Multi monitor setup one screen black wallpaper

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I have a system shown below.

It is a laptop, the graphic include the built in screen and two matching monitors.

Occasionally, when I login, one of the screens come up with a black desktop.

It appears to happen when I login immediately after the login screen is displayed after boot. (This may just be a perception and not reality…)

It is always the same monitor (the left of the two monitors, not the laptop screen) and the toolbar across the bottom is normal, just no wallpaper/desktop. The other two are normal.

I’m looking for ideas…I have no idea what to look for/at to diagnose the issue.

Other similar questions are talking about consistent loss of the monitor or the monitor not working. But, in this case, other than not being able to select the desktop icons on that screen, it works fine. I can click an app in the panel at the bottom of the screen and it launches and displays the app normally, just on a black background.

Operating System: Manjaro Linux
KDE Plasma Version: 6.1.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.6.0
Qt Version: 6.7.2
Kernel Version: 6.11.2-4-MANJARO (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 8 × Intel® Core™ i7-6700K CPU @ 4.00GHz
Memory: 15.6 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M/PCIe/SSE2
Manufacturer: System76, Inc.
Product Name: Serval WS
System Version: serw9

1 Like
2

There could be something in it … things still loading? Also, what happens if you then log out and back in again?

Do all monitors come on at boot, or just the one you log in with?

I’d check this by delaying logging in for a set number of reboots and then logging in straight away for the next set of reboots. A PITA, I know.

I should add that more detailed system info. may be helpful e.g. inxi -zv8 (highlight the pasted text and use the </> button to format it for the Forum).