Ubuntu 16.04 Dell XPS 15 does not detect external Monitor using HDMI

Question

I have a DELL XPS 15. I am struggling to connect an external monitor to my Ubuntu Machine. This is my xrandr output. I tried installing nvidia driver etc but nothing works. The cable is good, so that shouldn't be the problem.

Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 2048 x 1152, maximum 32767 x 32767
eDP1 connected primary 2048x1152+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 346mm x 194mm
3840x2160     60.00 +
3200x1800     60.00  
2880x1620     60.00  
2560x1440     60.00  
2048x1536     60.00  
1920x1440     60.00  
960x540       60.00  
800x600       60.32    56.25  
864x486       60.00  
640x480       59.94  
720x405       60.00  
640x360       60.00  

DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)


inxi -G 
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel Skylake Integrated Graphics
       Card-2: NVIDIA GM107M [GeForce GTX 960M]
       Display Server:  X.org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) FAILED: nouveau Resolution: N/A
       GLX Renderer: N/A GLX Version: N/A


 lspci -nn | grep '\[03'

 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 530 [8086:191b] (rev 06)
 01:00.0 3D controller [0302]: NVIDIA Corporation GM107M [GeForce GTX 960M] [10de:139b] (rev ff)

Solution 1

Do everything from a virtual console when it comes to NViDIA graphics drivers installation.
Also detach your external monitor during the NVIDIA graphics drivers installation process.
You have the latest drivers installed, so the Graphics Drivers PPA should already be added.

First completely uninstall every NVIDIA drivers and software you currently have installed.

Start the notebook and mark the Ubuntu entry in the GRUB boot menu, then press the E key.
Add nouveau.modeset=0 at the end of the linux line. Press the F10 key to boot the system.
Do not miss to set a Space between the last letter in the linux line and nouveau.modeset=0.

When the login screen appears press Ctrl+Alt+F1.
Enter your user name and password and then execute :

sudo apt purge nvidia*
sudo reboot  

Now re-install the latest stable NVIDIA drivers 378 (support NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 960M).

After that restart mark the Ubuntu entry in the GRUB boot menu again, then press the E key.
Add nouveau.modeset=0 at the end of the linux line. Press the F10 key to boot the system.
Do not miss to set a Space between the last letter in the linux line and nouveau.modeset=0.

When the login screen appears press Ctrl+Alt+F1.
Enter your user name and password and then execute :

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nvidia-378 nvidia-prime
sudo reboot  

Make sure that the NVIDIA graphics are in use in the NVIDIA X Server Settings -> PRIME Profiles.
In case they are not in use switch to them, logout of the session and back in or reboot the system.
Now re-attach the external monitor to the HDMI port and it should be recognized right properly.

Update addressing your comment that it still does not work

Boot into the BIOS of your notebook and check whether you explicitly have to enable external monitor support - in some newer machines, especially in those with NVIDIA Optimus technology this option is implemented. Also check in System Settings / Displays whether you have to adjust something there.

Solution 2

The issue might be with the nvidia graphics driver.Which can be fixed by following the steps below : Run the following commands in the terminal:

sudo apt-get purge nvidia-*

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install nvidia-364

Reboot and your graphics issue should be fixed.

Solution 3

I had the same issue with my Dell Inspirion 15 7000 Gaming. After a lot of try and error it turns out that i needed to do:

• Install package nvidia-384 (to be sure to use latest nvidia ubuntu driver):

sudo apt-get install nvidia-384

• Install hardware enablement kernel:

  sudo apt-get install linux-generic-hwe-16.04-edge

After that (and a rebot) my second monitor was working flawesly (finally).

Solution 4

Judging by the output of your lspci, you and I have the same laptop, which should make this hopefully easy.

You need to have the latest Intel graphics drivers installed on your system. To do this, visit Intel's page and install the version for Ubuntu 16.04.

From there, run the Graphics Update Tool to install all the relevant Intel drivers, followed by a reboot of your system to allow the new drivers to take effect.

Also ensure that your BIOS has SecureBoot disabled to avoid any weird driver conflicts that have been known to happen. You must also have NVIDIA's latest drivers installed (at the time of writing, 378). You do not need to set it to the active PRIME device.

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Comments

[Shakti Phartiyal]

You may also try xrandr --output HDMI1 if the above fails

[CodeGeek123]

Above failed. output of xrandr --output HDMI1 is Can't open display :1.0

[Shakti Phartiyal]

Try this tutorial askubuntu.com/a/410688/660196

[CodeGeek123]

I tried this. Still not working. Please find picture of my NVIDIA settings

[CodeGeek123]

I tried this also. Does not work for me :( Please find picture

[CodeGeek123]

Thanks for this. I think this didnt necessarily fix it since changing it to a HDMI to DVI-D port instead of HDMI to minidisplay fixed the issue ultimately. But i do thing this configurations helped me display with HDMI - DVI-D. SO thank you!

[aggregate1166877]

I get access denied when trying to open that link.

[aggregate1166877]

Days wasted looking for solutions and finding nothing, then this simple answer solves all my problems. Thank you so much!