Enable Desktop Effects fails silently (Feisty)

Asked by Jem

Hello

During Dapper and Edgy phases I have been able to manually install and run both Compiz and Beryl (at different times). I was keen to see how easily the Feisty technology preview "Enable Desktop Effects" would work.

When I try to activate it, it starts to take effect. The GUI becomes unresponsive and the window decorations disappear. After about 30 seconds the decorations re-appear and the desktop effects have not been enabled. I'm back where I started. There is no dialogue or response of any kind from the system. I do not know where to turn to find any logging.

I'm happy to provide any further information.

Thanks
Jem

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Felix Heinonen (fheinonen) said :
#1

Hi
System information(cpu, ram etc.), please. :)

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Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#2

Laptop running Feisty.

model name : Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2250 @ 1.73GHz
MemTotal: 1034480 kB
Video: nVidia GeForce Go 7400. 1280x800@50Hz

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#3

Thanks for your question.
First of all have you enabled NVIDIA driver in your 7.04 ???
Second, have you update the distro or have you done a new install ???

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#4

Thanks for your help

1. yes enabled and "in use"
2. upgraded from edgy.

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#5

jem@fawkes:~$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        Fontpath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
        # path to defoma fonts
        Fontpath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
        Load "bitmap"
        Load "ddc"
        Load "extmod"
        Load "freetype"
        Load "glx"
        Load "int10"
        Load "type1"
        Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
        Driver "kbd"
        Option "CoreKeyboard"
        Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
        Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
        Option "XkbLayout" "us"
        Option "XkbOptions" "lv3:ralt_switch"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier "Configured Mouse"
        Driver "mouse"
        Option "CorePointer"
        Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
        Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
        Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
        Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
        Driver "synaptics"
        Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
        Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
        Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
        Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Driver "wacom"
        Identifier "stylus"
        Option "Device" "/dev/wacom"# Change to
        Option "Type" "stylus"
        Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
        # /dev/input/event
        # for USB
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Driver "wacom"
        Identifier "eraser"
        Option "Device" "/dev/wacom"# Change to
        Option "Type" "eraser"
        Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
        # /dev/input/event
        # for USB
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Driver "wacom"
        Identifier "cursor"
        Option "Device" "/dev/wacom"# Change to
        Option "Type" "cursor"
        Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
        # /dev/input/event
        # for USB
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
        Driver "nvidia"
        Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
        Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
        Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
        Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "Generic Monitor"
        Option "DPMS"
        Horizsync 28-64
        Vertrefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Default Screen"
        Device "NVIDIA Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
        Monitor "Generic Monitor"
        Defaultdepth 24
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth 1
                Modes "1280x800"
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth 4
                Modes "1280x800"
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth 8
                Modes "1280x800"
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth 15
                Modes "1280x800"
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth 16
                Modes "1280x800"
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth 24
                Modes "1280x800"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier "Default Layout"
  screen "Default Screen"
        Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
        Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"
        Inputdevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
        Inputdevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
        Inputdevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
        Inputdevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Mode 0666
EndSection

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#6

Change this from:

Section "Device"
        Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
        Driver "nvidia"
        Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
        Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
        Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
        Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

to

Section "Device"
        Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
        Driver "nvidia"
        Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
        Option "RenderAccel" "1"
        Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "1"
        Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
        Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
        Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

change this from:

Section "DRI"
        Mode 0666
EndSection

to

#Section "DRI"
# Mode 0666
#EndSection

add this:

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

Can you post your NVIDIA driver version please ???
Have you used the restrict modules of 7.04 ???

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#7

Changes to xorg.conf made as suggested without any effect (positive or negative).

I'm not sure how to answer your two questions re nvidia driver and restrict modules. What can I type into the terminal to answer these questions?

Thanks again

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#8

Oh, and yes, I did restart X after making the changes. (In fact, did a complete reboot for other reasons)

Revision history for this message
Felix Heinonen (fheinonen) said :
#9
Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#10

Thanks, fheinonen. I have managed to install Compiz previously. This Question is specifically about the failure of the Desktop Effects applet to enable Compiz, or to provide any feedback when it fails (in my case).

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#11

I am not certain how to get my nvidia driver version, but when I look in /var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx.list I see plenty of references to 1.0.9631

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#12

Thanks for this information.
Have you used the restrict manager gui of ubuntu for enabling NVIDIA dravier in kernel 2.6.20 ???

Now you can do:

sudo apt-get install libdecoration

and sorry for this info:

        Option "RenderAccel" "1"
        Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "1"

it must be like this:

        Option "RenderAccel" "true"
        Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "ture"

Restart X and enable compiz.

Let me know.

thanks

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#13

* Changed those two options from "1" to "True"
* libdecoration already installed. sudo aptitude install libdecoration run, no action was taken.
* Yes, I used the "Restricted Drivers" applet to install and enable "NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver"

I'm sorry to say, it's still the same.

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#14

Try to blocked the old module NV using this comand:

$: sudo gedit /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

the line --> DISABLED_MODULES="NV"

Save and restart ubuntu.

Let me know.

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#15

Thank you. Sorry, this change had no effect on the problem.

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#16

I mistake, the "NV" is not correct, you must use "nv". Try and le me know.

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#17

Ah, I should have known better.... it was "nv" in the example in the comments of that file. "nv" refers to NVidia?

I added "nv" and rebooted. My x-server failed to start. So I've rolled this change back out.

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#18

Ok, why if you change the /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common file you are not be able to sart th x server ??? Ok, you can post this file (/etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common), than open a shell an do "lsmod" and post the result.

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#19

This is the current version, where x-server works.

jem@fawkes:~$ cat /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common
# This file is sourced from ... more comments
DISABLED_MODULES=

When it said DISABLED_MODULES="nv" xserver didn't start.

jem@fawkes:~$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
battery 9860 0
ac 5124 0
thermal 13832 0
fan 4740 0
button 7696 0
ipw3945 118432 1
ieee80211 33608 1 ipw3945
e100 34952 0
mii 5632 1 e100
usbhid 25056 0
hid 25728 1 usbhid
ipv6 252512 8
binfmt_misc 11272 1
rfcomm 37660 0
l2cap 22276 5 rfcomm
ppdev 9220 0
acpi_cpufreq 7564 1
cpufreq_userspace 4116 0
cpufreq_stats 5508 0
cpufreq_powersave 1792 0
cpufreq_ondemand 7676 1
freq_table 4740 3 acpi_cpufreq,cpufreq_stats,cpufreq_ondemand
cpufreq_conservative 6560 0
tc1100_wmi 7172 0
pcc_acpi 12160 0
dev_acpi 11140 0
sony_acpi 5388 0
video 15492 0
sbs 14752 0
i2c_ec 4992 1 sbs
dock 9216 0
container 4352 0
asus_acpi 16412 0
backlight 6016 1 asus_acpi
nls_utf8 2176 1
ntfs 104436 1
sbp2 23044 0
parport_pc 34980 0
lp 11332 0
parport 35272 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
arc4 2048 2
ecb 3584 2
blkcipher 5888 1 ecb
ieee80211_crypt_wep 5248 1
joydev 9920 0
pcmcia 38316 0
snd_hda_intel 20504 4
snd_hda_codec 204544 1 snd_hda_intel
snd_pcm_oss 43264 0
snd_mixer_oss 16512 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 76680 4 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy 3844 0
snd_seq_oss 31616 0
hci_usb 17052 2
sdhci 17420 0
bluetooth 51300 7 rfcomm,l2cap,hci_usb
rtc 13104 0
snd_seq_midi 8576 0
snd_rawmidi 24448 1 snd_seq_midi
mmc_core 25748 1 sdhci
tifm_7xx1 9216 0
tifm_core 8720 1 tifm_7xx1
snd_seq_midi_event 7424 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 49648 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 22276 3 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 8204 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
yenta_socket 26636 1
rsrc_nonstatic 13184 1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core 39696 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
ieee80211_crypt 6144 2 ieee80211,ieee80211_crypt_wep
nvidia 4711732 22
psmouse 37640 0
serio_raw 6916 0
i2c_core 21776 2 i2c_ec,nvidia
snd 51716 16 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore 7520 1 snd
intel_agp 24220 1
agpgart 34096 2 nvidia,intel_agp
snd_page_alloc 9992 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
iTCO_wdt 10656 0
iTCO_vendor_support 3972 1 iTCO_wdt
shpchp 33300 0
pci_hotplug 31160 1 shpchp
af_packet 20872 6
evdev 10112 4
tsdev 7872 0
ext3 129288 1
jbd 53032 1 ext3
mbcache 8196 1 ext3
sd_mod 22292 3
sg 35484 0
sr_mod 15908 0
cdrom 36512 1 sr_mod
ata_piix 14596 0
ata_generic 8196 0
ohci1394 35376 0
ieee1394 297656 2 sbp2,ohci1394
ehci_hcd 32780 0
ahci 20996 6
libata 125208 3 ata_piix,ata_generic,ahci
scsi_mod 141580 5 sbp2,sd_mod,sg,sr_mod,libata
generic 4228 0 [permanent]
uhci_hcd 23952 0
usbcore 131480 5 usbhid,hci_usb,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
raid10 24704 0
raid456 123408 0
xor 15752 1 raid456
raid1 23936 0
raid0 8704 0
multipath 8832 0
linear 6400 0
md_mod 77076 7 raid10,raid456,raid1,raid0,multipath,linear
processor 22956 2 thermal,acpi_cpufreq
dm_mod 57164 6
fbcon 41760 0
tileblit 2688 1 fbcon
font 8320 1 fbcon
bitblit 6016 1 fbcon
softcursor 2304 1 bitblit
vesafb 8196 0
capability 5000 0
commoncap 7296 1 capability

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#20

We try to install correctly the new nvidia driver:

1) downloads from this site the NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run file (this is for x86 cpu)

http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-9755.html

2) open a shell and do:

$: sudo apt-get install build-essential
$: sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
$: sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-dev

$: sudo gedit /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

add "nv" in the line DISABLED_MODULES=""
this block the nv module, don't worry.

$: chmod +x /dir_where_you_have_save_the_file/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run

do a backup of your xorg.conf

$: sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup

$: sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

this stop your desktop.

After do ctrl+alt+f1.

Now you are in console mode, enetr your usrid and password, than do:

$: sudo sh /dir_where_you_have_save_the_file/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9755-pkg1.run

You must answer the questions (the last question is about the possibility of nvidia installe to update you xorg.conf, answer ok). After this do:

$: sudo shutdwon -r now

This restart your pc.

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#21

Massimo.

Thanks for all your help with this. Your instructions were easy to follow and the installation was OK. Unfortunately it has had no effect on "enable desktop effects".

Jem

Revision history for this message
Rouben (rouben) said :
#22

Can you run "compiz" from the terminal, and see if there's any output? More than likely you will see some sort of error message that should help. Essentially that's what the "Enable Desktop Effects" control panel is supposed to do.

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#23

jem@fawkes:~$ compiz
/usr/bin/compiz.real: Screen 0 on display ":0.0" already has a window manager; try using the --replace option to replace the current window manager.
/usr/bin/compiz.real: No manageable screens found on display :0.0
Window manager warning: Screen 0 on display ":0.0" already has a window manager; try using the --replace option to replace the current window manager.

jem@fawkes:~$ compiz --replace
Segmentation fault (core dumped)

(The core dump was immediate, but the process continued to run until ^C)

In my solaris experience the core dump produces a big file in the pwd, but I couldn't find one in this instance.

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#24

jem@fawkes:~$ sudo compiz --replace
Password:
/usr/bin/compiz.real: dbus_bus_get error: Did not receive a reply. Possible causes include: the remote application did not send a reply, the message bus security policy blocked the reply, the reply timeout expired, or the network connection was broken.
/usr/bin/compiz.real: Plugin 'dbus':initDisplay failed
/usr/bin/compiz.real: Couldn't activate plugin 'dbus'

This started compiz OK. (I tried to kill it with ^C - bad move. That stuffed up my session and I had to CTRL ALT backspace).

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said :
#25

You try to clean the istallation (if you have done a upgrade some lib were not removed), to do it in a shell edit:

$: sudo apt-get autoremove

This will remove all pkg you don't use. Probably compiz pkg too.
I don't sure it works, but if you have done a upgrade probably you have a dirty lib installs.

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#26

I regularly use aptitude rather than apt-get. Running this command with apt-get has no effect. Aptitude does not have this command.

Revision history for this message
dman11 (bmn911) said :
#27

I have the same problem
my graphic card is not an invidia
just an on bord card

Revision history for this message
Best Jem (jem-mawson) said :
#28

Manually installed compiz-fusion. This worked.

Revision history for this message
John Vivirito (gnomefreak) said :
#29

dmn: nvidia comes with some pc motherboard but most common is Intel. Really all depends on if you bought it new, custom, or from a used pc.