[SOLVED] Is it possible to install two video drivers in PCLOS?

[buckeye]

I'm wondering if PCLOS allows installation of multiple video drivers.  I've got integrated intel video on-board and an ATI in a PCI slot and would like both drivers installed for a dual screen config.  The PCLOS hardware configurator sees both video controllers.  After boot, PCLOS is even sending sync signals to the monitor plugged into the intel controller.  But only the ATI controller is accessible through the gui configuration tools.  I can't adjust any of the intel video parameters, and I can't spread my desktop over the two controller.  Funny thing is, during boot, both monitors show different pieces of the boot process.  After boot, can't paint anything on the intel surface.  The PCLOS hardware configurator does not allow me to select one of several video drivers like it does for audio hardware.  All configuration operations are done on the ATI driver in the PCI slot.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 

[T6]

a intel integrated video card normally is disabled when you plug another card in a pci, pci express or agp port in the mainboard

some bios allows to have both working but are few, mostly modern mainboards using a amd onboard and another amd to use the onboard to save power and the other amd when a app needs a full graphics power video card, some models can make work both the way you need

there was a post long time ago explaining how to use two real video cards connected to the system to do what you mention but both were connected to the mainboard, not one connected and other onboard

in your case it is more simple to forget the onboard disabled card and put a new card with two or more outputs, maybe two dvi or one dvi and one vga or hdmi outputs

[buckeye]

thanks for your quick reply.  in my case, the bios allows simultaneous use of both videos as is evidenced by the fact both cards are used during the boot.  I quick put-up a copy for WinXP, which directly supports use of multiple video drivers, and sure enough both videos work and i've got dual monitors in XP.  In PCLOS, the 2nd monitor does not go into power save which tells me the os knows enough to send blank video to the monitor.  However none of the gui tools know enough to deal with it.  maybe i could hack on the conf files if i knew which ones and what to do.  i've done that sort of thing before and am not totally opposed to doing some file edits.

i've searched the forums and was unable to find the thread you mentioned.  i found some stuff about a utility which helps install two drivers.  it works by creating 2 conf files like intel.conf and ati.conf.  but it was for arch.  is there something like that for pclos?

[T6]

"maybe i could hack on the conf files if i knew which ones and what to do"

xorg.conf is the one to hack

"i've searched the forums and was unable to find the thread you mentioned"

and you won't because it was for 2009 and possibly it doesn't exist anymore

all required was to add two sections on xorg.conf but i can't remember what both sections were

maybe was old pollack, can't remember

one question, why don't you just use one?  that way you use less power and configuration remains simple to use, the ati surely can handle two monitors

[buckeye]

no, ati is a single vga monitor only.

[T6]

so this is very old hardware

still sounds more simple to do to put a new video card

[buckeye]

so this is very old hardware

still sounds more simple to do to put a new video card

yes & no. MB is current with 4G, dual core, and intel graphics. PCI video is a little older, ATI Rage 128Pro.

As for new video card, might or might not be simpler. seems a crap shoot. modern video cards are beasts requiring near 20A from the +12V supply. Doubt my PS can do that. I don't need fast graphics, but need lots of desktop space.  So shopping and waiting for a new video card isn't always easier and faster, not to mention more expensive.  If PCLOS can be configured for dual drivers, then that's just a bit of editing.

[T6]

you need a new video card

forget that ati, just forget it

a new video card, any passive cooled video card will be perfect for you, small, no fan, low power consumption, support and 3 video outputs

[buckeye]

Bob's my uncle! Found an EVGA nVidia 8400 GS on the local Craigslist for $15.  Configuration took about 30 seconds, and you know what?...  The computer seems about a dozen times faster! Thanks for pushing me over the edge on that expenditure!

[T6]

sorry to be annoying but in your case it was worth it

don't forget to mark this as (SOLVED)

[buckeye]

I don't believe it for a minute! You are not the least bit sorry for being annoying.

Hey some more questions...  On my other PCLOS system I'm using Compiz.  I tried to install it on the new one, but Synaptic won't install it because of broken dependencies.  I'm working with a clean system that started as 11.04, and was fully updated with Synaptic so it's probably 11.06 now.

1) Should I even want to install Compiz?

2) How would I go about doing that?

thanks

[T6]

i haven't installed compiz in a year

i remember that Texstar wrote that there was a task-compiz or similar, maybe task-3d in synaptic

[djohnston]

I tried to install it on the new one, but Synaptic won't install it because of broken dependencies.

Specifics. What are the errors? Also, what desktop? Are you running KDE?

[buckeye]

Here are some specifics:

Yes, I'm running KDE.


I tried to install "compiz" and got this:

Could not mark all packages for installation or upgrade

compiz:
 Depends: libcompiz0 (= 0.8.4-3pclos2010)
 Depends: compiz-decorator
 Depends: libdecoration.so.0

A search did not find any of the above 3 items in the repo.  My repo is:

http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/pclinuxos/apt/

[Texstar]

I don't believe it for a minute! You are not the least bit sorry for being annoying.

Hey some more questions...  On my other PCLOS system I'm using Compiz.  I tried to install it on the new one, but Synaptic won't install it because of broken dependencies.  I'm working with a clean system that started as 11.04, and was fully updated with Synaptic so it's probably 11.06 now.

1) Should I even want to install Compiz?

2) How would I go about doing that?

thanks

Install task-3ddesktop