16.04: Installation of the 2/15/18 update to compiz forced removal of unity and ubuntu-desktop

Bug #1749839 reported by Bill Miller
56
This bug affects 12 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
compiz (Ubuntu)
Confirmed
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

Did a routine update/upgrade on 2/15/18 on a 16.04 Ubuntu system. Received an update to compiz. The upgrade broke unity, forcing its removal and also the removal of ubuntu-desktop. Since I was using LXDE at the time, this didn't kill my system, but I would like to preserve the option of logging into unity in the future.

The package whose absence broke unity seems to be compiz-core-abiversion-20151010. apt-cache policy reports no version of that package available to my system.

First seen on AskUbuntu - https://askubuntu.com/q/1006621/66509 .

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: compiz 1:0.9.12.3+16.04.20171116-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35~16.04.1-generic 4.13.13
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity_support_test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDesktop: LXDE
Date: Thu Feb 15 17:15:00 2018
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: xenial
DistroVariant: ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0116] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller [1043:1652]
GsettingsChanges:
 b'org.compiz.core' b'outputs' b"['1920x1080+0+0']"
 b'org.compiz.core' b'active-plugins' b"['core', 'composite', 'opengl', 'imgpng', 'copytex', 'vpswitch', 'regex', 'move', 'snap', 'unitymtgrabhandles', 'commands', 'mousepoll', 'grid', 'resize', 'compiztoolbox', 'place', 'animation', 'wall', 'session', 'workarounds', 'expo', 'fade', 'scale', 'ezoom', 'unityshell']"
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-09-28 (505 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160719)
MachineType: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. K53E
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-32-generic root=UUID=44c44079-2f3a-49e6-bab5-67a90d6cda36 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: compiz
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/06/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: K53E.219
dmi.board.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.board.name: K53E
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 1.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrK53E.219:bd03/06/2012:svnASUSTeKComputerInc.:pnK53E:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKComputerInc.:rnK53E:rvr1.0:cvnASUSTeKComputerInc.:ct10:cvr1.0:
dmi.product.family: K
dmi.product.name: K53E
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.12.3+16.04.20171116-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.83-1~16.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 17.2.8-0ubuntu0~16.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 17.2.8-0ubuntu0~16.04.1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core N/A
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau N/A
xserver.bootTime: Thu Feb 15 16:36:42 2018
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.version: 2:1.19.5-0ubuntu2~16.04.1
xserver.video_driver: modeset

Revision history for this message
Bill Miller (wbmilleriii) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Andrew Vian (drewvian) wrote :

I also have this same issue. I did not have another GUI installed, meaning I have no fallback package. No launcher or taskbar is present. Luckily, I can get access a terminal from the drop-down menu by right-clicking the desktop.

tags: added: compiz-0.9
Revision history for this message
nigel williams (willnige) wrote :

I have the same problem.
I can't re-install unity and have had to install gnome desktop.

Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

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

Changed in compiz (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Doug McMahon (mc3man) wrote :

Appears unity needs to be rebuilt to the newer compiz-core-abiversion

Norbert (nrbrtx)
description: updated
Revision history for this message
Bill Miller (wbmilleriii) wrote :

As suggested by N0rbert on askubuntu, installing compiz-core-abiversion-20170630 fixes the dependency problem and allows the updates to be installed without removing unity.

Hazhir Rahmani (h4906r)
Changed in compiz (Ubuntu):
assignee: nobody → Hazhir Rahmani (h4906r)
assignee: Hazhir Rahmani (h4906r) → nobody
Revision history for this message
Gord Kunz (kgord99) wrote :

Just want to pass on "Thanks for all your efforts in providing some solutions to this issue". I applied a couple found in askubuntu and resolved my launcher/desktop problems in short order.
I understand the complexity in meeting the various hardware/software configurations of users devices and can accept the odd glitch. Everyone gets on these and resolutions are quickly identified.Thanks again for your efforts!
Gord K
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

To post a comment you must log in.
This report contains Public information  
Everyone can see this information.

Other bug subscribers

Remote bug watches

Bug watches keep track of this bug in other bug trackers.