Glitches in text rendering

[Felipe Bertrand]

This happens since upgrading to 13.10. With 13.04 I did not have this problem.

I notice glitches in the text rendering (randomly, one character in many will be rendered as noise). This happens in all applications (xterm, Mozilla, etc). Other that that I observe no crashes or problems.

Attached is a snapshot that shows the problem.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.14.3-3ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-12.19-generic 3.11.3
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-12-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,decor,snap,gnomecompat,compiztoolbox,resize,move,mousepoll,grid,imgpng,vpswitch,place,regex,animation,workarounds,unitymtgrabhandles,wall,expo,ezoom,fade,session,scale,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
Date: Wed Oct 23 16:22:59 2013
DistUpgraded: 2013-10-21 11:57:38,259 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: saucy
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 bcmwl, 6.30.223.141+bdcom, 3.11.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
 bcmwl, 6.30.223.141+bdcom, 3.8.0-31-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.2.16, 3.11.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.2.16, 3.8.0-31-generic, x86_64: installed
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a42] (rev 07) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02bc]
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02bc]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-05-20 (156 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Vostro 1520
MarkForUpload: True
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-12-generic root=UUID=5326adab-e228-4770-90ca-3c0261353884 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg-server
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to saucy on 2013-10-21 (2 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 10/27/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A05
dmi.board.name: 0T816J
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA05:bd10/27/2009:svnDellInc.:pnVostro1520:pvrNull:rvnDellInc.:rn0T816J:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: Vostro 1520
dmi.product.version: Null
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.10+13.10.20131011-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.46-1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.2.1-1ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.2.1-1ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.14.3-3ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.3-0ubuntu3.1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.2.0-0ubuntu10
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.904-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.9-2ubuntu1
xserver.bootTime: Tue Oct 22 10:31:47 2013
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id 9079
 vendor AUO
xserver.version: 2:1.14.3-3ubuntu2

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[John Siebert (johnsiebert)]

I think the duplicate status is wrong because this bug affects more than just Chromium tabs, it affects every single application that I have run in Unbuntu 13.10. Text randomly is blinked on and off like Christmass tree lights after upgrading from 13.04 to 13.10. This is very annoying to say the least.

[Thaddaeus Tintenfisch (thad-fisch-deactivatedaccount)]

Please read the comments in the linked launchpad report. On top of that, take a look at the upstream bug report.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Felipe Bertrand, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p xorg-server REPLACE-WITH-BUG-NUMBER

Please note, given that the information from the prior release is already available, doing this on a release prior to the development one would not be helpful.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

[Anirban Ghosh (anirban-ninja)]

I am using Ubuntu 13.10 with Intel i7 and ATI 7770.
I face exactly the same issue as described and I think this should be fixed in Ubuntu 14.04
as it affects usability of the OS.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Anirban Ghosh, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

For more on this, please see the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu X.Org Team, Ubuntu Bug Control, and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report will delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Anirban Ghosh (anirban-ninja)]

@ Christopher M. Penalver (penalvch)

I did so. Here it is. I am new to bug reporting. Hope I did correct.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1286313

[XA Hydra (xa-hydra)]

Happens to me on 12.04.4 LTS on my daily-use machine ( or earlier with the kernel / enablement stack upgraded ).

Also happened in Mint 13 with that same update applied, for what it's worth.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Randy Blazer, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Please ensure you have xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information.

For more on this, please see the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu X.Org Team, Ubuntu Bug Control, and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report will delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Anirban Ghosh (anirban-ninja)]

My problem is solved after installing the latest ATI driver.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for xorg-server (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]