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Ubuntu and Pivot screens - using Nvidia’s default and proprietary drivers

Wed, Jul 11, 2007

ArsGeek, Linux, Ubuntu, howto

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pivot.jpgIf you’ve got a pivoting monitor and happen to be using Ubuntu with an Nvidia video card there are a couple of ways you can enable pivoting.

First, if you’re using the default X.org drivers, you can make this quick hack to your xorg.conf file to pivot to your hearts content.

Open up a terminal session (Applications-> Accessories-> Terminal) and type the following:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak

gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

You’ve just backed up your xorg.conf file and opened up a Gedit session so you can modify it.

Now, scroll through xorg.conf until you see the “Device” section for the NV drivers. It will probably look something like this:

Section “Device”
Identifier “some text about nvidia here”
Driver “nv”

Once you’ve found that, you’ll want to add the following line right below it:

Option “Rotate” “CW”

You can also add the option “Rotate” “CCW” for counter-clockwise rotation.

Now save your xorg.conf file.

This will allow you to rotate your monitor. You’ll have to either restart your computer, or restart Gnome.

To restart Gnome, save any open work you have and hit the CTRL-ALT-BKSPC keys.

If you’re using the propriatary Nvidia drivers, here’s what you have to do.

Find the same section, except the Driver line will look like this:

Driver “nvidia”

Below that, add the following option:

Option “RandRRotation” “on”

Again, you’ll have to restart Gnome or your computer to utilize this and make a few changes.

Once you’ve restarted, go to  System > Preferences > Screen Resolution and choose either “left” or “right” for the rotation.

Also, you may want to say “pivot” out loud.  It’s such a fun word!

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This post was written by:

arsgeek - who has written 1980 posts on ArsGeek.


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10 Comments For This Post

  1. Harrie Says:

    Well, I happen to have both the Nvidia card and the pivot monitor, so this definitely caught my attention. I have to use software for it on Windows. I’ll be trying this out, thanks a lot!

  2. arsgeek Says:

    Nice!

  3. Harrie Says:

    It worked fabulously! This is great, thanks! For myself, having the proprietary drivers, I used the second option. Cool! And no software!

  4. arsgeek Says:

    Great! Glad it works well for you.

  5. reflection Says:

    Xp user running

    NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000 [Display adapter]
    HP w2207 [Monitor] (22.0?vis, s/n CND7300T3W, July 2007)

    With the HP and Nvidia proprietary drivers installed. When I try to install Ubuntu 7.10, I get a blank screen. How do I install drivers without a monitor? Should I uninstall the HP drivers? Clues would be most appreciated.

    (Please be gentle. Grandma doesn’t speak geek!)

  6. reflection Says:

    Xp user running

    NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000 [Display adapter]
    HP w2207 [Monitor] (22.0?vis, s/n CND7300T3W, July 2007)

    With the HP and Nvidia proprietary drivers installed. When I try to install Ubuntu 7.10, I get a blank screen. How do I install drivers without a monitor? Should I uninstall the HP drivers? Clues would be most appreciated.

    (Please be gentle. Grandma doesn’t speak geek!)

  7. Durand Says:

    Thanks a lot!

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