Thanks for all the input. I finally fixed my problem. Let me share info and how I luckily stumbled onto the solution.
Machine is a Dell G15 laptop. I tried Ubuntu 20 and used "Driver Manager" to pull in the latest Nvidia driver. It worked with the external monitor via HDMI only when the Nvidia driver was activated. Laptop screen was pitched black with a small cursor blanking on the top left. When I toggled back to using Intel driver, the laptop screen worked but nothing on the HDMI. I then tried to install the latest driver I can find on Nvidia's website and that broke my network driver (ethernet, bluetooth and wifi) along with being unable to have both laptop screen and HDMI working at the same time. After reading several online postings, it looks like each time there is a Linux kernel version bump, the more recent Nvidia driver version would behave in similar fashion (no HDMI or no laptop screen). Some folks also reported Nvidia drivers breaking their network driver too. Instead of upgrading just the kernel version, I went and tried Ubuntu 21. That repo does not have any Nvidia driver available so I tried with the latest one I can download from the Nvidia website. The installation of the Nvidia reported errors but I could see the driver under lspci. I did see a few Nvidia utilities missing however (previous drivers have them installed). I then downloaded the latest Cuda development kit which also included those utilities. Using Nvidia utilities, I was able to get both HDMI and laptop screens working together (both extended and mirror modes work). >From what I gather online, the next kernel release may likely give me similar problems again. I will enjoy what I have until then.... Thanks again! -v -- On Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 10:28 PM Bill Barry <waba...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 4:58 PM VY <vyau5...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Hi All > > > > I am testing my Dell laptop with a Linux Mint bootable USB drive. > > Things are all working except HDMI. > > I tried connecting 2 different monitors (using 2 different HDMI cables) > but > > it just won't detect the external monitor. > > > > The Window 11 OS is able to see the external monitor so it is not > hardware. > > Are there additional config I need to do for this external monitor to > work? > > > > thanks > > > > -v > Which Dell Laptop do you have? Which Version of LInux Mint is on the > USB? Maybe it is the same as the problem described here. > https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=349052 > > Bill >
