Recently I was searching for new information on the issue on Ubuntu forums, which I had been doing regularly once every several months, and ran across the topic which stated that Xubuntu 8.10 works with an external monitor (through VGA–output), but doesn’t want to work with internal LCD. I don’t recall I’ve attempted that before, so, out of scientific interest, I had tried different Ubuntu versions with an external monitor.

Turned out that Ubuntu and Xubuntu 7.04 didn’t work even so, and Ubuntu 8.10 was being corked at the known problem with on-board Intel chipset while using compiz (interface visual effects), which I’d encountered couple weeks back. I couldn’t find CDs with 8.04, but since the “Intel + compiz” issue didn’t extend on that version, I suspect it could also work with an external monitor. Out of what I had only Xubuntu 8.10 worked through VGA-output from the beginning and without problems, so I concentrated on attempts to make Xubuntu friends with an internal LCD. More over, I did want to use Xfce as graphic environment less demanding to the system.

Solution

Researching the question, I’ve found much information about complex adjustments to /etc/X11/xorg.conf configuration file, and even about necessity to degrade laptop’s BIOS to version 8. I, finally, was able to force X.org to show itself on an internal monitor (even using latest, 11^th version of BIOS), and then, using scientific trial-and-error method (testing different combinations and commenting out lines that weren’t needed in the configuration file), I determined three minimal conditions for it to work:

• Direct indication of graphics driver (Driver "intel") in spite of X.org’s built-in means of automatic detection that are new to Ubuntu. It’s mportant to use exactly the new universal “intel” driver, but not the old “i810”.
• Direct indication for X.org to use LVDS–output (internal connection to LCD): Option "monitor-LVDS" "Configured Monitor".
• Indication to use preferred resolution: (Option "PreferredMode" "1024x768").

Thus, with minimal changes to xorg.conf, I was able to make Xubuntu 8.10 and internal LCD-monitor understand one another. That solves my problems, but doesn’t allow, however, to use internal and external monitors at the same time (although I don’t think it is so important on such a weak machine), for instance. There are possibly other limitations. Quite probable that degrading BIOS to 8^th version or more complex settings in xorg.conf will allow use of “i810” driver, to work with two monitors and so on, but this solution serves my goal, and the purpose of this article.

So, the full variant of the xorg.conf configuration file code with minimal adjustments to default settings fresh after system install (changes highlighted):

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
	Driver		"intel"
	Option		"monitor-LVDS" "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
	Option		"PreferredMode" "1024x768"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Monitor		"Configured Monitor"
	Device		"Configured Video Device"
EndSection