[orca-list] OT: Fedora freezes when HDMI monitor isn't connected, workaround?

[Nolan Darilek <nolan thewordnerd info>]

Sorry, I know this isn't Orca-related. I'm about to move in with my 
girlfriend to help her out in case of corona, am packing my desktop, and 
would like to quickly figure out a solution for this if possible. I'd 
rather not subscribe to another mailing list just for a couple days so I 
can get an answer.


My desktop has an HDMI out connected to a monitor. I have it plugged 
into a screen that is usually turned off, but if I disconnect HDMI 
completely, the system runs for a bit and then freezes. Or if I boot 
without a monitor connected, I never get any spoken feedback from GDM. I 
don't think it's accessibility/Orca-related, since I can't even adjust 
the volume and hear the volume-adjustment noises GNOME makes. Plugging 
in the monitor restores operation.


I'm about to move my desktop over to my girlfriend's. Since I don't need 
a monitor, I'd rather not bring it, but it seems like I have to bring 
*something* in order to even use the thing. Is it possible to use my 
desktop without a monitor connected? If so, what incantations do I need 
to make it happen?


Worst case, I have a tiny touchscreen HDMI monitor I bought for another 
project. I'd rather avoid needing that, both because it's fragile, and 
because plugging it in tells X that my display is tiny, so I only get 20 
or so flat review lines in gnome-terminal. That's very painful during 
development. What I'd like is some way of making X believe I have a huge 
HDMI monitor connected so I get lots of flat review capacity without 
having to lug a bulky or fragile screen I don't need. I have a couple 
days to figure out a solution, so any help is welcome.


Thanks!