Can I force VGA signal output even when xrandr shows 'disconnected'?

My notebook is connected to a HDTV through a KVM Switch (one other notebook also connected to the same HDTV). The problem seems to be that Ubuntu doesn't recognize the HDTV to be turned on and therefore doesn't enable the VGA output. As far as I understand it has something to do with EDID information not being send trough the KVM Switch.

xrandr won't enable the VGA output through xrandr --output VGA1 --auto, it just keeps showing as disconnected.

Can I somehow force the VGA port to send a signal?

My Graphics Controller:

Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)

Yes,you can , but --auto is doing the right thing. Instead do something like:

xrandr --addmode VGA1 1024x768
xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1024x768 --right-of LVDS1

For other users with a similar problem on all video outputs, first run xrandr to see what outputs you have.

~$ xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 8192 x 8192
eDP1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 294mm x 165mm
   1920x1080      60.0*+   59.9     40.0  
   1680x1050      60.0     59.9  
   1600x1024      60.2  
   1400x1050      60.0  
   1280x1024      60.0  
   1440x900       59.9  
   1280x960       60.0  
   1360x768       59.8     60.0  
   1152x864       60.0  
   1024x768       60.0  
   800x600        60.3     56.2  
   640x480        59.9  
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1024x768       60.0  
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1024x768       60.0  

In this case the main screen is called eDP1 and the additional outputs are VGA1, HDMI1 and DP1 (Mini DisplayPort)

As an example, to force output to the Mini DisplayPort at 720x480 run

xrandr --addmode DP1 720x480

and then

xrandr --output DP1 --mode 720x480 --right-of eDP1

If you has a display port, for example DP1, and needs to send the VGA signal into the display port because it is not detected, you should adapt the adapt the line proposed by Daniel Alder. Assuming your normal screen is eDP1 and your displayport is DP1:

# Put your normal screen in 1024x768
xrandr --output eDP1 --mode 1024x768
# Add a mode for display port
xrandr --addmode DP1 1024x768
# Clone the normal screen to the display port
xrandr --output DP1 --mode 1024x768 --same-as eDP1

For me it solve the non detection problem of some external projectors when there is a box that choose automatically what VGA input should be sent to the projector.

I had problems with some VGA cables that has DDC (display data channel) broken or not connected. I found this useful workaround using boot parameter to force kernel to see a disconnected VGA: video={conn}:{res}e conn should match xrandr device name res 1024x768 (or what ever you prefer) e means to enable the port (even if no device/monitor is detected).

See: http://distro.ibiblio.org/fatdog/web/faqs/boot-options.html