Unable to make the right hand monitor Primary in dual monitor setup

Graphics / Linux Linux
1

I am using Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS with a GA106 [GeForce RTX 3060 Lite Hash Rate] in a desktop computer with two monitors. Both monitors are connected only to the NVIDIA card (1) via a DP cable, the other (2) by an HDMI cable.

Monitor (1) is the better of the two and I require this to be Primary. The second monitor (2) is on the LEFT of (1).

The current xorg.conf settings always default to the Primary monitor being on the LEFT. This is fine if it IS on the left!

I can change this via nvidia-settings but I am unable to save the settings because I get the error:

ERROR: Unable to open X config file ‘/etc/X11/xorg.conf’ for writing.

I have tried being ‘root’ with the same effect.

I am hoping somebody in this forum has enough knowledge of this card when used with Ubuntu (maybe other NVIDIA cards) to be able to make and save an xorg.conf file. Or, even has a basic dual screen.conf file where I can edit the screen locations.
nvidia-bug-report.log.gz (259.6 KB)

2

Please use the gnome control center to set monitor arrangement and primary monitor.

3

What/where is the gnome control centre please?

makem@makem-22:~$ sudo apt install gnome-control-centre
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package gnome-control-centre
4

It’s the settings app

5

Do you mean the app from nvidia-settings?

If so, that is the app I am having problems with using:

ERROR: Unable to open X config file ‘/etc/X11/xorg.conf’ for writing.

When I try to save the settings to X Configuration File. It is the obvious way to make changes but not if I cannot save them.

Also I generated an xorg.conf file of the current settings to edit but can’t make head nor tail of it.
xorg.conf.new (2.5 KB)

This was suggested in this link:

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2061399

6

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2020/04/ubuntu-20-04-fractional-scaling-support-setting

7

Why have you pointed me to fractional scaling?

I have two monitors and would like one to be primary and the other secondary. I should then be able to drag a window from one monitor onto the other monitor screen as I can in Windows 10

8

Because that’s the gnome control center. It’s like the settings app in windows.

9

I am using 22.04.1 not 20.04 version of ubuntu. It does not have a ‘Settings > Screen Display’ option.

It does have a ‘Display’ option.

in the Display option (1) is selected as Primary and (2) is on the left of (1). Both as they should be. However that is not what the monitors show. As I have said the monitors show:

Primary with desktop on the left monitor (2) and secondary on the right monitor (1) with blank screen on boot. Opposite of what Display shows.

Screenshot_2022-11-12_23-25-42
Screenshot_2022-11-12_23-25-421284×679 114 KB

20221112_232653
20221112_2326531280×960 71.3 KB

One pic showing display and one showing both screens as they are seen by me.

10

Also see this result which shows the reversed settings to what Display has set.

20221113_001417
20221113_0014171920×1440 110 KB

11

Seems to be a bug in gnome, should be reported to ubuntu bugzilla.

12

I am using XFCE desktop, not Unity.

Will that have any bearing on this problem?

I see Unity is integrating with amazon too.

13

The Unity desktop was dropped after Ubuntu 16.04, shifted to Gnome instead.
When you’re talking about a Unity that includes support for the Amazon Marketplace, I suspect you’re talking of Unity 3D, a game engine. Has nothing to do with Ubuntu.
The only impact you’re using Xubuntu istead of Ubuntu is that the bug is in the Xfce settings, not the Gnome settings. Should still be reported to ubuntu bugtracker.

14

See thread:

https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?pid=69719#p69719

In 3 operations solves the problem which survives a reboot.