In this guide, we will delve into the process of resolving an unknown display issue in Ubuntu 20.04.1. This can be a common issue that users may encounter, especially when trying to connect an external monitor or projector. If you’re facing a similar problem, follow the steps outlined below to get your display recognized and working properly.
To fix an unknown display issue in Ubuntu 20.04.1, you need to locate the monitors.xml file, identify the unknown display, modify the GRUB configuration file to include the display name, save the changes, update GRUB, and restart your computer.
Locating the Monitors.xml File
The first step in identifying and resolving the display issue is to locate the monitors.xml file. This file is usually found in the /home/username/.config/ directory. The monitors.xml file contains the configurations for all the monitors connected to your system.
To locate this file, open the terminal and enter the following command:
cd ~/.config
lsThis will list all the files in the .config directory. Look for the monitors.xml file in this list.
Identifying the Unknown Display
Once you’ve located the monitors.xml file, the next step is to identify the unknown display. You can do this by opening the monitors.xml file and looking for the name of the unknown display inside the <connector> tags.
To open the file, use the following command:
nano monitors.xmlThis command will open the monitors.xml file in the nano text editor. Look for the <connector> tags and note down the name of the display. For instance, if the name is DP-1, make a note of it as you will need it in the next steps.
Modifying the GRUB Configuration File
After identifying the name of the unknown display, the next step is to modify the GRUB configuration file. GRUB, or the GRand Unified Bootloader, is a program that allows your computer to boot. It is responsible for loading the Linux kernel into memory and starting the boot process.
To open the GRUB configuration file, use the following command:
sudo nano /etc/default/grubIn the GRUB configuration file, find the line starting with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=. Add the name of the unknown display you found in the previous step to this line. For example, GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="video=DP-1:d".
Here, GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX is a variable that holds the parameters passed to the Linux kernel during the boot process. The "video=DP-1:d" part is a kernel parameter that tells the kernel how to handle the display named DP-1.
Saving Changes and Updating GRUB
After modifying the GRUB configuration file, save the changes. If you’re using nano, you can do this by pressing Ctrl+O, then Ctrl+X to exit.
The final step is to update GRUB so that it recognizes the changes you’ve made. You can do this by running the following command:
sudo update-grubThis command updates the GRUB bootloader with the new configuration. After running this command, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Conclusion
By following these steps, Ubuntu should now be able to recognize the previously unknown display and adjust its resolution accordingly. Remember, these steps assume that you’ve already checked for additional drivers and none are available. If there are any available drivers for your display, it is recommended to install them before attempting the above steps.
If you’re still having issues, consider visiting the Ubuntu Forums or Ask Ubuntu for more help.
Remember, the Linux community is always there to help you out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Happy computing!
You may have an unknown display issue in Ubuntu 20.04.1 if your external monitor or projector is not being recognized or if the display resolution is not correct.
To locate the monitors.xml file, open the terminal and enter the command cd ~/.config to navigate to the .config directory. Then, use the command ls to list all the files in that directory. Look for the monitors.xml file in the list.
Open the monitors.xml file using the command nano monitors.xml. Look for the <connector> tags and note down the name of the display mentioned inside those tags. This name will help you in the next steps.
The GRUB configuration file is responsible for booting your computer and loading the Linux kernel. To modify it, open the terminal and use the command sudo nano /etc/default/grub to open the GRUB configuration file. Look for the line starting with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX= and add the name of the unknown display you found in the previous step to this line.
To save the changes made to the GRUB configuration file using the nano text editor, press Ctrl+O and then press Ctrl+X to exit.
To update GRUB after modifying the configuration file, use the command sudo update-grub. This will update the GRUB bootloader with the new configuration.
Yes, it is necessary to restart your computer after updating GRUB for the changes to take effect.
If you still have display issues after following these steps, consider visiting the Ubuntu Forums or Ask Ubuntu for further assistance. The Linux community is always there to help you out.
