separate X Screen

TwinView

[waterhead]

I am really not sure what you want these screens to do, that they currently aren't doing. You may want to read up on the nVidia configuration settings:

Chapter*15.*Configuring Multiple X Screens on One Card
Chapter*13.*Configuring TwinView

This method requires manually editing the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. You need root permissions to edit that file.