Update manager window doesn't pop up

[Máté Eckl]

When Update Manager starts to help install the package updates, I can only see it on the launcher, but no matter if I click on it, or trying Alt + Tab, or Super + W I cannot make the window itself pup up. It only seems to happen when automatically starts, because these time I usually close it from launcher and start it manually from the dash. In this case it works properly. It is quiet anoyig.
I haven't found any other application having this kind of problem.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: update-manager 1:0.196.12
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.47-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Aptdaemon:

Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Tue Jun 3 07:14:36 2014
DpkgHistoryLog.txt:
 Start-Date: 2014-06-03 07:13:13
 Commandline: apt-get upgrade -y
 Upgrade: libgnutls-openssl27:amd64 (2.12.23-12ubuntu2, 2.12.23-12ubuntu2.1), qtdeclarative5-dialogs-plugin:amd64 (5.2.1-3ubuntu15, 5.2.1-3ubuntu15.1), qtdeclarative5-privatewidgets-plugin:amd64 (5.2.1-3ubuntu15, 5.2.1-3ubuntu15.1), libfreetype6:amd64 (2.5.2-1ubuntu2.1, 2.5.2-1ubuntu2.2), libfreetype6:i386 (2.5.2-1ubuntu2.1, 2.5.2-1ubuntu2.2), libqt5qml5:amd64 (5.2.1-3ubuntu15, 5.2.1-3ubuntu15.1), libqt5quick5:amd64 (5.2.1-3ubuntu15, 5.2.1-3ubuntu15.1), qtdeclarative5-window-plugin:amd64 (5.2.1-3ubuntu15, 5.2.1-3ubuntu15.1), qtdeclarative5-qtquick2-plugin:amd64 (5.2.1-3ubuntu15, 5.2.1-3ubuntu15.1), libgnutls26:amd64 (2.12.23-12ubuntu2, 2.12.23-12ubuntu2.1), libgnutls26:i386 (2.12.23-12ubuntu2, 2.12.23-12ubuntu2.1), qtdeclarative5-localstorage-plugin:amd64 (5.2.1-3ubuntu15, 5.2.1-3ubuntu15.1)
 End-Date: 2014-06-03 07:15:20
GsettingsChanges:
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'show-details' b'true'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-height' b'319'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'first-run' b'false'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-width' b'561'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'launch-time' b'1401771702'
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-20 (43 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: update-manager
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Dale Spanheimer (dspanheimer)]

I also have the problem of not seeing the Update Manager window when it first starts up, and I found if I click the icon in the tray once it does nothing visible but if I click the icon again the window appears as it should.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[LeonS (uxuntuone)]

I can confirm this behavior, but it is not confined to Update Manager.

Some programs besides Update Manager that give me this same problem

google-chrome, skype, freecad

In all cases the processes are running and the icons have menus that indicate the programs are running. Also the click again solution does *not* work for me. The click again will open a blank, menuless, full screen window, that only has the close icon ("x") active... sometimes, but not always.

tails of dmesg, nor syslog show any activity when these4 programs are started. nor are any log files in /var/log updated.

This began after a mid-August update, and one other curious bug that started at the same time was that clicking the fullscreen icon on nearly every video on the web would not work and blank ourt the video screen (burying and putting the browser window back on top brings the regular video back). The only place on the web wher this does not happen any more is directly from YouTube, embedded YouTube videos do not go full screen, btu they do when you are at YouTube.com.

I don not think this is a bug with Update Manager.

[LeonS (uxuntuone)]

How that for timing? About 4 minutes after I report this a I find out that it was just because I had 2 monitor cables pluged into my desktop, even though one of them wasn't even hooked up to a monitor (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2217862).

I guess its still a bug, but leaving the unused monitor cable unplugged at *both* ends is an acceptable work around for me!

[Máté Eckl (ecklm)]

Actually since some day in august I don't experience this bug any more. But if you #LeonS is right it might be because I updated either chromome-stable and skype. I just don't close it because it can affect others.
I can't recognise yout problem, but my secondary monitor is usually switched off (but always pluged in) and this doesn't happen for a while. I don't know which package it can be.

[John Muir (john-muir)]

I still see this bug very often (e.g. today) with Software Updater but with no other program.

I also have two monitor cables, but as I also have two monitors leaving one unplugged in not a solution for me.

[Eric Lambart (ubuntu-nomeaning)]

Hi. I also see this problem frequently--probably every time that updates are available. I'm here because I saw it again this morning.

I leave the computer on overnight (since suspend doesn't work in 14.04) and when I arrive at work in the morning, System Update is often running but won't appear. This morning when I clicked it, it switched to another workspace, but no window. Clicked it again, and it switched back to the first workspace, but still no window.

Since 14.04 decided to do away with the "Updates available" in the "gear" menu, I don't even know how to launch system updates. There was a context-menu option on the launcher icon for the updater, which offered to install all available updates. I don't know if that would have worked, because I always review the updates before installing.

I also have two monitors. Both are plugged in and turned on when I see the problem. Of course, at night the monitors are turned off, and that is when the updater usually gets launched. So perhaps it does have something to do with a cable plugged in (one is HDMI, one is DVI) with no attached monitor that is turned on.

What's worse is I that when I hit Win-R to launch the "run" menu and type "software updater", it happily lists it as an option (but only with the "gears" icon) and when I click it nothing happens. How is it that it's not accessible via the "run" menu? I actually came across this bug today because I couldn't figure out how to run the thing manually. I can do "apt-get upgrade" from the command line and have some idea of what's being installed, but not with the detail that the software updater provides.

14.04 has some nice touches, but I sure miss how solid 12.04 was...

[Juanmas07 (juanma-lace)]

I have the same issue

[Alex Hivento (ahivent)]

Same issue here too.

[Omar Zapien (omar-zapien)]

March 17 2015. No fix yet!!!!

Indeed my video card doesn't support dual monitor configuration.

Problem it's only in software update window; every time it appear on Unity launch bar, window app doesn't show at all!!!

Very annoying behaviour.

[Jesse McNichol (mcnichol)]

I have the same issue too.

[Tomek (nomattr)]

I have the same issue for long time.