I have a ThinkPad X230 with Ubuntu 22.04 and Kernel 5.15.0-46-generic. I want to transform this laptop in a small desktop computer. This means I'll remove the built-in keyboard and monitor. The built-in monitor will be replaced by a HDMI monitor. My setup works when both monitors are connected, i.e the second monitor is recognized and works perfectly. I used it in "single display" mode from the Ubuntu settings.

When I disconnect the built-in monitor, the laptop boots and I can see the boot screen stuff on my second monitor (configured accordingly in BIOS). However once in Ubuntu I see only the wallpaper as if I was screen sharing with another inexistent monitor. How can I set up Ubuntu such that the external monitor is used by Wayland/Gnome even if the built-in display isn’t connected?

Here some information. I used gnome-randr to try to correct the problem (a utility found here https://github.com/maxwellainatchi/gnome-randr-rust)

gnome-randr

supports-mirroring: true

layout-mode: physical

supports-changing-layout-mode: false

global-scale-required: false

renderer: "native"

legacy-ui-scaling-factor: 2



logical monitor 0:

x: 0, y: 0, scale: 2, rotation: normal, primary: yes

associated physical monitors:

    HDMI-1 ONX Mira133 202105



HDMI-1 ONX Mira133 202105

  [email protected]  2200x1650   38.00*+     [x1.00+, x2.00, x3.00]

   [email protected]  1920x1080   37.98       [x1.00+, x2.00]

 [email protected]  1600x1200   38.00       [x1.00+, x2.00]

   [email protected]  1280x960    38.03       [x1.00+]

     [email protected]  1024x768    38.02       [x1.00+]

display-name: "SOMELEC Z.I. Du Vert Galanta 13.3""

is-builtin: false



LVDS-1 LGD 0x02d8 0x00000000

   [email protected]  1366x768    60.02+      [x1.00+]

   [email protected]  1280x720    59.86       [x1.00+]

   [email protected]  1024x768    59.92       [x1.00+]

    [email protected]  800x600     59.86       [x1.00+]

is-builtin: true

display-name: "Built-in display"

Thanks for your help.

EDIT: it works when I start the laptop with both screens and then remove the built-in one. Then Ubuntu “keeps” the correct settings and I could have access there to the terminal with only one screen plugged and actually see what I’m writing... can I set it up from there ?

EDIT2: Here's my monitors.xml file

<monitors version="2">

  <configuration>

    <logicalmonitor>

      <x>0</x>

      <y>0</y>

      <scale>2</scale>

      <primary>yes</primary>

      <monitor>

        <monitorspec>

          <connector>HDMI-1</connector>

          <vendor>ONX</vendor>

          <product>Mira133</product>

          <serial>202105</serial>

        </monitorspec>

        <mode>

          <width>2200</width>

          <height>1650</height>

          <rate>38.002471923828125</rate>

        </mode>

      </monitor>

    </logicalmonitor>

    <disabled>

      <monitorspec>

        <connector>LVDS-1</connector>

        <vendor>LGD</vendor>

        <product>0x02d8</product>

        <serial>0x00000000</serial>

      </monitorspec>

    </disabled>

  </configuration>

</monitors>