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I tried to add a CRT display to my HP Mini. Here are the details : This is where I thought the display plug must be inserted. enter image description here

This is what the plug looks like:

enter image description here

(Please tell me what this thing is actually called. I am pretty sure it is not called a plug. lol)

This is where the above plug usually goes into my desktop CPU : enter image description here

Details of my CPU monitor, which I am trying to connect : enter image description here

enter image description here It did not work :( You can see it not working below:

enter image description here

(Yes, the CRT Monitor was switched on)

Can this ever work ? How to make this work ?

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  • Physical connections look fine. What OS?
    – Journeyman Geek
    Jun 29, 2013 at 9:03
  • Those are a VGA port and plug. You probably have to type a Function key to turn on the VGA output. "F5" is typical. Win7 also can enable the VGA output using the Windows key and "P".
    – sawdust
    Jun 29, 2013 at 9:07
  • @JourneymanGeek I am using Ubuntu 12.04
    – Chani
    Jun 29, 2013 at 9:18
  • @sawdust I tried using the F4 key, but it did not work. I think there is an issue with the key. My fn + f3 (for brightness) keys also do not function properly.
    – Chani
    Jun 29, 2013 at 9:20
  • 1
    Have a look at ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1979997 - It looks like the answer to your problem.
    – davidgo
    Jun 29, 2013 at 9:34

1 Answer 1

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Excellent question, and all the photos are really helpful.

The connector is called a VGA connector, but 'plug' is just fine. You have also correctly identified the VGA socket on the laptop, as shown by the symbol to its right.

It may be that your CRT is not supported by Ubuntu, it's a fairly ancient display. The VGA connector includes the video data signals for Red, Green, Blue and synchronising pulses. But it also has signals which allow the computer to communicate digital configuration information. This is how the plug-n-play functions work; the computer requests the monitor details and the monitor responds. Unfortunately, when the VGA connector was first introduced, these data signals were not present, so they have been added and updated in a fairly messy way since. There are different data standards, and it may be that your monitor's data standard is not supported by your laptop hardware, its BIOS, or Ubuntu.

In your situation, I'd put the monitor aside for a moment and try to get the laptop VGA output working with another monitor as a test. If you have (or can borrow) a more modern monitor with the same connector, or a modern LCD TV (most of those now have VGA connectors too), then connect that to your laptop and try. In the case of a TV, you'll need a VGA cable, (the one from the Daewoo monitor will do if it also has a VGA plug on the other end), and to set the TV source signal to PC, using the remote.

If you can get a modern display working with your laptop, then switch back to your Daewoo CRT. If that still doesn't work, then you either have a dead display, or it is not compatible.

Hope that helps and you get it working.

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  • Hey thanks. This was going to be my approach anyway. I am taking my laptop to a store and see if it works with the newer ones. I am planning to buy a new display anyway. I think the issue is the display though. It is really old. Almost 12 years (x_x)
    – Chani
    Jun 29, 2013 at 10:35
  • "It may be that your CRT is not supported by Ubuntu" -- Rubbish. The monitor info is not required to get an image. I use VGA-to-BNC cables which only pass-through the RGBHV lines, and have no issues with Windows or Ubuntu at any resolution I specify. BTW one of the "VGA displays" I use is a CRT projector manufactured in 1994.
    – sawdust
    Jun 30, 2013 at 7:06

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