panel is frozen

Asked by Wil

I put my panel on AutoHide. It went to only half hidden with only the top part showing. Consistant clicking on it only result in the top and bottom switching places. There is no response from anything on it that I click on. Alt f2 does not work.

I created a launcher for it. That did not work. I created a launcher for terminal. I typed the killall command. That resulted in the panel momentarily going back to normal for only a second--then it reverted to it's half visible state.

I have read through all the answers I could find--nothing worked. I read the answer about deleting some settings in the home directory. I understood nothing I was reading. WHERE in the home directory? Under WHAT name? In WHICH folder?

I really don't want to have to re-install linux (I'm using Karmic Koala).

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Ubuntu gnome-panel Edit question
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Sam_
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Revision history for this message
A. Denton (aquina) said :
#1

Don't reinstall since that's a strategy for cry babys. :-) Instead hand in a bug report and (important) link it with *this* question. Your home directory is ocated under »/home/« by the way. Install XFE to resemble an exploer like the one on Microsoft Windows (in a terminal type »sudo apt-get install xfe«).

Revision history for this message
Wil (xxmadrokkxx) said :
#2

Now, I'm not a complete computer idiot. I've been building computers from scratch for 15 years. I'm familiar with Microsoft software. I'm slowly getting to understand a little of how Linux works.

But, for the life of me, I can't understand the reply from Aquina. Strategy for cry babys?

And, what does installing a fake internet explorer have to do with solving my problem?

I am assuming that is what this is. Even if it is also supposed to be a windows explorer that still does not help. My Ubuntu windows explore/file explorer works just fine.

How do I submit a bug report? and how will that help me get my panel unfrozen?

As for re-installing Ubuntu 9.10, I don't want to do this because I feel this will NOT solve the problem. I need to know what path to follow to get my panel un-stuck. If I re-install this might just happen again. This time it was from placing the panel on auto-hide, next time it might be something else.

I need a solution other than installing fake microsoft software. If I wanted microsoft I would not have a dual boot Windows/Ubuntu installed. I want to learn how to use Ubuntu and how to recover from situations like the one I'm in now.

Is there a program for Ubuntu that I can run to get Ubuntu to correct it's own errors like Microsoft's CheckDisk?

Revision history for this message
Wil (xxmadrokkxx) said :
#3

/etc/gdm/Xsession: Beginning session setup...
Setting IM through im-switch for locale=en_US.
Start IM through /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/all_ALL linked to /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/default.

(gnome-settings-daemon:1627): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
GNOME_KEYRING_SOCKET=/tmp/keyring-BERxcr/socket
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/tmp/keyring-BERxcr/socket.ssh
GNOME_KEYRING_PID=1635

(gnome-settings-daemon:1627): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
** (<unknown>:1629): DEBUG: Client registered with session manager: /org/gnome/SessionManager/Client2
Checking for Xgl: not present.
xset q doesn't reveal the location of the log file. Using fallback /var/log/Xorg.0.log
Detected PCI ID for VGA:
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: Unable to find a synaptics device.
present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Checking screen 1Comparing resolution (1024x768) to maximum 3D texture size (4096): Passed.
Checking for Software Rasterizer: Not present.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
running under gnome seesion, checking for gnomecompat
Checking for Xgl: not present.
** Message: Reading of RFKILL events failed
** Message: killswitches state 3

(nautilus:1756): Eel-CRITICAL **: eel_preferences_get_boolean: assertion `preferences_is_initialized ()' failed
** Message: killswitches state 3

(polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:1796): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: cannot register existing type `_PolkitError'

(polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:1796): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_once_init_leave: assertion `initialization_value != 0' failed
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 0.
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Initialized Panel Applet Signaler.
CachingBackend: Loading instances from cache
CachingBackend: Loading <Meter1>
CachingBackend: Loading instances from cache
CachingBackend: Loading <Clock1>
No global tempdir found, creating new one.
Temp directory /tmp/screenlets created.
Creating new entry for MeterScreenlet in /tmp/screenlets/screenlets.evilwil.running
Loading instances in: /home/evilwil/.config/Screenlets/Meter/default/
File: Meter1.ini
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 1.
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 2.
Starting gtk-window-decorator
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 3.
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 4.
Found a running session of Clock, adding new instance by service.

** (nautilus:1756): WARNING **: No marshaller for signature of signal 'UploadFinished'

** (nautilus:1756): WARNING **: No marshaller for signature of signal 'DownloadFinished'

** (nautilus:1756): WARNING **: No marshaller for signature of signal 'ShareCreateError'
Error in screenlets.services.get_service_by_name: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name org.screenlets.Clock was not provided by any .service files
/home/evilwil/.config/Screenlets/Meter/default/Meter1
Screenlet has already been added to /tmp/screenlets/screenlets.evilwil.running
Loading instances in: /home/evilwil/.config/Screenlets/Clock/default/
File: Clock1.ini
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 5.
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 6.
/home/evilwil/.config/Screenlets/Clock/default/Clock1
LOAD NEW THEME: station
FOUND: /usr/share/screenlets/Clock/themes/station
theme.conf found! Loading option-overrides.
theme.conf loaded:
Name: RYX's railway-station clock
Author: RYX (aka Rico Pfaus)
Version: 1.0
Info: A typical railway-station look-alike
Set options in ClockScreenlet
LOAD NEW THEME: cairo-clock
FOUND: /usr/share/screenlets/Clock/themes/cairo-clock
theme.conf found! Loading option-overrides.
theme.conf loaded:
Name: Cairo-Clock
Author: Mirco "MacSlow" Mueller
Version: 1.0
Info: The default theme of MacSlow's legendary cairo-clock \n(the "mother" of all widget-apps)
Initializing nautilus-gdu extension
OK - Clock has been initialized.
Restored instances from session 'default' ...
/usr/bin/compiz.real (video) - Warn: No 8 bit GLX pixmap format, disabling YV12 image format
Can't open /proc/acpi/ibm/thermal
Can't open /proc/acpi/ibm/fan
Hddtemp not installed
[]
Can't open /proc/acpi/ibm/thermal
Can't open /proc/acpi/ibm/fan
Hddtemp not installed
LOAD NEW THEME: default
FOUND: /usr/share/screenlets/Meter/themes/default
theme.conf found! Loading option-overrides.
theme.conf loaded:
Name: default-theme (red)
Author: RYX (Rico Pfaus)
Version: 1.0
Info: A glassy theme in red.
/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/screenlets/drawing.py:114: DeprecationWarning: use copy pango.FontDescription.set_family instead
  self.p_fdesc.set_family_static(font)
Set options in MeterScreenlet
LOAD NEW THEME: default
FOUND: /usr/share/screenlets/Meter/themes/default
theme.conf found! Loading option-overrides.
theme.conf loaded:
Name: default-theme (red)
Author: RYX (Rico Pfaus)
Version: 1.0
Info: A glassy theme in red.
Restored instances from session 'default' ...
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 7.
I/O warning : failed to load external entity "/home/evilwil/.compiz/session/1094a77c21d6b8a1ab126539904922529300000015360025"
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 8.
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 9.
** (gnome-panel:1726): DEBUG: Adding applet 10.
evolution-alarm-notify-Message: Setting timeout for 15321 1265414400 1265399079
evolution-alarm-notify-Message: Fri Feb 5 19:00:00 2010
This is a page of ERROR readings I found somewhere in my Home folder. I don't know if it is relevant or not. Thought I would include it in case it might help.

evolution-alarm-notify-Message: Fri Feb 5 14:44:39 2010

(nautilus:2137): Eel-CRITICAL **: eel_preferences_get_boolean: assertion `preferences_is_initialized ()' failed
Nautilus-Share-Message: Called "net usershare info" but it failed: 'net usershare' returned error 255: net usershare: cannot open usershare directory /var/lib/samba/usershares. Error No such file or directory
Please ask your system administrator to enable user sharing.

Nautilus-Share-Message: Called "net usershare info" but it failed: 'net usershare' returned error 255: net usershare: cannot open usershare directory /var/lib/samba/usershares. Error No such file or directory
Please ask your system administrator to enable user sharing.

Revision history for this message
A. Denton (aquina) said :
#4

"I have read through all the answers I could find--nothing worked. I read the answer about deleting some settings in the home directory. I understood nothing I was reading. WHERE in the home directory? Under WHAT name? In WHICH folder?" -- THATS WHY I recommended you to install XFE so you could find the stuff you wanted.

You have Compiz and stuff installed which is not the default so I probably can't help you with that. It's probably an applet which causes the problem. Remove Taskbar applets, unload compiz and kill xfce4-panel if necessary. You can open a terminal and launch it again by entering »xfce4-panel &«.

Revision history for this message
Best Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#5

Will,
sorry for the inconvenience you've experienced.
You may try to reset all panel configuration settings and adding applets again successive in order to trace which one causes the trouble, if any.
CLI:
gconftool --recursive-unset /apps/panel
## This will unset configuration in gconf-editor
## Reference man page: man gconftool

rm -rf ~/.gconf/apps/panel
## This will remove the folder in your /home/user_name directory.
## You can also do this manually via GUI Nautilus (file browser).
## Full path /home/user_name/.gconf/apps/panel
(the point in front of a file implies hidden file, unhide with ctrl+H when Nautilus is open)

pkill gnome-panel
## Restores the panel
# or logout/in

Reference:
http://library.gnome.org/users/gnome-terminal/stable/gnome-terminal-get-started.html.en
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal
https://help.ubuntu.com/9.10/basic-commands/C/

http://library.gnome.org/users/gconf-editor/2.28/getting-started.html.en
http://library.gnome.org/users/user-guide/stable/nautilus-presentation.html.en
Index:
http://library.gnome.org/users/user-guide/stable/

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs

Example:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-panel/+bug/481643

> ERROR readings I found somewhere in my Home folder

'Somewhere' is the output of (hidden) file .xsession-errors in /home/user_name

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#6

btw. just because of panel hiccups reinstallation would be in no relation to the issue (cost-benefit).
On the other hand if 9.10 was an upgrade from 9.04 there might be some corrupted files, applets or whatever left. In addition 9.10 had major changes.
However consider backups as 'must'.
A separate /home partition is very useful in order to avoid trouble when upgrading.
In case of new installation via LiveCD /home just can be kept by doing user defiened partitioning.

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/910
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KarmicKoala/TechnicalOverview

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BackupYourSystem
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BackupYourSystem/TAR

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation

Revision history for this message
Wil (xxmadrokkxx) said :
#7

Finally! Many thanx to Sam! Whoever you are you IS A GENIUS! I tried the formulas you listed THOUGH NOT IN THE ORDER YOU LISTED THEM!

I was FINALLY able to get my bloody panel back!

Then I did an experiment. I did this two or three times!

ANY attempt to put the panel on AUTOHIDE causes the panel to freeze up and NOT work at all!

THIS IS A BUG in Ubuntu 9.10. What do I do to get this to the right people to resolve this? I still cannot put my panel on AUTOHIDE!

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#8

Ok, preconditions are,
we have a panel without any odd extra applets added, in order to exclude those and file a bug against the panel.
We can reproduce the issue (which seems you did already).

CLI:
LANGUAGE=C ubuntu-bug gnome-panel

## This will create an Apport bug report.
a) which can be viewed before upload
b) which will be uploaded to launchpad bug section
c) other similar bug reports will be offered, in order to verify if there is one already reported for this issue.
d) if yes open the one you think it describes the same issue, then you just may click on top at
'Does this bug affect you?'
e) if you wish to reopen a new bug proceed as advised from launchpad.
f) if you write a comment please add the link of your question.

You'll get email when bug status has changed and someone had a look at your bug report.
You may have an overview of your bug reports and also questions and answers status by clicking on regarding tabs in your profile page.
https://launchpad.net/~xxmadrokkxx

Enjoy Ubuntu.

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#9

Hints:
before activating autohide, right click on panel -> properties
Change pixel size and test which size works.

System preferences -> appearance -> fonts
Change font size of applications and test again.

Also activate 'Subpixel (LCDs)'.

Revision history for this message
Jola Peil (jpeil) said :
#10

you may need to set auto_hide_size to 0 while setting auto_hide to true