[vmware] Background goes white when using scaling (200%, 300% or 400%)

[Arjan Tijms]

As soon as I set my display to scaled (any percentage) via Settings -> Displays -> Scale, the background image disappears and become all white. When I choose a different background image via Settings -> Background initially nothing happens. As soon as I switch back to 100% scaling, the image I choose before now appears.

This problem started right after updating to 19.04. No such issues with either 18.04 or 18.10.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+19ubuntu12
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.0.0-13.14-generic 5.0.6
Uname: Linux 5.0.0-13-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.10-0ubuntu27
Architecture: amd64
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Apr 22 15:35:49 2019
DistUpgraded: 2019-04-21 17:34:15,063 DEBUG icon theme changed, re-reading
DistroCodename: disco
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 VMware SVGA II Adapter [15ad:0405] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: VMware SVGA II Adapter [15ad:0405]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-03-01 (51 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.10 "Cosmic Cuttlefish" - Release amd64 (20181017.3)
MachineType: VMware, Inc. VMware Virtual Platform
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.0.0-13-generic root=UUID=c8dc93a3-fd95-4152-9c04-0211309b2dc7 ro find_preseed=/preseed.cfg auto noprompt priority=critical locale=en_US quiet
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to disco on 2019-04-21 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 04/13/2018
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
dmi.bios.version: 6.00
dmi.board.name: 440BX Desktop Reference Platform
dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation
dmi.board.version: None
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 1
dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvr6.00:bd04/13/2018:svnVMware,Inc.:pnVMwareVirtualPlatform:pvrNone:rvnIntelCorporation:rn440BXDesktopReferencePlatform:rvrNone:cvnNoEnclosure:ct1:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VMware Virtual Platform
dmi.product.version: None
dmi.sys.vendor: VMware, Inc.
version.compiz: compiz N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.97-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 19.0.2-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.20.4-1ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:19.0.1-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20180925-2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.16-1

[Fran Murillo (fran-murillo)]

Same happening here in both Ubuntu 19.04 and Pop_OS! 19.04

[Marius Onofrei (marono)]

I've noticed that if you enable fractional scaling, 125% is still ok, but beyond that the wallpaper turns white.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Chris Del Gigante (cdelgigante)]

Issue is still in Ubuntu 19.10 with vmware workstation player 15.5.

One workaround I found is to use gnome-tweaks to select the wallpaper (under Appearance), and select an Adjustment option of "Wallpaper". Any other adjustment option causes the white background. Works best with a tile-able background, or a very large image that would not automatically tile (like a 4k image).

[John Mason (john-mason)]

Since Ubuntu 19.04, I can not use Ubuntu on my VMware virtual machines on my MacBook Pro Retina (200% scaling). The desktop is white. This still occurs under Ubuntu 19.10 (even with a clean install).
I hope this problem will be resolved quickly. I want to migrate to a newer version than my current version (Cosmic Cuttlefish).

[robin_persaud (robin-persaud)]

Running Manjaro 18.1.0 x86 (GNOME) on VMWare Workstation 15.5 - can confirm that I have the same issue.

[Jenala Williams (jenwill)]

I also have this problem on Ubuntu 19.10.

[Robin Müller (robinmue)]

Same problem with Ubuntu 19.10 running in VMware Workstation 15.5.1

[Henry Lucas (sensio)]

Hello, I have this problem on my Ubuntu VMs (since 19.04). However, my Debian 10 VMs are not affected. I hope this bug will be fixed before the LTS. This graphics bug makes my VMs unusable.
Thank you.

[Trongod05 (trongod05)]

Same issue. Ubuntu Budgie 19.10.

[Juan Martinez (cubislo)]

Same issue - 19.10 running on VMWare

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Oh, actually, I think I stumbled on an explanation for this bug and have a potential fix:

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/merge_requests/1004

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I am assuming this was fixed by: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/merge_requests/1004

It's not a blocker if I'm wrong...

[akidd (akidd)]

I can confirm I have the same issue with 19.10 - fresh install.

Chris Del Gigante's workaround does work (#6 above)

[Khairul Aizat Kamarudzzaman (fenris)]

I can confirmed having the same issue with 20.04 fresh installed as guest on virtual box

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

The (potential) fix mentioned in comment #15 is coming in Gnome 3.36.

[João Santos (jpnsantos)]

The fix will also be coming with Ubuntu 20.04, is that right?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Yes, Gnome 3.36 will be in Ubuntu 20.04 before April.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package mutter - 3.35.91-1ubuntu1

---------------
mutter (3.35.91-1ubuntu1) focal; urgency=medium

  * Merge with debian. Remaining changes:
    + debian/control:
      - Update VCS flags to point to launchpad
    + debian/gbp.conf: update branch to point to ubuntu/master
    + debian/patches/x11-Add-support-for-fractional-scaling-using-Randr.patch:
      - X11: Add support for fractional scaling using Randr

 -- Marco Trevisan (Treviño) <email address hidden> Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:33:52 +0100