Setting up Linux Mint and trying to use an external monitor. Using a USB-C to HDMI connection to a Surface laptop. There is no video card - at least it only shows the on-board graphics built into the laptop. I have researched it but some suggestions say I need to do some programming. But as a newbie, I cannot understand what they are suggesting. Any straight forward help as I try to get away from windoze?
External Monitor
- Thread starter MoMentum
- Start date
theLegionWithin
Well-Known Member
does the monitor just not display at all then? this post really isnt very clear on what the problem is.
Sorry. You are right. I didn't explain very well (or at all?!).
I get nothing when I connect the monitor. It does not recognize that a monitor has been connected. Going to System Controls, it shows the default laptop monitor, but does not show the external monitor. It's like nothing happens when I plug in the external monitor.
I get nothing when I connect the monitor. It does not recognize that a monitor has been connected. Going to System Controls, it shows the default laptop monitor, but does not show the external monitor. It's like nothing happens when I plug in the external monitor.
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
G'day Momentum, welcome to Linux.org
We need some detail.
Surface 2,3,4,5, or 6 ?...etc
does it have a usb 3.1 port ? .....only 1, or are there more ?
We need some detail.
Surface 2,3,4,5, or 6 ?...etc
does it have a usb 3.1 port ? .....only 1, or are there more ?
plug in monitor and switch on
go to mint menu [bottom left icon with LM on it]
in search box type display
look on RH Colum and click on display
you now should have the display control panel [see screenshot below]
where mine has 1 box numbered 1 , you should have 2 boxes
click on second box and select, you should now have a picture, if you want sound that will need enabling in sound settings
go to mint menu [bottom left icon with LM on it]
in search box type display
look on RH Colum and click on display
you now should have the display control panel [see screenshot below]
where mine has 1 box numbered 1 , you should have 2 boxes
click on second box and select, you should now have a picture, if you want sound that will need enabling in sound settings
[This was an earlier reply that apparently did not get sent.]
Not sure if it is a 2, 3, etc. I only see is listed as a Surface laptop. Where can I find more detail?
I am using a USB-C port on the left side. Only one USB-C port and a USB-A port.
Not sure if it is a 2, 3, etc. I only see is listed as a Surface laptop. Where can I find more detail?
I am using a USB-C port on the left side. Only one USB-C port and a USB-A port.
The screen grab you provided is exactly what I am seeing. but no second monitor is showing up. That's where I hit a wall. Not sure how to get the Surface laptop to recognize that a monitor was plugged in.
The adapter was purchased from Microcenter and is a typical USB-C to HDMI (and a couple other ports).
I used a USB-C to USB-A adapter to plug the monitor into the USB-A port and same thing, no recognition of the external monitor.
The adapter was purchased from Microcenter and is a typical USB-C to HDMI (and a couple other ports).
I used a USB-C to USB-A adapter to plug the monitor into the USB-A port and same thing, no recognition of the external monitor.
plug in the screen and from terminal Inxi -Fnx will tell you all about your machine.
if its a computer screen i would expect it to work , if your using an old TV as a monitor then you will need to check the HDMI port your using is selected,....
can you give a link to the exact model of adaptor you are using?
The adapter is a "Helix" brand with 2 HDMI ports, one USB-A ports and one USB-C port.
The monitor is an Acer 32" purchased about 1 year ago.
At this line: "keg@Surface:-$" I typed "inxi". I got this:
CPU: quad core Intel Core 17.1065G7
Kernel: 6.14.0-37
Up: 13m
Mem: 1.32/15.22 G1B
Storage: 237.47 G1B
Procs: 218
Bach inxi: 3.3.34
I hope this helps you help me out.
The monitor is an Acer 32" purchased about 1 year ago.
At this line: "keg@Surface:-$" I typed "inxi". I got this:
CPU: quad core Intel Core 17.1065G7
Kernel: 6.14.0-37
Up: 13m
Mem: 1.32/15.22 G1B
Storage: 237.47 G1B
Procs: 218
Bach inxi: 3.3.34
I hope this helps you help me out.
For further reference, I am still trying to get Mint to boot correctly. After it sleeps, it requires me to go through an extensive boot sequence:
Boot using the F4
In UEFI select Exit and boot again
Select “Advanced Options for Linux Mint”; hit enter
Select (recovery mode)
From “Recovery Menu” screen select “Resume normal boot”
When “OK” shows up, hit enter
The laptop boots correctly after this sequence.
I was planning to ask about this in a separate post, but thought it might be worth noting here.
Boot using the F4
In UEFI select Exit and boot again
Select “Advanced Options for Linux Mint”; hit enter
Select (recovery mode)
From “Recovery Menu” screen select “Resume normal boot”
When “OK” shows up, hit enter
The laptop boots correctly after this sequence.
I was planning to ask about this in a separate post, but thought it might be worth noting here.
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Is it sleeping because you close the lid, or because you have adjusted Power Management ?
Which Linux Mint is on the pc ?.... click on menu, type in welcome screen, it will show the version number etc in the bottom right hand corner of that Welcome screen.
Then, click on menu again, and type in Power Management. It will look like the below pic.....
Those are my settings, I would suggest you do the same. Close that window.
Then, click on menu and type : Screensaver. Click on that. it will look like the below pics.....
"Delay before starting Screensaver"...set it as whatever you like
"Lock Settings"......leave them alone.
Then, click on 'Customise' (up the top, to the right) and turn on the two which are green(turned on) in the pic below. You can type a message in 'Away message' if you like. Mine says, G'day Again !
The various font settings are unimportant.
Go to the bottom of that page, and : 'Show media player controls, Show album art, Show info panel & Allow floating clock and album art widgets' should all be turned On. (I used two screenshots to capture the whole window
With any sort of luck that should solve the sleep/wake up problems
Linux Mint does not play well with suspend and hibernation etc ....depending on the make and model of laptop.....some do, others don't.
My pc is a tower, and definitely does not.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
your terminal reply;
open Terminal
right click in the middle of the terminal screen/window and select Preferences
In the window that opens, click on General (on left hand side)
Put a tick, in the "Show menubar by default in new Terminals"
Close that window.
close the Terminal
Reopen the terminal, you should now have a menu bar across the top...(menu, edit, View, Search, Terminal, Help)
Copy and Paste the following code into the terminal.
Code:
inxi -Fnxhit enter
When it has filled the screen, click on Edit, and then Select All........then Edit again and select Copy
Go to your reply in this topic and Paste the result in.
Dont worry about the space used, we have plenty.
Condobloke,
I followed your instructions as best I could. For your question on the operating system, I am running Linux Mint 22.3
I was not able to find "Preferences" while in the Terminal And wa not able to select "Show menubar by default in new Terminals".
That aside, I ran the command: inxi - fnx and this is what I got:
CPU:
Info: quad core model: Intel Core i7-1065G7 bits: 64 type: MCP
arch: Ice Lake rev: 5 cache: L1: 320 KiB L2: 2 MiB L3: 8 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 544 high: 978 min/max: 400/3900 cores: 1: 400 2: 978
3: 400 4: 400 bogomips: 11980
Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm acpi adx aes aperfmperf apic arat
arch_capabilities arch_perfmon art avx avx2 avx512_bitalg avx512_vbmi2
avx512_vnni avx512_vpopcntdq avx512bw avx512cd avx512dq avx512f
avx512ifma avx512vbmi avx512vl bmi1 bmi2 bts clflush clflushopt cmov
constant_tsc cpuid cpuid_fault cx16 cx8 de ds_cpl dtes64 dtherm dts epb
ept ept_ad erms est f16c flexpriority flush_l1d fma fpu fsgsbase fsrm
fxsr gfni ht hwp hwp_act_window hwp_epp hwp_notify hwp_pkg_req ibpb ibrs
ibrs_enhanced ida intel_pt invpcid lahf_lm lm mca mce md_clear mmx
monitor movbe msr mtrr nonstop_tsc nopl nx ospke pae pat pbe pcid
pclmulqdq pdcm pdpe1gb pebs pge pku pln pni popcnt pse pse36 pts rdpid
rdrand rdseed rdtscp rep_good sdbg sep sha_ni smap smep split_lock_detect
ss ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 stibp syscall tm tm2 tpr_shadow tsc
tsc_adjust tsc_deadline_timer tsc_known_freq umip vaes vme vmx vnmi
vpclmulqdq vpid x2apic xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveopt xsaves xtopology
xtpr
Network:
Device-1: Intel Ice Lake-LP PCH CNVi WiFi driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
bus-ID: 00:14.3
IF: wlp0s20f3 state: up mac: c8:34:8e:4b:e3:02
Device-2: Microsoft RTL8153 GigE [Surface Ethernet Adapter] driver: r8152
type: USB bus-ID: 4-1.2:4
IF: enx1c1adfbf089e state: down mac: 1c:1a:df:bf:08:9e
If you have any other suggestions or guidance, please share. I so want to get away from microslop and really want this to work. Thanks so much for your help.
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Then run
again
Code:
inxi -Fnxagain
theLegionWithin
Well-Known Member
at this point I'm sort of curious if the external monitor is getting detected - you've mentioned you're using a usb-c cable. from my understanding, only those usb-c cables that are full featured (you can look up how to identify those types of cables) will support a monitor.
additionally, the usb-c port itself needs to support that functionality as well - see this info: https://kb.plugable.com/general-support-articles/how-to-determine-your-usb-c-port-video-capabilities
assuming that you have a supported usb-c port and are using a full featured usb-c cable, when the monitor is powered and connected to the computer, what is the result of:
xrandr --listmonitors
and
lsusb
additionally, the usb-c port itself needs to support that functionality as well - see this info: https://kb.plugable.com/general-support-articles/how-to-determine-your-usb-c-port-video-capabilities
assuming that you have a supported usb-c port and are using a full featured usb-c cable, when the monitor is powered and connected to the computer, what is the result of:
xrandr --listmonitors
and
lsusb
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
This is what I got:
keg@Surface:~$ inxi -fnx
CPU:
Info: quad core model: Intel Core i7-1065G7 bits: 64 type: MCP
arch: Ice Lake rev: 5 cache: L1: 320 KiB L2: 2 MiB L3: 8 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 638 high: 815 min/max: 400/3900 cores: 1: 400 2: 815
3: 537 4: 800 bogomips: 11980
Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm acpi adx aes aperfmperf apic arat
arch_capabilities arch_perfmon art avx avx2 avx512_bitalg avx512_vbmi2
avx512_vnni avx512_vpopcntdq avx512bw avx512cd avx512dq avx512f
avx512ifma avx512vbmi avx512vl bmi1 bmi2 bts clflush clflushopt cmov
constant_tsc cpuid cpuid_fault cx16 cx8 de ds_cpl dtes64 dtherm dts epb
ept ept_ad erms est f16c flexpriority flush_l1d fma fpu fsgsbase fsrm
fxsr gfni ht hwp hwp_act_window hwp_epp hwp_notify hwp_pkg_req ibpb ibrs
ibrs_enhanced ida intel_pt invpcid lahf_lm lm mca mce md_clear mmx
monitor movbe msr mtrr nonstop_tsc nopl nx ospke pae pat pbe pcid
pclmulqdq pdcm pdpe1gb pebs pge pku pln pni popcnt pse pse36 pts rdpid
rdrand rdseed rdtscp rep_good sdbg sep sha_ni smap smep split_lock_detect
ss ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 stibp syscall tm tm2 tpr_shadow tsc
tsc_adjust tsc_deadline_timer tsc_known_freq umip vaes vme vmx vnmi
vpclmulqdq vpid x2apic xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveopt xsaves xtopology
xtpr
Network:
Device-1: Intel Ice Lake-LP PCH CNVi WiFi driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
bus-ID: 00:14.3
IF: wlp0s20f3 state: up mac: c8:34:8e:4b:e3:02
Device-2: Microsoft RTL8153 GigE [Surface Ethernet Adapter] driver: r8152
type: USB bus-ID: 4-1.2:4
IF: enx1c1adfbf089e state: down mac: 1c:1a:df:bf:08:9e
keg@Surface:~$ xrandr --listmonitors
Monitors: 1
0: +*None-1 2256/597x1504/398+0+0 None-1
keg@Surface:~$ isusb
Command 'isusb' not found, did you mean:
command 'lsusb' from deb usbutils (1:017-1)
Try: sudo apt install <deb name>
keg@Surface:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 8087:0026 Intel Corp. AX201 Bluetooth
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 045e:0901 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 045e:0903 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 003 Device 005: ID 045e:0904 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Extender
Bus 003 Device 006: ID 046d:c534 Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 003 Device 007: ID 3938:1191 2.4G Wireless Mouse
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 045e:0900 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 045e:0902 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 004 Device 004: ID 045e:07c6 Microsoft Corp. RTL8153 GigE [Surface Ethernet Adapter]
keg@Surface:~$
Side note: I tried the HDMI cable using a USB-C adapter and then I tried a docking station that works on another surface laptop (work computer - which handles the external monitor just fine). But the laptop does not see the external monitor with either the adapter nor the docking station.
keg@Surface:~$ inxi -fnx
CPU:
Info: quad core model: Intel Core i7-1065G7 bits: 64 type: MCP
arch: Ice Lake rev: 5 cache: L1: 320 KiB L2: 2 MiB L3: 8 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 638 high: 815 min/max: 400/3900 cores: 1: 400 2: 815
3: 537 4: 800 bogomips: 11980
Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm acpi adx aes aperfmperf apic arat
arch_capabilities arch_perfmon art avx avx2 avx512_bitalg avx512_vbmi2
avx512_vnni avx512_vpopcntdq avx512bw avx512cd avx512dq avx512f
avx512ifma avx512vbmi avx512vl bmi1 bmi2 bts clflush clflushopt cmov
constant_tsc cpuid cpuid_fault cx16 cx8 de ds_cpl dtes64 dtherm dts epb
ept ept_ad erms est f16c flexpriority flush_l1d fma fpu fsgsbase fsrm
fxsr gfni ht hwp hwp_act_window hwp_epp hwp_notify hwp_pkg_req ibpb ibrs
ibrs_enhanced ida intel_pt invpcid lahf_lm lm mca mce md_clear mmx
monitor movbe msr mtrr nonstop_tsc nopl nx ospke pae pat pbe pcid
pclmulqdq pdcm pdpe1gb pebs pge pku pln pni popcnt pse pse36 pts rdpid
rdrand rdseed rdtscp rep_good sdbg sep sha_ni smap smep split_lock_detect
ss ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 stibp syscall tm tm2 tpr_shadow tsc
tsc_adjust tsc_deadline_timer tsc_known_freq umip vaes vme vmx vnmi
vpclmulqdq vpid x2apic xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveopt xsaves xtopology
xtpr
Network:
Device-1: Intel Ice Lake-LP PCH CNVi WiFi driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
bus-ID: 00:14.3
IF: wlp0s20f3 state: up mac: c8:34:8e:4b:e3:02
Device-2: Microsoft RTL8153 GigE [Surface Ethernet Adapter] driver: r8152
type: USB bus-ID: 4-1.2:4
IF: enx1c1adfbf089e state: down mac: 1c:1a:df:bf:08:9e
keg@Surface:~$ xrandr --listmonitors
Monitors: 1
0: +*None-1 2256/597x1504/398+0+0 None-1
keg@Surface:~$ isusb
Command 'isusb' not found, did you mean:
command 'lsusb' from deb usbutils (1:017-1)
Try: sudo apt install <deb name>
keg@Surface:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 8087:0026 Intel Corp. AX201 Bluetooth
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 045e:0901 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 045e:0903 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 003 Device 005: ID 045e:0904 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Extender
Bus 003 Device 006: ID 046d:c534 Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 003 Device 007: ID 3938:1191 2.4G Wireless Mouse
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 045e:0900 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 045e:0902 Microsoft Corp. Surface Dock Hub
Bus 004 Device 004: ID 045e:07c6 Microsoft Corp. RTL8153 GigE [Surface Ethernet Adapter]
keg@Surface:~$
Side note: I tried the HDMI cable using a USB-C adapter and then I tried a docking station that works on another surface laptop (work computer - which handles the external monitor just fine). But the laptop does not see the external monitor with either the adapter nor the docking station.
theLegionWithin
Well-Known Member
yeah, looks like the monitor isnt detected. I dont know enough about the Surface laptops to speculate on why. it's interesting that the issue persists using a docking station. is the monitor known to be good (does it work when connected to other computers)?
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
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