mouse cursor goes off screen SOLVED!

[dougmack]

Just recently found that the mouse cursor can go off screen to the right and to the bottom, whereas it terminates OK at the top and left.  I don't remember this
happening before recently.  When the cursor goes off the screen, it can go _way_ off: 3 spins of the trackball to the right, will take it to a far never-never land,
and it takes 3 spins in the other direction to bring it back.  Is this intended?  Can it be fixed?  It's very annoying, because sometimes the cursor is in this other
dimension, and not on the screen, and you don't know how to bring ti back!  

All suggestions gladly accepted!  --doug

[gseaman]

I don't know how it happened, but your desktop is larger than your screen resolution. This happens to me when I add an external monitor for my laptop. It automatically clones the laptop screen but with the same aspect ratio, but with a different resolution. When I want to set it back, I go into "PCC -> Hardware -> Configure video card" and select the correct resolution for the screen I want. Then, alt-ctrl-bkspace, to login with the new resolution.

Galen

[dougmack]

Well, I tried what you suggested.  This is a Viewsonic VX2450WM.  It was set for automatic; I set it for 1920X1440, which I think is the correct resolution--everything
came up the same size--but I still have the problem.  As mentioned, I am trying (so far without success--I have a q into NVidia to help me--) to add a TV set to the
video output, so I would have two monitors, effectively, but they should both show the same thing. I just want to be able to watch some missed TV shows and
maybe a couple of movies available on the 'net, on the TV.  Several things I notice:  PCC knows the model of the monitor, but now in the line where it says monitor,
it says Toshiba, which is the TV.  (I'm still looking at the VX--the TV is in another room!) When I set up the res, it knew the VX2450WM, but when it says choose a
monitor from the list, the list does not include that monitor! Another thing:  in "Options" there is a check box to force duplicate display on second monitor, but when I
close the window and then open it again, that check-off is gone.  (Maybe that's why I can't get a display on the TV.) Anyway, just tried to "Force DVI" whatever that means, and now I have to reboot, so I'll send this first, before it's lost.

--doug

[gseaman]

Ok, this is a little more complicated than I knew. First, what video card and driver are you using? What is the model and resolution of the TV? How did you confirm the maximum resolution of the Viewsonic monitor?

I am not an expert with this feature, but I'm starting to play around with it a little. Hopefully, someone will come along a help us figure it out.

Galen

[CJ]

This is a Viewsonic VX2450WM.  It was set for automatic; I set it for 1920X1440, which I think is the correct resolution

Doug, as far as I can tell on the net, the correct resolution for that monitor should be 1920x1080.

That might explain why you are seeing the pointer move off the bottom, though not the right-hand side.

I suspect that your Toshiba may not be seen as duplicate, but additional screen space.

Do you have an xorg.conf file in use?
Also, try checking the KDE control centre, Hardware -> Display & Monitor -> Multiple Monitors. (This would not be the area I personally would use to set up dual display, but just to check that something is not 'hijacked' from there.)

Cheers!
CJ

[dougmack]

Yes, I have xorg.conf.  Message in suggested path says:" This module is only for configuring systems with a single desktop spread across multiple monitors.  You do not appear
to have this configuration."  It is correct.  The monitor is now set for 1920 x 1080, as per xorg.conf.. (I reset it back to automatic in PCC.) I suspect that the TV is set for the wrong resolution.  I don't know what hi-def is supposed to be--the  Toshiba is a 1080P set.  For screen 1, xorg says the res is:  Option "metamodes" "DFP: nvidia-auto-select +0+0" Further down under "Monitor" is says: "
# TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
    # 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     50.00  768  832  846 1000   576  590  595  630 
 
    # 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     63.07  768  800  960 1024   576  578  590  616
I guess I don't understand what xorg is telling me--it seems to conflict with itself in various places.

--doug

[T6]

from this link

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/vx2450wmled.htm

yes, it is 1080p, 1920x1080 24" display

[CJ]

The Toshiba would then appear to be 1920x1080 also (if, as I assume, it is 16/9 widescreen).
In other words, there should be no discrepancy in having a dual head on the two.

I have set up a few dual-screen layouts but only with extended screen area. When I am on my main PC (with two screens) later today, I shall try to have a play-around and see what I can do.

Btw. one thing that intrigued me: You said this only started to happen after an update. You made no other changes that you are aware of?
Also, what graphic card are you using, and what connection do you use for the Toshiba (and is it connected permanently or do you unplug when not in use)?

Cheers!
CJ

[CJ]

Doug, I had a quick play-around with my xorg.conf.

(! I am not expert on this, far from, so...: Please make sure you have a backup of your xorg befor following my advise !)

All I had to do was insert the following bits (in red):

###############
Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1920x1200"
    EndSubsection

   Option "TwinView" "1"
   Option "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"

   Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1920x1200_60 +0+0, DFP-1: 1920x1200_60 +0+0;"
EndSection
###############

If you are unplugging and plugging your Toshiba as per need, I suggest the last line reads:
###############
    Option "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1920x1200_60 +0+0, DFP-1: 1920x1200_60 +0+0;DFP-0: 1920x1200_60 +0+0, DFP-1: NULL;"
###############
In order for it to have a fall-back, should your Toshiba not be found.

Note 1:
You obviously have to change the resolution to yours (i.e. 1920x1080). The figure after the underscore is the refresh rate, it should match your modelines.

Note 2:
The DFP-0 and DFP-1 in the metamodes line is (simply put) referring to the DVI-out. Alternatives are e.g. CRT-0 (for VGA), TV-0, LCD.
(These codes refer to the output on your card, not what the display unit actually is!)

As for the modelines, they are giving you the options available. I admit to ignorance as to how much they are used; they are mostly generated by PCC on your little workhorse.

If you need to generate a modeline for yourself to insert in xorg (I normally do and then remove the ones I don't use ever, to avoid confusion), use the following command (again, changing to match your circumstance):

Code: [Select]

gtf 1920 1200 60(Format is: gtf x-res y-res refresh-rate.)


If you are unplugging your Toshiba as per use, you can insert more options in the metamodes line, and you can make a dynamic switch with use of xrandr - but that's for later.


It has been a while since I have been playing around with this, but I hope that you can make head and tail of what I have written (and that I haven't made too many mistakes).

All the best...
CJ

EDIT: Not in code tags as the colour does not take inside.

[gseaman]

Excellent post, CJ! This could be very helpful to anyone whose configuration is not correctly detected.

Galen

[dougmack]

Hi, CJ--

I entered the code you specified, in the version where the Toshiba might not be connected.  There is no picture on the TV at all, and the screen is black.
My monitor is still working, thank Heavens!  I don't know anything about modelines, and there does not seem to be a line in the xorg.conf with gtf in it.

Here is the screen section--I thought I did it right:

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Device1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1920x1080_60 +0+0, DFP-1: 1920x1080_60 +0+0;DFP-0:1920x1080_60 +0+0,DFP-1: NULL;"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Have I messed it up somehow?   --doug

[CJ]

Firstly, one minor thing: The 'gtf' command is not from xorg.conf, but a command that you run in a terminal.
This should give you a modeline you can insert into xorg.conf along the other ones.

As for xorg.conf, it looks fine to me, but you haven't said how the Toshiba is connected to the graphic card. Is it through VGA; HDMI, TV-out, or...?
You have copied the DFP-1 from my example (in the metamodes line). It might not be right, depending on how your TV is physically connected.

One silly thing - that we should perhaps have tried to look at first - would be to open the Nvidia settings dialogue (start menu, More Applications, Configuration, Nvidia Display Settings)... not so much to fix this, but maybe it can do a better job at identifying your Toshiba so we know what Nvidia thinks it is)?


As for your monitor still working... I hope you did back up your xorg.conf before trying this? In case things go sideways, we can restore it.

Cheers!
CJ

[dougmack]

I have entered the gtf command, and seen the output as follows:

[doug@Linux1 ~]$ gtf 1920 1080 60

  # 1920x1080 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 67.08 kHz; pclk: 172.80 MHz
  Modeline "1920x1080_60.00"  172.80  1920 2040 2248 2576  1080 1081 1084 1118  -HSync +Vsync

I have gone to the Display window, and found that the size is right, the Refresh it says is 50.0 Hz (!) Even after I tell it Auto, it reverts to 50 Hz. 

Primary output says None, identify outputs says default, there is no mention of a second display.

The TV is connected via its HDMI input by means of a cable with (what I think is) DVI connection on the NVidia card--it is above the same-type connector where
I have the monitor plugged in.  One thing I tried was to swap the outputs--then both screens were black.  I don't have a cable with the small HDMI on the video
card end to try, but maybe I should buy one.

Somewhere along the way, I again have the mouse cursor running off screen to the right into the 4th dimension.(But no into the bottom, this time.)

I not only have backed up the xorg.conf, it appears that the nvidia-settings command does that automatically--there are several versions, labelled .old, and .backup,
dated yesterday.

I appreciate your input.  --doug

[CJ]

Doug, no problem, I just wish I could be of more help.

So your mouse is again zoning out? Seems that it finds a display head to disappear to, it is just not showing on your screen.

I seem to recall - from some time ago - that there was an issue with Nvidia reporting non-accurate refresh rates for multiple screens... but that was to the effect of saying 51 instead of 50 to differentiate the two screens only.
My point is, however, that I am not sure we can trust the refresh rate reported in the Nvidia Display Settings. (Refresh rates don't work the same way for digital displays anyway, apparently.)

I have read over your initial posts, but can't seems to establish: did you ever have output to the Toshiba?
That fact that you have changed the plugs around and get both blank is bothering.

Just out of curiosity, would it be possible to connect the Toshiba only and start up with a live disk - you know, just to see if it is detected out of the box. (If it works, possible try the same changing the plug to the second DVI out to confirm that they both work.)
Also - if this works - do the 'gtf' command while on the tv and get that down.

Lastly, could I get you to paste your full xorg.conf here? (It might also pull in someone more knowledgeable than me with better ideas.)


Again, I am not on my main PC, but I shall check a few more things tomorrow.


Gosh, it has been so long since I have had to do this, so I am a bit rusty to say the least - and I was never that much of an expert in the first place... but hopefully we shall get there.

CJ

[dougmack]

Just read your latest reply.  I will try those suggestions--booting from a Live disk, and see if the TV is recognized.  I think I may have mentioned that I did have
computer video on the TV from a (different) Windows 7 machine, with a different video card.  There was eventually some problems with it--I don't remember what--
and I disconnected it.  I have never had TV video from this NVidia card. 

Before I got the latest post, I wrote the following:

It occurs to me that I have XP on this machine also, in dual-boot mode. I normally don't boot into it, but I could get the NVidia driver for XP and see if I can get
the TV recognized from there--it looks like there is more wiggle room in the Windows driver gui.  However, if I do that successfully, is there any way of determining
what the parameters are set at?  Being that Windows is so deliberately obscure to the user.  I guess I'll try it, anyway.  Can't hurt.

It looks like the HDMI connector on the video card is standard size, so I have ordered a cable with HDMI on both ends, just in case it makes a difference.  At first glance,
it looked like it was a miniature size, but it measures 1/2" just like the ones on the TV.

I am posting the present version of xorg.conf.  I note that somewhere along the way, the giant listing of speeds and resolutions got left out.  I don't know if that matters.
I didn't do it, it must be the nvidia-settings or maybe the Linux display-video settings that edited them out.  Here's the whole megilla:

[doug@Linux1 ~]$ cat xorg.conf
cat: xorg.conf: No such file or directory
[doug@Linux1 ~]$ cd /etc/X11
[doug@Linux1 X11]$ cat xorg.conf
# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 295.33  (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-06.nvidia.com)  Sat Mar 17 16:01:34 PDT 2012

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    FontPath        "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from data in "/etc/sysconfig/keyboard"
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "us"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"                                                                                                                   
EndSection                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                         
Section "Monitor"                                                                                                                                       
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid                                                                                                   
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "ViewSonic VX2450 SERIES"
    HorizSync       24.0 - 82.0
    VertRefresh     50.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Toshiba TSB-TV"
    HorizSync       15.0 - 68.0
    VertRefresh     23.0 - 76.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 550 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 550 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "CRT: 1920x1080 +0+0; CRT: 1600x900 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Device1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP-0: 1920x1080_60 +0+0, DFP-1: 1920x1080_60 +0+0;DFP-0:1920x1080_60 +0+0,DFP-1: NULL;"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection


Hope there's something useful in there.  I'll try the Live disk trick after supper, which is now.

--doug



--doug