help with custom xorg.conf?

[balinbob]

Hello.  I am now a Linux user for about a year, mostly using Ubuntu as my desktop.  I enjoy trying various distributions though,
and tried Wolvix.  I only have it on a flash drive at  the moment.  I have worked with it some though, and find I like it.  I've always
run Gnome and loved it, but now am very interested in XFCE due to Wolvix.  I also have a bit of a desire to be involved somehow
with a distribution which I might feel able to contribute to somehow, sometime, and one which is perhaps a little less 'impersonal'
than I feel Ubuntu to be.  Smaller.  I program a bit, lately in Python and PyGtk.  I find that my current project runs fine in XFCE.

My problem is that I am unable or nervous about attempting to customize xorg.conf for my dual-display.  I broke down and agreed
to nvidia's insane terms (haha) but they informed me then that they were unable to install their driver on Wolvix.  I am not really
disappointed.   I know for a fact that my displays can run fine without nvidia, as Ubuntu Gnome has an applet now which can
set me up.  It may require the 'noveau' experimental drivers, I'm not certain.  I enjoy experimenting, but don't want to risk damaging
my monitors.  I have a dual display with different resolutions, 1600x1200 and 1920x1200.  Yikes.  That is my confession.

Wolvix runs great, but the resolution is not accurate exactly on the main monitor, and cloned very small on the secondary one. 
The driver chosen for me is incorrect.  I tried the nv driver, but whenever I attempt to restart X I get an error.  I apologize for
not having written it down, but it refers to a PNG file?  And a library I believe.  If necessary I'll recheck. 

In short, what I really need is maybe a correct xorg.conf and maybe a method to run nv or nouveau as my video driver.  Card
is the 8500GT.  I use both the analog and digital output with an analog converter on the digital.

I will check back to see if there is any solution for me, soon.  Even if I could simply get the video just right on the main (smaller)
display.  The nv driver does that in the test, but I cannot successfully restart X.

Thanks a lot

[Wolven]

Hello balinbob. Welcome to Wolvix.

I've created packages for the Nvidia drivers, ready to install with a few clicks. I recommend you have a look the this wiki page for details: http://wiki.wolvix.org/NvidiaDrivers

The hardest part about configuring X (xorg) is getting the refresh rates (horizontal/vertical) right for the monitor(s). A Google search with the make and model usually gives results though, unless you have the manuals, which should have this info.

Setting up dual monitors is not so hard, even with different resolutions on the two screens. I'm typing this on a dual setup with one 1600x1200 and one 1024x768 screen. Here's my configuration:

Section "Device"

    #VideoRam    262144
    # Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
    Identifier     "GeForce"
    Driver         "nvidia"
        Option          "TwinView" "1"
        Option          "MetaModes"  "1600x1200,1024x768; 1024x768,1024x768; 1024x768; 800x600,800x600; 800x600"
        Option          "TwinViewOrientation"      "RightOf"
        Option          "SecondMonitorHorizSync"   "30-70"
        Option          "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "50-100"
        Option          "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT,CRT"

EndSection

The magic with the different resolutions here is in the MetaModes line: 1600x1200,1024x768

The error about PNG you get is not related to your Xorg setup, it's a bug in the png package from Slackware, but I've got an update for it in the repo. There are plenty of other package upgrades in the repo too, bit from Slackware and Wolvix, but note that slapt-get/gslapt needs to be upgraded before you use it to install from the Slackware repo now. For details see here: http://forums.wolvix.org/index.php/topic,1362.0.html

Also note that since you're running Wolvix from live from USB, the xorg.conf will be re generated at each boot, unless you give the 'noxconf' cheat code. This is not the case for HD installed systems. You can add the cheat permanently to the USB install by editing /boot/syslinux/syslinux.cfg on the USB

DISPLAY /boot/splash.cfg
PROMPT 1
TIMEOUT 300
DEFAULT wolvix

F1 /boot/intro.txt
F2 /boot/help.txt
F3 /boot/codes.txt
F4 /boot/vga.txt
F5 /boot/splash.cfg

LABEL wolvix
KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz
APPEND changes=wolvixsave.xfs max_loop=255 initrd=/boot/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw vga=791

LABEL memtest86
KERNEL /boot/mt86p

Add any additional cheats you want to the APPEND line.

Hope this helps you get the setup you're looking for. If you're having problems feel free to ask and we'll try to help as best we can.

[balinbob]

Thank you Wolven!  I have saved the information and I'm going to try to get
it set up.

I apologize for the delay in returning, with lots going on here at home.  I'll
check back if I need any more help.

balinbob