Created attachment 533256 [details]
dmesg, ldm, Xorg, xsession error logs + yum history

Description of problem:

Multiple monitor errors with nvidia GeForce 8600M GT, rather hard or impossible to manage correctly, and may even lead to complete "black screens" (on all ttys !)

Integrated card has 3 connectors (internal = LVDS, external VGA and DVI). Only one external (VGA) was used (or none) during these test. But to start with, connector detection itself fails (e.g. DVI is reported as "connected"), Geometry shows many errors, no matter what are the setting corrections I made. Overall settings do lack consistency against each other, too (eg. LVDS is auto-detected as Connected AND Disabled AND remain Primary).

This is a step by step walk, through different display configurations and progressive results. Starting from a fresh installed and updated Fedora 16 KDE installation. 

Scope

I didn't tried anything like changing resolutions, rotating, positions etc. : only on/off with full (native) resolutions, laptop alone or with external VGA to its right. Getting such basic functionality would fully satisfy my needs.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):

kdebase-workspace-4.7.2-14.fc16.x86_64

How reproducible:

Always

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Fresh install without vga monitor connected (yum history 1) reboot, finish install, login, shutdown 

2. Boot, login, yum update (yum history 2), shutdown

3. Boot, login, run krandrtray (still no external connected), change primary display from none to LVDS, apply, save as default, logout

4. Login, connect a VGA monitor: detection dialogue open (nothing preselected), select VGA1 auto/auto, apply (NOT saved as defaut), logout

Result: KDM shows up on VGA
Expect: KDM still shows up on LVDS

5. Login, open krandrtray config dialogue

Result:
- LVDS shows as Connected, Disabled, Primary (!)
- VGA  shows as Connected, 1680x1050, Absolute
- DVI  shows as Connected, 1680x1050, RightOf VGA
- Multiple Monitor tab is absent

Expect:
- LVDS shows as Connected, 1440x900, Primary
- VGA  shows as Connected, 1680x1050, RightOf LVDS
- DVI  shows as Disconnected
- Multiple Monitor tab is present

6. Enable LVDS, set VGA to RightOf LVDS, disable DVI, apply

Looks good at first glance
- Desktop and panel show on LVDS
- VGA is to the right with background only
- Multiple Monitor tab is now present

But shown geometry is wrong.

Result:
- D1   0    0 1680 1050
- D2   1680 0 1680 1050
- Show unmanaged windows on D1

Expect:
- D1   0    0 1440  900 ?
- D2   1440 0 1680 1050 ?
- Show unmanaged windows on D1

7. Save as default (dialogue announed it has been saved), logout

Result: KDM shows up on VGA
Expect: KDM still shows up on LVDS

8. Login, open krandrtray config dialogue

Result:
- LVDS shows as Connected, Disabled, Primary (!)
- VGA  shows as Connected, 1680x1050, Absolute
- DVI  shows as Connected, Disabled

Expect:
- LVDS shows as Connected, 1440x900, Primary
- VGA  shows as Connected, 1680x1050, RightOf LVDS
- DVI  shows as Disconnected

9. Do NOT save default, Reboot with VGA attached

Result:
- Grub loads on LVDS
- Immediately after launching kernel, all switch to VGA
  (LUKS graphic passphrase box, plymouth, KDM, login)

Expect:
- All remain on LDS1, session opens on both

10. Login

Same results/expectations as 8.

Note: also opening at this time a root session on tty2, to take these notes.
It appears on VGA, too. Cf. below when it gets "unreachable".

11. Repeat Step 6.

Seems OK now, including goemetry!
Save as default.

12. Disable VGA, Apply

VGA is disabled (black) as expected, but

Result:
- geometry in Multiple Monitor tab doesn't get updated
- Windows (the krandtray dialogue itself, and a konsole)
  are "brought in" from VGA into LVDS, but half the way
  (20% of them is over LVDS maybe, crossing its right edge)
- Placing them using KDE "auto-dock" feature (half, quarter screen)
  goes weird : there are 4 quarters of 720x360 each available
  (no way to fill the entire screen, large gap at the bottom)
- if eg. the konsole is located to the most bottom right quarter,
  then its windows menu opens... to the top left of the screen
- KDE menu itself is drawn "above" its normal position, botpos=720
  (its baseline is aligned with the bottom of this "0 0 1440 720" box)
- tty2 is no more viewable :/

Expect:
- geometry in Multiple Monitor tab reflects deletion of VGA in X
- usual KDE windows placement behaviour is adjusted
- tty2 is still accessible, on either VGA or LDVS !
  note: at this point, enabling/disabling VGA also
  makes tty2 display back functional or not

Save as default. During logout, confirmation pop up is half the way out of the screen (centered on old geometry)

13. Reboot

Everything happens on VGA again (should be on LDVS)
Then after login:

  BOTH LDVS AND VGA ARE BLACK SCREEN (login music is played, thou)

Switching to tty2 shows a prompt as expected.
Back to tty1 : still black
Back to tty2, 3, 4... ALL SCREENS BLACKS
Ctrl+Alt+BackSpace gets KDM back on VGA, and "resurrect" tty2 display.
Login again: BLACK SCREEN

14. Disconnect VGA and Reboot

Fedora shutdown logo appears, but not centered (offset to the bottom right)
At reboot things settle again on LVDS.
Then it is possible to use VGA again, etc.

99. Stopping here the step-by-step.

  ***

Further notes, and experimenting with activities, applets etc.

- While enabling VGA, its right part is first shown as a black rectangle

- If LVDS is not primary (panel being in VGA), then click to add an applet
  on LVDS part of the desktop will not bring any dialogue

[...]

Looking forward to any help/suggestion, thanks.