1

I have been using a second monitor for a while now, and until I connected it to our TV via the VGA port everything went well.

Then, yesterday morning, after I unplugged the VGA cable from the TV and hooked it back on to the second monitor, I was surprised to see that the resolution was set to just 1024x768 rather than the 1680X1050 it should be.

enter image description here

Following the instructions I found at Screen resolution stuck at 1024x768, I managed to add a new resolution of 1366x768 however, the top icons are half off the screen, and the other icons on the second monitor are still huge. another problem at that resolution is that there is about a quarter of the screen not visible between the two monitors.

I tried adding 1680X1050 with xrandx but that told me xrandr: cannot find mode "1680x1050"

  • The second monitor is a ViewSonic VA2016w
  • Memory: 6 GiB
  • Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-2350M CPU @ 2.30GHz × 4
  • Graphics : Intel® Sandybridge Mobile - 2 GiB
  • OS : Ubuntu 13.04 64-bit
  • There are no proprietary drivers used, installed or offered.
  • Modes now offered: 1024x768, 800x600 and 1366x768
  • The resolution was 1680X1050 as shown here and the full data sheet here.

If anyone has any advicce or suggestions on how to sort this out, I'd be most appreciative.

Thanks in advance.

UPDATE

After rebooting, the resolutions were reset to Mirrored Display with the ViewSonic monitor set to 1024x768 (4:3) or 800x600 (4:3)

could not assign CRTCs to outputs: 
Trying modes for CRTC 63 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1366x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
    none of the selected modes were compatible with the possible modes: 
Trying modes for CRTC 63 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
Trying modes for CRTC 64 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 

CRTC 63: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1366x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
    none of the selected modes were compatible with the possible modes: 
Trying modes for CRTC 63 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
Trying modes for CRTC 64 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 

CRTC 63: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
Trying modes for CRTC 64 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1366x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
    none of the selected modes were compatible with the possible modes: 
Trying modes for CRTC 63 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
Trying modes for CRTC 64 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 

CRTC 64: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1366x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
    none of the selected modes were compatible with the possible modes: 
Trying modes for CRTC 63 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 63: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
Trying modes for CRTC 64 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 0) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 848x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 

CRTC 64: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1360x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 1024x768@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 800x600@56Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
CRTC 64: trying mode 640x480@60Hz with output at 1366x768@60Hz (pass 1) 
4
  • if you solved it, post your answer and if it's good people will up vote it and you will get your reputation back.
    – Alvar
    Jul 26, 2013 at 16:36
  • Well, it's rather stupid really, not really technical at all. I don't mind loosing the points, that's not really what I'm after. However it may make someone smile, so I'll leave it here for a bit. If no one posts anything, I'll post the answer.
    – Simon
    Jul 26, 2013 at 16:51
  • @SimplySimon - is the issue Ubuntu related or hardware related?
    – fossfreedom
    Jul 26, 2013 at 18:31
  • Hardware/connectivity
    – Simon
    Jul 26, 2013 at 18:50

3 Answers 3

10
+50

Just for the hell of it.

A VGA cable carries an analog signal, and the maximum length decreases as the resolution increases. So, 1024x768 can run effectively over a 9 meter cable, but 1600x1200@60Hz won't work good past 1 meter.

Your options are to use repeaters (which is not feasible), or use DVI instead. Since it's digital it can carry the signal longer, even with high resolutions, up to 9 meters.

1
  • I find this fascinating. I have installed network cabling, repeaters, hubs and radio repeaters then something as simple as this had me flummoxed! Thanks for the explanation Mitch.
    – Simon
    Jul 29, 2013 at 14:50
2

It was the monitor cable.

A new 5 metre monitor cable failed!

When I reverted to a 2 metre cable it worked well.

4
  • Since the answer to this question won't help any ubuntu users in the future experiencing a similar I suggest you remove you remove your question.
    – Joren
    Jul 26, 2013 at 19:08
  • It has a bounty on it therefore it will not allow me to. So the people who have edited it out of recognition should feel ashamed at their censorship. Bah Humbug!!!
    – Simon
    Jul 26, 2013 at 19:12
  • 3
    @Joren How exactly won't this help users in future? It's not like this is an isolated case - exactly the same happened to a friend of mine in the past, and "Why am I stuck in 4:3?" "Faulty VGA cable" to me seems a perfectly reasonable/useful Q/A.
    – Jez W
    Jul 29, 2013 at 14:45
  • This answer actually helped me. Mine was a faulty 1m VGA cable. I just replaced by an other one and everything is fine now. Sep 24, 2015 at 23:51
1

In the same vein as solution provided by @simplysimon and explained by @mitch, I encountered a similar problem with a similar bizarre solution.

I have been using a Viewsonic VA1918wm as a secondary monitor plugged via a VGA port, along with a primary monitor using a HDMI port, for some time and which has an optimum resolution of 1440x900. The OS installed is Ubuntu 14.04.1. A couple of days back, on reboot, the monitor resolution dropped and the All Settings > Displays option for the secondary monitor showed only two lower resolutions as options - 1024x768(4:3) and 800x600(4:3) - in Resolution dropdown. To resolve this, I tried a solution suggested for a similar problem using the Mirror displays checkbox in Displays settings, but to no avail.

After reading the post by @mitch above, I tried a hardware trick of

  • Having both monitors switched on and displaying Desktop screen
  • Remove the HDMI cable and wait few seconds. This caused displays to momentarily black-out, but Desktop resumed display on only the secondary monitor
  • Put the HDMI cable back. This caused the display to resume on both monitors

and voila! The Viewsonic monitor was back to its optimum resolution, and Resolution in Displays settings showed a larger list of options, including 1440x900(16:10)

1
  • This worked for me my dual ViewSonic monitor setup consisting of Ubuntu 20 desktop, secondary monitor VGA, and primary monitor DVI (using shorter VGA cable had no effect). Feb 2, 2022 at 21:07

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