Wingpanel causes mouse cursor flickering

[Florian]

Once in a minute, my mouse cursor becomes unusable for 2-5 secondes because it's flickering : the mouse cursor icon switches very fast between the "enter text icon" and the "default icon".

It makes the cursor unusable (I can move the cursor but clicking has no effect) and it makes typing very hard (it's like a third of my keystrokes are taken in account, for example, when it happens, I write "adghi" instead of "abcdefghi").

So I just can't work nor do anything !

Environment of my laptop :
$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: elementary
Description: elementary OS 0.4 Loki
Release: 0.4
Codename: loki

$ uname -a
Linux elementaryos 4.4.0-36-generic #55-Ubuntu SMP Thu Aug 11 18:01:55 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

It happens both on my laptop and desktop computer

PS : I'll try to upload a video tomorrow

[Patrick McClory (pmdev)]

I've got a very similar problem and just shot video which is attached.

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: elementary
Description: elementary OS 0.4 Loki
Release: 0.4
Codename: loki
$ uname -a
Linux lilPenguin 4.6.7-040607-generic #201608160432 SMP Tue Aug 16 08:35:05 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

This is on a brand-new Dell XPS 15... hidpi display. I've installed Nvidia-370 and am running primarily on intel-microcode for battery conservation purposes.

Attached video shows that the flashing cursor also interferes with background windows (such as file bbrowser).

I have attempted to reinstall Loki several times now and I have seen this issue in every attempted install.

As further detail:

* while the cursor 'seizures' will interact with the file browser window, they also prevent the keyboard input from being fully recognized when inputting in a browser or text editor (Firefox and Atom).
* they seem to get more predictable/closer together/longer as the system is powered on for longer periods.

[Patrick McClory (pmdev)]

I've also done a little digging into it and alongside other processes taking a ton of resources, 'wingpanel' seems to be troublesome so i installed sysdig and ran a fairly aggressive trace on that one process and i can say that watching it in parallel I'm seeing a TON of activity from wingpanel when the cursor is flashing back and forth and not a lot of activity when it's in it's normal state. Attaching output from `sysdig proc.name=wingpanel` just in case...but it includes some interesting detail related to interactions with other services (line 182/208 and lots of references to icons a little further down (still in the top section though)) that may help track it down. Apologies if this is noise.

[Florian (floriancourgey)]

You'll find an attached video of me trying to write 'abcdefghikl' showing the bug.

@Patrick, I got the exact same behaviour as you describe in comment #1

Gnome system monitor shows unexpected high CPU & RAM for 'wingpanel' (25% CPU & 3.6 Go RAM) and 'gvfsd-smb-browse' (24% CPU & 2.4 Go RAM) (started with command '/usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-smb-browse --spawner :1.1 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/3')

[Florian (floriancourgey)]

See Attachment (RAM gap before killing wingpanel)

PS : I removed (apt purge) 'gvfs-backends', according to http://askubuntu.com/questions/762977/what-is-the-process-gvfsd-smb-browse, I'll tell you if it gets any better

[Matt Biddle (mail-va)]

This bug is making my PC almost unusable.

System info listed below...

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: elementary
Description: elementary OS 0.4 Loki
Release: 0.4
Codename: loki

$ uname -a
Linux BITCPC-20 4.4.0-38-generic #57-Ubuntu SMP Tue Sep 6 15:42:33 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 06)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x16 Controller (rev 06)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI (rev 04)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #2 (rev 04)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev d4)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #6 (rev d4)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #1 (rev 04)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation C220 Series Chipset Family H81 Express LPC Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family 6-port SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode] (rev 04)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation Device 128b (rev a1)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GK208 HDMI/DP Audio Controller (rev a1)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 0c)

[Florian (floriancourgey)]

It has nothing to do with 'gvfsd-smb-browse' (same behavior after purging it).

My computer is usable only if I xkill (or kill via monitor, bash, ..) wingpanel process ; so this is related to wingpanel for sure.

[Peter Pan (peterpan575859)]

You should try commnad
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

[Patrick McClory (pmdev)]

@peterpan575859 - i've done that on several separate attempts, including trying different variations of nvidia-### and running both on nvidia and intel drivers (dual mode on laptop). In my case it does not appear that changing drivers or installing different drivers positively or negatively impacts the occurance of this issue.

[Jeroen (jjeroen)]

This also happens on my XPS 13, so I think it has something to do with the trackpad (as both laptops have the same trackpad). My laptop only has Intel HD Graphics (no nvidia GPU) so I don't think that has anything to do with it.

jeroen@jeroen-XPS-13-9343:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: elementary
Description: elementary OS 0.4 Loki
Release: 0.4
Codename: loki

jeroen@jeroen-XPS-13-9343:~$ uname -a
Linux jeroen-XPS-13-9343 4.4.0-38-generic #57-Ubuntu SMP Tue Sep 6 15:42:33 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

jeroen@jeroen-XPS-13-9343:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Broadwell-U Host Bridge -OPI (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Broadwell-U Integrated Graphics (rev 09)
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Broadwell-U Audio Controller (rev 09)
00:04.0 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Broadwell-U Camarillo Device (rev 09)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP USB xHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP MEI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev e3)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP PCI Express Root Port #4 (rev e3)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP USB EHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP LPC Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP SATA Controller [AHCI Mode] (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP SMBus Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.6 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP Thermal Management Controller (rev 03)
01:00.0 Unassigned class [ff00]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTS5249 PCI Express Card Reader (rev 01)
02:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7265 (rev 59)

[Jeroen (jjeroen)]

I tried some random things on Wingpanel, trying to stop the behavior, and in my case the flickering stops if I quit ALL programs that have an indicator.

[Florian (floriancourgey)]

"""
Peter Pan (peterpan575859) wrote on 2016-09-29: #7
You should try commnad
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
"""
I tried but it doesnt't help :(

"""
Jeroen (jjeroen) wrote on 2016-09-30: #10
I tried some random things on Wingpanel, trying to stop the behavior, and in my case the flickering stops if I quit ALL programs that have an indicator.
"""
My only indicator is the one for owncloud-client. I'll tell you if killing it stops the flickering.

[Patrick McClory (pmdev)]

Based on references to third party/add-in indicators, I reinstalled fresh and didn't add the two that I had:

* ownCloud-client
* solaar

Without those two installed, everything runs as expected.

[Florian (floriancourgey)]

Yep, it's definitely owncloud-client :

- I don't have solaar so it can't be
- no more flickering bug when I quit owncloud client
- I have other indicators installed/used and there's no problem with them when owncloud is shutdown

I have upgraded my owncloud server to nextcloud server. I'll compile nextcloud-client from github and tell you if the bug is fixed with the source.

Cheers

[Patrick McClory (pmdev)]

I can corroborate re: owncloud-client. I've reinstalled and added synergy (keyboard/mouse sharing) to the system - it has an indicator and I am NOT seeing the issue.

[blubberlutsch (blubberlutsch)]

This may be related

https://github.com/owncloud/client/issues/5171

[Florian (floriancourgey)]

Yes, thanks @blubberlutsch, installing the nightly resolved the issue !

Here are the commands I did :

$ owncloud --version
ownCloud version 2.2.3
Using Qt 5.5.1

$ sudo sh -c "echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/isv:/ownCloud:/community:/nightly/xUbuntu_16.04/ /' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/owncloud-client.list"

$ wget http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/isv:ownCloud:community:nightly/xUbuntu_16.04/Release.key

$ sudo apt-key add - < Release.key

$ sudo apt update

$ sudo apt install owncloud-client --upgrade

$ owncloud --version
ownCloud version 2.3.0nightly20161011 (build 1953)
Using Qt 5.5.1

and this nightly is working fine !!

[Zisu Andrei (matzipan)]

Closing this since not elementary.