When trying to use the GUI installer in a docked Dell Latitude CPiA (Neomagic display driver), X11 started and the monitor went blank (no signal). I believe that X went to the LCD, which was not visible as the laptop was docked. With the Neomagic driver, there are options "intern_disp" and "extern_disp" that according to the XFree documentation will direct the signal. Also according to the documentation they can be used together to send the signal to both outputs. If the default X server used for the install would just turn both those options on by default it might be possible to use the GUI installer without knowing or caring if the laptop is docked. I suspect that this approach could help other laptop users...
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Added to features request list.
Xconfigurator rewrite issue.
Most laptops I've seen have this user configurable on the laptop, often with hot keys.
Scenario: Me: "Let me show you how cool this linux thing is... Just pop in the CDROM and boot" Boot off of CD. See nice text flash by. See screen go completely blank. Insert several second pause while I figure out what happened, then remember that with this particular laptop you have to hit <Scroll-lock>F8 from the external keyboard (Marked only on the laptop's builtin keyboard, which is now hidden). Realize when this doesn't work that IT had turned off that feature for reasons unknown. Them: "Man, this linux thing is totally busted!" On a different subject, the extern_disp and intern_disp options don't seem to work together for me w/ XFree 4.
try version 4.6.4 or later from RawHide, I have enabled these options by default.