>> $ xrandr --output VGA --auto --right-of LVDS
quoted text
>> xrandr: screen cannot be larger than 1280x1280 (desired size 2304x1024)
>
> You have to set the X virtual screen size before starting X.  Then
> when you attach a monitor, you use xrandr to "carve up" a portion of
> the  virtual screen to show on the external screen.
>
> The virtual size option is something you set in xorg.conf.  I'll let
> you look up the actual name of the directive and its details.
>
>> with the VGA setup at 1280x1024 i try to set the laptop display.
>> I have no idea where the "desired size" is coming from
>
> (google usually helps with weird error messages, especially from
> widely used software)

right... asleep at the wheel on that one. Thanks. I ran X -configure
and made a few edits and voila! Problem solved. Though i still have
the backlight problem.

I tried
xrandr --output LVDS --set BACKLIGHT_CONTROL native
which doesn't seem to do anything, and
xrandr --output LVDS --set BACKLIGHT_CONTROL legacy
which now gives me a range
BACKLIGHT: 0 (0x00000000)       range:  (0,255)

adjusting it doesn't seem to do anything.
xbacklight -set 100
BACKLIGHT: 0 (0x00000000)       range:  (0,255)
xbacklight -set 50
BACKLIGHT: 0 (0x00000000)       range:  (0,255)

--
Later
Peter