switch metacity -> compiz reduces visible screen size with the rest in black

[lubuntu]

Binary package hint: compiz

Hi,

When I try to enable compiz with the "system -> preferences -> appearance" menu the screen size is completely misunderstood by compiz.
I think this is a switch-over from metacity Installed: 1:2.28.0-0ubuntu1) to compiz (Installed: 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu2).

All the GUI functionalities seem to be there, but only the upper left part of the screen is actually drawn, with the rest BLACK. The mouse moves over the black parts as well and with ALT-mouseclick I can drag windows from the black part into the visible part. The mouse cursor changes from the arrow the a text-cursor when moving over a terminal which is in the black part.

The appearance menu doesn't report a probem (it gives the normal window with "keep this configuration" and "restore previous settings". I don't see in errors in the /var/log/* files.

My screen is 1680x1050 pixel (macbook pro 4,1 running 9.10). The left-upper part that is visible in "compiz-mode" is roughly 1/3 horizontally and vertically (with the rest black).

I'm running the nivdia 185 driver (as found by "hardware drivers"). I tried to see if "Sync to VBlank" in Nvidia X Server Settings makes a difference to this bug: it does not. The Nvidia X Server Settings have the right 1680x1050 screen size.

Not directly related:
This screen size is NOT put /etc/X11/xorg.conf file correctly when you install the Nvidia 185 hardware driver. Because of that the gdm login screen is too big compare to the physical screen.

[lubuntu (lambertvaneijck)]

RESOLVED!

I've deleted the gnome files and directories:

 ~/.gnome ~/.gnome2 ~/.gconf ~/.gconfd

DON'T do this without reading ALL below!

(for this it is best to logout, so that you get the login screen again. Then the removal of the directories is done from the console (cntrl-alt F1 for the console). When you've logged in via the console you can execute a cp -r and rm -rf command (at your OWN risk), then logout from the console and jump back to the GDM graphical login screen via cntrl-alt-F7.

THIS REMOVAL OF DIRECTORIES ERASES ALL YOUR DESKTOP SETTINGS, so COPY THEM FIRST!!

I can't explain why this resolve the issue, but it did.
Apparently gnome re-creates all these directories when there missing at startup. It has decided from me (GRRR) that I want to run compiz by default (i.e. not metacity).

I accidentally discovered this when I removed these directories because the complete gnome panel got stuck when I tried to add the deskbar applet (that got stuck as well).

[WeatherGod (ben-v-root)]

lubuntu, thank you for taking the time to report this information. I would like to *STRONGLY* discourage removing directories! Rather, it is MUCH better to rename the directory as a backup. Therefore, in case the removal of the directories does not solve your problems, you still have the old settings.

Also, because the files were deleted, we can no longer diagnose your issue. Without further information as to how the settings may have been corrupted, I will have to set this bug report as "Invalid".

[lubuntu (lambertvaneijck)]

You're right: I should have MOVED them, instead of deleting.

SO: if you have problems with the display size of your screen when moving from metacity to compiz (as described above), try to MOVE the directories mentioned above by renaming them. Gnome will then generate fresh directories for you when you log back in.

If you find that that helps, please post these directories so someone can debug.