Enable VGA output on HP/Compaq Laptop?

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1

When connecting my Laptop (HP 6910p) to an external monitor, the monitor says “no signal”, but indicates correct electrical connection. This makes me conclude that the VGA port is not outputting anything.

Trying to activate it using “Fn”+“F4” (XF86Display) brings nothing. Looking at the shortcut keys mapping shows that XF86Display is not mapped.
OK. That can be fixed, but I’ve no idea how to map it.

Second issue: is the VGA port even active? I’ve no idea, and no clue on how to make it active.
Here’s the relevant section output of my “sudo lshw” command:

 *-pci
      description: Host bridge
      product: Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub
      vendor: Intel Corporation
      physical id: 100
      bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
      version: 0c
      width: 32 bits
      clock: 33MHz
    *-display:0
         description: VGA compatible controller
         product: Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (primary)
         vendor: Intel Corporation
         physical id: 2
         bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
         version: 0c
         width: 64 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
         configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
         resources: irq:16 memory:e4300000-e43fffff memory:d0000000-dfffffff ioport:4000(size=8) memory:c0000-dffff
    *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
         description: Display controller
         product: Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (secondary)
         vendor: Intel Corporation
         physical id: 2.1
         bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
         version: 0c
         width: 64 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
         configuration: latency=0
         resources: memory:e4400000-e44fffff

The “UNCLAIMED” part seems to be a problem as well.

Where should I look for solving this? Does anyone have a brilliant answer?

Thanks.

OS: Lubuntu 20.04.5-131
Please don’t send me the old song about upgrading to the latest and greatest.

2

While probably not relevant to this particular issue, this is not actually irrelevant. The Lubuntu Team stopped supporting it a while ago and you only have month’s of support from the Ubuntu community. So you better start paying attention to the lyrics of said song now if you don’t want to hear a lot of it real soon.

That said, what’s xrandr tell you?

2 Likes
3

I’ll provide the warning notice of Lubuntu 20.04 LTS EOL.

https://lubuntu.me/lubuntu-20-04-lts-end-of-life-and-current-support-statuses/

You do realize you’re asking for support AFTER we’ve ended support.

2 Likes
4

For Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, this support will last until 31 May 2025 so is supported…just not for very long

6

They made switch to qt and also kwin could be used, which is wide supported. If instead used old version before switch to lxqt(need upgrade probably to 24.04 due 22.04 not so lubuntu stable for lxqt, but 24.04 could have additional issues…), so if there is upgrade to some lxqt(maybe with kwin under hood, but that is also an option), some control settings could be used for output.

If still on lxde on 20.04, then maybe some xorg settings has to be set(with control centre or probably also with xrandr), but also maybe some driver need to be used for old Intels, like crocus driver which is setup in dri settings for intel instead of old mesa version before switch to crocus by default in 22.04 or 24.04(maybe default in mesa, don’t know, then still intel will be used). Crocus is switch for mesa for old intel drivers and it is default development since then for this drivers.

7

Thanks for your reply.
20.04 is lxqt, no issue there. I don’t expect need for an extra driver, both the built-in screen and the VGA output use the same chipset.
Also, I don’t see this as an lxqt problem, this is more basic and in the kernel, which is still supported.
I attach the xrandr output.

macro@1dk6910p:~$ sudo xrandr
[sudo] password for macro:
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 800, maximum 8192 x 8192
LVDS-1 connected primary 1280x800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 303mm x 190mm
1280x800 60.00*+ 59.99 59.97 59.81 59.91
1280x720 60.00 59.99 59.86 59.74
1024x768 60.04 60.00
960x720 60.00
928x696 60.05
896x672 60.01
1024x576 59.95 59.96 59.90 59.82
960x600 59.93 60.00
960x540 59.96 59.99 59.63 59.82
800x600 60.00 60.32 56.25
840x525 60.01 59.88
864x486 59.92 59.57
800x512 60.17
700x525 59.98
800x450 59.95 59.82
640x512 60.02
720x450 59.89
700x450 59.96 59.88
640x480 60.00 59.94
720x405 59.51 58.99
684x384 59.88 59.85
680x384 59.80 59.96
640x400 59.88 59.98
576x432 60.06
640x360 59.86 59.83 59.84 59.32
512x384 60.00
512x288 60.00 59.92
480x270 59.63 59.82
400x300 60.32 56.34
432x243 59.92 59.57
320x240 60.05
360x202 59.51 59.13
320x180 59.84 59.32
VGA-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DVI-D-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
SVIDEO-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
macro@1dk6910p:~$

8

That’s the answer to your question. If the kernel didn’t recognize the port, then you wouldn’t see that.

If it doesn’t recognize the display that’s connected to it there are only two possibilities, both hardware issues related to the:

  1. Display itself
  2. VGA cable
9

Usually the experience I’ve had with similar issue, is that there is a keystroke sequence to enable external monitors. I’ve seen this in Dell’s, IBM’s, Hp’s, etc some not all.

Those that require /utilize a keystroke will have a small monitor icon on the top row of keys, which mean the Fn button plus button identified that cycles the output usually internal 1 push, external 2nd push, internal and external on the third push. then cycles back.
Then in some models a quick Bios setting is required to allow the key stroke. (rarely in my experience, but can’t be ruled out)
and yes this ties in with @wxl statement above if the hardware /systemboard shunt’s the circuit you won’t see it.

10

@wxl
Sorry, brain fart from my side.
With the cable plugged in, xrandr look like this:

macro@1dk6910p:~$ sudo xrandr
[sudo] password for macro:
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 800, maximum 8192 x 8192
LVDS-1 connected primary 1280x800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 303mm x 190mm
1280x800 60.00*+ 59.99 59.97 59.81 59.91
1280x720 60.00 59.99 59.86 59.74
1024x768 60.04 60.00
960x720 60.00
928x696 60.05
896x672 60.01
1024x576 59.95 59.96 59.90 59.82
960x600 59.93 60.00
960x540 59.96 59.99 59.63 59.82
800x600 60.00 60.32 56.25
840x525 60.01 59.88
864x486 59.92 59.57
800x512 60.17
700x525 59.98
800x450 59.95 59.82
640x512 60.02
720x450 59.89
700x450 59.96 59.88
640x480 60.00 59.94
720x405 59.51 58.99
684x384 59.88 59.85
680x384 59.80 59.96
640x400 59.88 59.98
576x432 60.06
640x360 59.86 59.83 59.84 59.32
512x384 60.00
512x288 60.00 59.92
480x270 59.63 59.82
400x300 60.32 56.34
432x243 59.92 59.57
320x240 60.05
360x202 59.51 59.13
320x180 59.84 59.32
VGA-1 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
1920x1080 60.00 +
1280x1024 60.02
1360x768 60.02
1280x720 60.00
1024x768 60.00
800x600 60.32
640x480 59.94
DVI-D-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
SVIDEO-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
macro@1dk6910p:~$

Looks OK to me.

11

This is exactly the behaviour I expect. The key is “Fn”+“F4” and returns “XF86Display”.
The problem is, I’ve no idea which command it needs to execute. THAT is my question.

Thanks.

12

I think it’s solved.
I associated the following command to the Fn+F4 key combo:
xrandr --output VGA-1 --auto

It works, but will not cycle the output as described above. But it’s good enough. I can activate and use the VGA port.

Thanks.

13

Make a script to check the state and select one or the other monitor depending on which one is primary. Then have the key run that.

P.S.: if it’s solved, don’t change the topic to “blah blah blah (SOLVED)” but click the solution button at the bottom of the right post:
image

14

Fixed. I’m not used to the new forum.

15

No problem. Trying to help that along :slight_smile:

If you need any other help, let us know!

16

Sorry, I’m not a programmer, just a user. Simply toggling the VGA output would be ideal. But outside my competences.

17

Update:
after searching around, I was able to concoct a script that toggles the VGA output:

#!/bin/bash
extern=VGA-1

if xrandr | grep “$extern connected (”; then
xrandr --output “$extern” --auto
else
xrandr --output “$extern” --off
fi

Works perfectly, is placed in /usr/bin and is executed from “Fn+F4”. Oddly, it changes the Lubuntu desktop appearance, but all other windows on the laptop display are unaffected.
Oh, well.

1 Like
18

I’m not sure I understand what you mean here.

19

Badly explained, sorry.

With the script above, the toggle on/off of the VGA port works perfectly.
The local screen stays at 1280 x 800 and the external screen is at 1920 x 1080.
All active windows/programs look the same on both screens. Perfect.

But when enabling the external VGA screen, the desktop (on both screens) is rearranged, the icons are moved to the left and are larger. Very odd.
If I turn off the VGA output (Fn+F4 again), the desktop on the laptop returns to its normal look.

No idea of the cause, but no big deal. Important is that my applications look OK when doing presentations on a projector.

20

Ok, so the auto switch does one of two things according to the manual:

  1. For connected (I take this to mean “plugged in”) but disabled (this is more what you were trying to figure out above) outputs: enable using preferred mode
  2. For disconnected but enabled outputs: disable them

There’s a preferred switch that that does the same thing, but doesn’t enable or disable. Maybe switch auto with with preferred?

Off, by the way, disables.

21

Doesn’t matter. It simply works.