[Solved] XFCE: Display Settings Popping up all the time

[larry77]

Dear All,

I run debian stable, XFCE desktop on my laptop. It is a fresh installation, but I had already a /home with plenty of configuration files.
Everything is OK, apart from the display window settings popping up all the time (see the enclosed png file).
It is annoying and I have to close multiple windows several time during my session.
I point out that my display settings are OK and there is nothing I would like to change.
Any ideas about how to fix this?
Thanks!

[kc1di]

What does the terminal command

Code: Select all

 inxi -G

show?
if inxi does not work or is not found install it this way

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 sudo apt install inxi

[larry77]

Hi! I installed inxi.
Here is the output of the command you suggested

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[$ inxi -G
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel
  Device-2: AMD Madison [Mobility Radeon HD 5650/5750 / 6530M/6550M]
    driver: radeon v: kernel
  Device-3: Realtek 2SF022 type: USB driver: uvcvideo
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting,radeon unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915
    resolution: 1366x768~60Hz
  API: OpenGL v: 2.1 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics (ILK)
/code]

Any further suggestions? Thanks!

[arzgi]

You have old configs, witch conflict. Move .config/xfce4 and .config/xfce4-session to somewhere else, logout and login.

[larry77]

Thanks, I will try your suggestion. One question: how do you know that? I used to have installed lxde on the same machine and I had the same problem, so I am a bit surprised it is a problem strictly related to the XFCE config files.

[Bloom]

In the screen configuration applet, choose 'Advanced' and switch off the bottom option if it's on. Also, select "do nothing" for what to do if it detects a new screen.

[CwF]

I used to have installed lxde on the same machine and I had the same problem, so I am a bit surprised it is a problem strictly related to the XFCE config files.

There is a bad connection somewhere. Lost then found triggers the dialog assuming there is a hardware change to manage. I've seen this issue.

[larry77]

Well, I tried the suggestions of moving the configuration files of xfce and the "do nothing" option in the advanced configuration tab. but the problem is still there....

[larry77]

Hi! In the meanwhile, I switched to lxde and I had exactly the same issue.
So far, the only remedy that seems to work (most of the time) is

- remove lxrandr
- remove lxrandr-autostart.desktop from ~/.config/autostart
- in config/openbox/lxde-rc.xml remove all the references to lxrandr (even if it is only some keybindings).

Hope this will be the end of it.

PS: I just have an old laptop; I do not use several screens.

[Augie77]

Hi! In the meanwhile, I switched to lxde and I had exactly the same issue.
So far, the only remedy that seems to work (most of the time) is

- remove lxrandr
- remove lxrandr-autostart.desktop from ~/.config/autostart .

Hope this will be the end of it.

A little moral support here. Since this issue repeats itself, regardless of OS, then I would suspect the hardware of the laptop or the Radeon drivers. I got the same popup from time to time on a desktop, but it was due to one of two monitors connected. That monitor is an older HP and with the Signal Source set to Auto, it would sometimes 'drop out' and that triggered the popup. Then it was the HDMI cable causing the problem. As this is a laptop, the mechanical device that detects screen position could be failing, or even the power settings of suspend/sleep, in combination with GPU drivers or OS.

[panpan]

Maybe it is related with this: https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=14840

[Augie77]

Maybe it is related with this: https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=14840

That is what Bloom suggested in his post, changing the Connecting Displays options in Display. I am thinking more along the lines of CwF post stating a lost connection. As it is a laptop, that could be the ribbon cable from the LCD display to board, the mechanical switch for the 'lid' closure, the screen, the GPU, etc. Usually more difficult to isolate hardware faults in a laptop than a desktop.

I have mine set for 'Show dialog'; other options are Do Nothing, Mirror, and Extend.

[larry77]

The solution has been working for a couple of days. I will cross my fingers and mark this as solved.