Switch User incorrectly loads GDM

[Bryan Basil]

Unlike all of the other reports about malfunctioning Switch User functions, this actually works on my machine. The first several times, however, I had no clue that it did, as all I see is a white screen instead of my gdm, where I type the username and password blind to return to a functioning desktop.

Steps to reproduce: Switch User, log out of new user, log out of current user, log into a user, and switch user.

Sometimes this happens, as well, simply logging out.

(HP DV6446us/2GHz AMD64 Turion Dual Core/2GB/nVidia GeForce 7150M/160GB/32-bit Ubuntu 8.04.2)

[BrianS (brians200)]

This affects me as well, but only on my main user. When my friend switches to his account, it is the regular screen. If I try to switch from his account to mine, I get the brownish-white screen. If I type in my password, it goes into it. It only does it when switching to the account I use.
My steps; Log into main account. Switch to another user. Switch back to main user. Blindly type in the password

[Tarnay Kálmán (tarnay-kalman)]

Does this still happen with desktop effects disabled (for both user)?

[Bryan Basil (bryanlbasil)]

ifj. Kalman Tarnay, no it does not. I, however, like the aesthetically pleasing effects of having them enabled. Thank you for pinpointing the apparent problem, though. :-)

[BrianS (brians200)]

well maybe we can list which ones we have enabled and see if any are similar.
I assume you have compiz fusion?

gnome compatibility
enhanced zoom desktop
expo
desktop cube
rotate cube
fade to desktop
animations
animations add-on
animations plus
cube atlantis
login/logout
wobbly windows
window previews
most of the utility section..

[Bryan Basil (bryanlbasil)]

Yes, I have Compiz Fusion, but I think that's the only option now for "advanced desktop effects" as Beryl is no longer managed. :-)

Anyway,
Gnome Compatibility
Negative
Show Mouse
Desktop Cube
Expo
Rotate Cube
Viewport Switcher
Animations
Cube Reflection
Fading Windows
Paint Fire on the Screen
Water Effect
Window Decoration
Wobbly Windows
Annotate
Snow (You won't have this, I installed it from the Gutsy repos.)
All of the 'Image Loading' section
The Utilities Section minus Crash Handler, Error Notifications, GLib, Inotify, and Userspace File System.
Application Switcher
Extra WM Actions
Place Windows
Resize Window
Scale
Shift Switcher
Move Window

(Wow, I hardly use half of the stuff I have enabled...)

[BrianS (brians200)]

The account that I switch to that does not make the white screen has these enabled. pretty basic

gnome capatability
enhanced zoom desktop
negative
desktop wall
expo
viewport switcher
animations
fading windows
windows decoration
all image
all utility minus crash handler, glib,inotify, scale window title filter, userspace
extra wm actions
move window
place window
resize window
scale
snapping windows
static application switcher

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

The white screen issue is a known bug with the Nvidia proprietary driver

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

I've posted a new version of the -nvidia driver to our xorg-edgers PPA,
would you mind testing it either on Jaunty or Karmic and see if it
resolves this bug?

Get nvidia-graphics-drivers-180 - 185.18.14 here:

  https://edge.launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa

[BrianS (brians200)]

I would be willing to test it if you can explain to me what I need to do to install that. I see the nvidia-graphics-drivers-180 - 185.18.14 drop down. but see nothing to install.. Also, I haven't really used this site much.

[BrianS (brians200)]

Hi. I might get a faster response this way. I would be willing to test
your nvidia-graphics-drivers-180, but I am unsure of how to install
it. I added the sources to software sources, but am unsure of what to
do next. Thanks for your help. I am on jaunty by the way.

On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 11:02 PM, Bryce
Harrington<email address hidden> wrote:
>
> I've posted a new version of the -nvidia driver to our xorg-edgers PPA,
> would you mind testing it either on Jaunty or Karmic and see if it
> resolves this bug?
>
> Get nvidia-graphics-drivers-180 - 185.18.14 here:
>
>  https://edge.launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa
>
>
> ** Changed in: nvidia-graphics-drivers-180 (Ubuntu)
>       Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> Switch User incorrectly loads GDM
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/378896
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “nvidia-graphics-drivers-180” package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> Unlike all of the other reports about malfunctioning Switch User functions, this actually works on my machine.  The first several times, however, I had no clue that it did, as all I see is a white screen instead of my gdm, where I type the username and password blind to return to a functioning desktop.
>
> Steps to reproduce: Switch User, log out of new user, log out of current user, log into a user, and switch user.
>
> Sometimes this happens, as well, simply logging out.
>
> (HP DV6446us/2GHz AMD64 Turion Dual Core/2GB/nVidia GeForce 7150M/160GB/32-bit Ubuntu 8.04.2)
>

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

BrianS - Instructions are provided from the "Read about installing" link, accessible from the link that Bryce provided.

Anyway, the white screen issue still exists in the Nvidia drivers. It can be worked around slightly by enabling "unredirect fullscreen windows" in Compiz, so I'm not sure if that should be default.

However, even with that option enabled, any new windows that appear on the inactive screen will appear as empty white boxes when you make that screen active again. That's a known long-standing issue with the nvidia drivers.

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

Actually, this is a duplicate of bug 160264