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When I want to connect a second monitor or projector to my computer, I always have to change display settins, like seperate x screens configuration, and save and logout to apply new settings. It is really anoying. For example, if I configure my display settings for only use external monitor and save it and then unplug the external monitor, Ubuntu does not understand that I unpluged it and it is continues to send display to external monitor. So in order to change my display setting I have to plugin external monitor again. Is there a work around for this problem?

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  • windows doesn't require you to log out to change display settings. Nov 22, 2011 at 19:58
  • @MikeBrown: That's what he's saying in the question. Nov 22, 2011 at 19:59
  • @GeorgeEdison, I know, I was joking around. The question could be interpreted as saying "without logging out like Windows (requires you to do)" Nov 22, 2011 at 20:26

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Anything that modifies xorg.conf requires the X server to be restarted before the changes can be applied. This is a limitation of the X server.

However, depending on your video card, you may be able to work around this issue by using one of your video card manufacturer's utilities. Nvidia, for example, ships a GUI configuration tool with its driver that allows you to add, remove, and modify the geometry of displays without restarting the X server (the tool also provides the option of permanently saving the changes to xorg.conf but that's not what you're asking). These tools cannot, however, add or remove X displays since that capability is reserved for the X server itself.

Something to consider down the road: X is eventually being replaced by Wayland which will (hopefully) be much easier to configure than X and offer the ability to add or remove displays while running.

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