Compiz fails to load with xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.914-1~exp1ubuntu1 on some Intel hardware

[Doug McMahon]

Seen here with Haswell (Mobile)
Logs into a session with
black desktop
no unity panel
a non functional launcher

Nothing can be done in the session except go to a tty

If I downgrade back to xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.99.910-0ubuntu1 then all is well & compiz loads as expected

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: unity 7.3.1+14.10.20140811-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-8.13-generic 3.16.0
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-8-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.5-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
Date: Sat Aug 16 12:29:42 2014
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: utopic
DistroVariant: ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0416] (rev 06) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo Device [17aa:3801]
 NVIDIA Corporation GK107M [GeForce GT 755M] [10de:0fcd] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo Device [17aa:3801]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-08-16 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Alpha amd64 (20140813)
MachineType: LENOVO 20217
ProcEnviron:
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 TERM=linux
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-8-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=1696b1d2-76dc-4df4-bafc-65f8cd743e53 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/18/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 74CN44WW(V3.05)
dmi.board.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: VIQY0Y1
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 31900058STD
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Lenovo IdeaPad Y510P
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr74CN44WW(V3.05):bd09/18/2013:svnLENOVO:pn20217:pvrLenovoIdeaPadY510P:rvnLENOVO:rnVIQY0Y1:rvr31900058STD:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrLenovoIdeaPadY510P:
dmi.product.name: 20217
dmi.product.version: Lenovo IdeaPad Y510P
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.12+14.10.20140812-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.56-1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.2.5-1ubuntu2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.2.5-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu9
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.9.0-1ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.4.0-2ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.914-1~exp1ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.10-1ubuntu2
xserver.bootTime: Sat Aug 16 12:28:54 2014
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id 729
 vendor LGD
xserver.version: 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu9

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[jerrylamos (jerrylamos)]

On starting unity with linux-image -8, whole screenful of messages flash by.

Finally trying to read them (at 1920x1080 default resolution that's a bear) I see near the beginning:

"Your hardware does not support unity"

How come this same hardware supported unity on linux-image -5?

This hardware is Intel Core 2 Duo on a Lenovo ThinkCentre. There's got to be millions of them out there.

Thrashing around trying various things finally got a compiz error. Likely compiz is the source of the problem. See bug #1357753.

[jerrylamos (jerrylamos)]

Tried latest .iso at linux-image -8
utopic-desktop-amd64.iso 16-Aug-2014
wallpaper only, unity didn't start.

Selected lines from Ctrl-Alt-F1 copied by hand, I don't know what log this data may be in:

[drm: init-ring-control] *ERR0R* rendir ring initialization failed

[drm: i915_gen_init] *ERR0R* Failed to initialize GPU, declaring it wedged

[Doug McMahon (mc3man)]

Can also be noted that a gnome-flashback > compiz session is likewise affected though the symptoms are slightly different
(- nothing happens for a while, then booted back to greeter.
It also returns to expected with a downgraded xserver-xorg-video-intel package

If there is any specific means to present more useful debug info then what is in this report will do so.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[jerrylamos (jerrylamos)]

This utopic install was initially linux image 3.16.0-5.

Updated to -7 compiz and unity fail, X11 running fine to desktop no panels.

Updated to -8 first boot from dead cold overnight boots O.K. Reboots compiz and unity fail.

Externally acts like a race condition that works sometimes other times not.

Updated to -9 First boot from dead cold overnight booted O.K. Reboot compiz and unity fail.

How come same utopic selecting linux-image -5 works every time selecting linux image -8 or -9 do not?

Recent .iso boots fail every time because there's no linux-image -5 to be selected.

Recent .iso will install because the desktop icons are there, no panels, however boot at end of install fails like reboot.

[jerrylamos (jerrylamos)]

3.16.0-9 i386 32 bit boots normally. Very rarely boots to desktop and cursor no unity.

3.16.0-9 amd64 always boots to desktop no unity. X is up, compiz hence unity are not.

3.16..0-8 rarely boots to unity, usually to desktop and cursor only.

Viewing utopic as a black box, characteristics are that compiz is trying to start before X is ready, usually on amd64 and rarely on i386.

Are both amf64 and i386 using the same Intel video driver?

[jerrylamos (jerrylamos)]

I get a similar compiz error on amd64. In my case, booting 3.16.0.6 kernels or before work fine.

Booting amd64 3.16.0-7, -8, -9, -10 kernels on the same install the desktop runs but compiz hence unity do not.

Booting the newer .iso the live session fails the same way. Follow through with the install and of course compiz etc. fail.

booting the 3.16.0-6 amd64 .iso runs fine.

I don't know if it is the same install are the different kernels chosen out of /boot using the same Intel video driver?

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/1359299

Do note, i386 32 bit 3.16.0-10 install and kernel on the same pc run fine (for a development version).

How different is the 32 bit and the 64 bit compiz?

Of course, amd64 Lubuntu runs fine. Lubuntu doesn't use compiz I think.

[Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa)]

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/1357746

[Stephen M. Webb (bregma)]

The logs attached to this bug indicates an error originating in the Nouveau video driver on startup, which has nothing to do with Compiz (other than the video driver does not then offer required functionality for Compiz to run) or the Intel video driver.

[ 8.553] (EE) NOUVEAU(G0): Failed to initialise context object: 2D_NVC0 (0)

If the problem occurs only with certain versions of the Linux kernel, it's likely the problem is either in the Linux kernel or in the Nouveau video driver and not Compiz.

The original description of this problem indicates an error originating with the Intel video driver, which has nothing to do with Compiz (other than the video driver does not then offer required functionality for Compiz to run). If the problem occurs after upgrading the video driver or kernel or only with certain versions of the kernel but not Compiz, it's likely that the video driver or kernel is the cause of the problem and not Compiz.

It is not clear from the logs and the description of this report it two separate and unrelated video driver problems or kernel problems are being combined into one bug report. It's fairly clear it's not a problem that can be solved by the Compiz package.

[jerrylamos (jerrylamos)]

Maybe the "problem description" is invalid, however the "problem" is very real.

See also ttps://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/1359299, confirmed, multiple users report problem.

Utopic amd64 does not work on Lenovo ThinkCentre. Intel Core 2 duo 3.0 gHz 4 mb.

Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

Just did an install here today, using the last 3.16.0-6 iso I have saved. Installed, compiz & unity running.

Updated to latest amd64 .iso, 26 August, which includes the 3.16.0-10 kernel.

3.16.0-10 kernel, boots to wallpaper. No compiz hence no unity.

Reboot selecting 3.16.0-6 out of /boot, compiz and unity running.

Whatever is wrong, it's in the ubuntu kernel. Everything else is the same.

BTW, i386 32 bit 3.16.0-10 compiz and unity run. And of course Lubuntu amd64 running fine, no compiz.

[Doug McMahon (mc3man)]

To clear up -
1. This bug was filed by running apport -cli from a tty, saving the report, then filing that report from a recovery boot
(if there is a better way to use apport from a tty tell me.

2. The kernel version is *irrelevant*, compiz fails with any kernel inc. going back to 3.13.x when xserver-xorg-video-intel is at 2:2.99.914-1~exp1ubuntu1

3. Compiz works fine with any kernel when xserver-xorg-video-intel is at xserver-xorg-video-intel_2.99.910-0ubuntu1

4. This bug is only being filed on Intel Haswell Mobile, in my case on a Lenovo 510p

5. If I install xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.914-1~exp1ubuntu1 on a trusty install then there is no issue with compiz, so this only occurs on utopic.

6. I don't believe this issues jerrylamos is seeing are the same, as I've stated the kernel doesn't matter, this is not a 'sometimes' thing & reverting the intel xserver package immediately & completely resolves either thru a reboot or a stop/restart of lightdm/re-login

[Doug McMahon (mc3man)]

If I either blacklist nouveau or remove the xserver-xorg-video-nouveau package then everything works as expected with the current xserver-xorg-video-intel package.
This also *seems* to make restarts & shutdowns more reliable & makes going to a tty not be liable to cause some sort of looping kernel panic (happens about 40% of the time with nouveau package installed & not blacklisted

So choices here on Haswell Mobile -
Downgrade xserver-xorg-video-intel
Blacklist nouveau
Remove xserver-xorg-video-nouveau

[Doug McMahon (mc3man)]

fixed with latest xserver* 1.0.11

[Doug McMahon (mc3man)]

I meant 1.16.x & 2.99.914-1~exp1ubuntu2/3