No window decorations on login

[Gabe Gorelick]

Binary package hint: compiz

Randomly, but fairly frequently, I get no window decorations after login. I am running compiz with compiz-gnome. gtk-window-decorator is running, but gtk-window-decorator --replace fixes the problem. I never experienced this issue before Lucid.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: compiz-gnome 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-22.33-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-22-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,ccp,move,resize,place,decoration,video,png,switcher,bicubic,workarounds,mousepoll,imgjpeg,dbus,gnomecompat,svg,fadedesktop,session,crashhandler,regex,winrules,text,resizeinfo,ring,scale,scalefilter,scaleaddon,animation,snap,thumbnail,wall,animationaddon,expo]
Date: Wed May 12 19:46:26 2010
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1530
PciDisplay: 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8600M GT] [10de:0407] (rev a1)
ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=86398ce5-2f35-49b5-96c8-73740a48be81 ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 xserver-xorg 1:7.5+5ubuntu1
 libgl1-mesa-glx 7.7.1-1ubuntu2
 libdrm2 2.4.18-1ubuntu3
 xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.9.1-3ubuntu5
 xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.13.0-1ubuntu5
SourcePackage: compiz
dmi.bios.date: 07/14/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A09
dmi.board.name: 0D501F
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA09:bd07/14/2008:svnDellInc.:pnXPSM1530:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0D501F:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
dmi.product.name: XPS M1530
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
system: distro = Ubuntu, architecture = i686, kernel = 2.6.32-22-generic

[Jonathan Groocock (j-groocock)]

I've got the same problem but in my case it was permanent.
The fixed I used was too launch windows manager from startup
Fully up to date patched Ubuntu 10.4 latest kernel installed.
Dell laptop 1545 specs as follows

 Intel® Pentium® Dual Core™ T4400 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/1MB cache)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English Well no dual boots Ubuntu
Glossy, widescreen 15.6 inch display (1366x768)
8X CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD
Dell 1397 Wireless-G

I think the problem may have started after the last two kernels.

[Yann (lostec)]

I have the same problem, maybe 1/5 startups... That's quite annoying, as this was already the same with Hardy: But Hardy was at the beginning of compiz setup by default, so there was the excuse of the new component.

Now this should not be the case anymore!

I wait some time for updates... otherwise I'll do as Hardy: Switch back to metacity as reloading the window manager so often is not acceptable!

[Patrick Rynhart (prynhart)]

I can confirm Yann's observation as this issue occurring approximately 1 in 5 startups. If you have the Compiz Fusion icon installed then you can right click, "Reload Window Manager" (which I presume is equivalent to "gtk-window-decorator --replace" as detailed by the bug reporter).

[Patrick Rynhart (prynhart)]

@Yann - Do you have an nVidia based graphics card (and, if so, what driver are you using) ? I noticed that Gabe has an nVidia card (Jonathan doesn't but his situation was permanent). I do have an nVidia card as follows:

# lspci |grep -i nvidia
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G86 [GeForce 8500 GT] (rev a1)

# dmesg |grep -i nvidia
740:[ 11.248101] nvidia: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel.
746:[ 12.176942] nvidia 0000:01:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
747:[ 12.176950] nvidia 0000:01:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
749:[ 12.177262] NVRM: loading NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module 195.36.15 Thu Mar 11 21:41:46 PST 2010

[Gabe Gorelick (gabegorelick)]

@Patrick
Yes, reloading the entire window manager will reload the window decorator too.

[Geoffrey Anderson (geoff-geoffreyanderson)]

I can confirm this on Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 64-bit.

I'm using a Thinkpad T61. I'm using and nvidia card, too:

$ lspci | grep -i nvidia
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Quadro NVS 140M (rev a1)
$ dmesg | grep -i nvidia
[ 20.564597] nvidia: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel.
[ 21.137622] nvidia 0000:01:00.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 21.137636] nvidia 0000:01:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
[ 21.137645] nvidia 0000:01:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 21.138139] NVRM: loading NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 195.36.15 Fri Mar 12 00:29:13 PST 2010

It's easy enough to run "emerald --replace" to restore window decorations, but I rarely (if ever) had this issue on 9.10 Karmic.

[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

Not just nvidia. I'm seeing it on a ungraded machine with Intel graphics.

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,ccp,move,resize,place,decoration,dbus,mousepoll,gnomecompat,png,svg,imgjpeg,text,commands,neg,wall,snap,animation,scale,scaleaddon,expo,staticswitcher,regex,resizeinfo,workarounds,ezoom,vpswitch,fade,session]
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
MachineType: LENOVO 0768BXG
Package: compiz 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15
PackageArchitecture: all
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
PciDisplay: 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a2] (rev 03)
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=85a71750-10b4-425e-ba1b-6513b33c5434 ro quiet splash nolapic_timer
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_GB.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-22.36-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
RelatedPackageVersions:
 xserver-xorg 1:7.5+5ubuntu1
 libgl1-mesa-glx 7.7.1-1ubuntu3
 libdrm2 2.4.18-1ubuntu3
 xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.9.1-3ubuntu5
 xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.13.0-1ubuntu5
Tags: lucid
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-22-generic x86_64
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout libvirtd lpadmin plugdev sambashare
XorgConf: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'
dmi.bios.date: 04/30/07
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 63ET62WW
dmi.board.name: CAPELL VALLEY(NAPA) CRB
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Applicable
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr63ET62WW:bd04/30/07:svnLENOVO:pn0768BXG:pvr3000N100:rvnLENOVO:rnCAPELLVALLEY(NAPA)CRB:rvrNotApplicable:cvnNoEnclosure:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: 0768BXG
dmi.product.version: 3000 N100
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
system: distro = Ubuntu, architecture = x86_64, kernel = 2.6.32-22-generic

[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[Neil Wilson (neil-aldur)]

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[braweheart (braweheart)]

I also have this problem. Approximately 1 of 5 logins, but there can be like 5 times in a row and then it works for a couple of weeks.

I have an ATI graphics card, using the open source driver. Some time ago I got the latest stuff from xorg edgers but that has not affected this bug performance. And since there are people here with both Nvidia and Intel graphics, this probably isn't related to graphics driver.

One big note thou, Compiz is definetily running even when I don't get window decorations, I have i.e. the open window animation. I opened Settings manager for Compiz, looked for "window decoration" and it was checked. Tried to uncheck and check again but it made no difference. Compiz icon and reload window manager is the only way I found that works.

Is there a way to get a text dump of my compiz plugins in use? Maybe we all have a common plugín that's not activated by default. Atleast I have been modding my compz zettings.

[Juan Ygnacio López Hernández (cubarro)]

I have the same problem in two DELL laptops. One with nvidia graphics adaptor and other intel:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

Does somebody solved this bug?

Regards

[Juan Ygnacio López Hernández (cubarro)]

I suggest to change the importance flag to some value and assign to some one in order to solve this problem. It takes time to log out and in again in order to start the system normally. This problem is starting to disturb me and I am looking now for some ubuntu replacement.
What about you?

Regards.
Juan

[Patrick Rynhart (prynhart)]

@Juan: One workaround that I use is to install the compiz-fusion icon package. This places an icon in the top right panel - one of the options is "Reload Window Manager" which you can use when this problem occurs (to avoid needing to logout/reboot etc).

Patrick

[Juan Ygnacio López Hernández (cubarro)]

@Patrick Rynhart

I just installed the 'the compiz-fusion icon'. It really helps. Thank you.

The problem continues.

Regards.
Juan

[sterios prosiniklis (steriosprosiniklis)]

Same problem here...
with intel and nvidia.

Is there a way to get a text dump of my compiz plugins in use? Maybe we all have a common plugín that's not activated by default. Atleast I have been modding my compz zettings.

You can create a file in your /home/user directory with following command

gconftool-2 --recursive-list /apps/compiz > compiz.gconf.values.txt

[James Ferguson (jamesf)]

Another sufferer...

[mabawsa (mabawsa)]

Hi this was bugging me so I looked at compiz settings manager.

Under the windows decoration tab I replaced
gtk-window-decorator --replace

 with

 /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator

now on reboot compiz replaces this back to

gtk-window-decorator --replace

However even after 30 or so reboots gtk-window-decorator works! Don't know why and it could be temporary.

[braweheart (braweheart)]

I tried mabawsas tip, but it didn't work for me. A couple of logins later and the window decorations was missing again :-(

[Patrick Rynhart (prynhart)]

Can people who are affected by this bug please try a "ps aux |grep compiz" and advise whether compiz (on affected systems) has any arguments ? On my box, compiz didn't have any args - after discussion with others in #compiz, I was advised that compiz should have args similiar to "compiz --replace --sm-disable --ignore-desktop-hints ccp"

Thanks,

Patrick

[Gabe Gorelick (gabegorelick)]

@Patrick
I'll post that the next time I am bitten by this. However, if it is just a matter of compiz not being started with the right arguments, then the real question is why is it sometimes being started without them.

[Patrick Rynhart (prynhart)]

@Gabe: Actually I had no args regardless of whether the decorations were loaded or not. Not sure why exactly (and Lucid is a clean install on my box).

[Geoffrey Anderson (geoff-geoffreyanderson)]

@Patrick

Mine doesn't have any args. I'm on Lucid 10.04

-Geoff

On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 12:17 AM, Patrick Rynhart
<email address hidden>wrote:

> @Gabe: Actually I had no args regardless of whether the decorations were
> loaded or not. Not sure why exactly (and Lucid is a clean install on my
> box).
>
> --
> No window decorations on login in Lucid
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/579709
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “compiz” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: compiz
>
> Randomly, but fairly frequently, I get no window decorations after login. I
> am running compiz with compiz-gnome. gtk-window-decorator is running, but
> gtk-window-decorator --replace fixes the problem. I never experienced this
> issue before Lucid.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
> Package: compiz-gnome 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-22.33-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
> Uname: Linux 2.6.32-22-generic i686
> NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
> Architecture: i386
> CompizPlugins:
> [core,ccp,move,resize,place,decoration,video,png,switcher,bicubic,workarounds,mousepoll,imgjpeg,dbus,gnomecompat,svg,fadedesktop,session,crashhandler,regex,winrules,text,resizeinfo,ring,scale,scalefilter,scaleaddon,animation,snap,thumbnail,wall,animationaddon,expo]
> Date: Wed May 12 19:46:26 2010
> MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1530
> PciDisplay: 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation
> G84 [GeForce 8600M GT] [10de:0407] (rev a1)
> ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=86398ce5-2f35-49b5-96c8-73740a48be81 ro quiet splash
> ProcEnviron:
> LANG=en_US.utf8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> xserver-xorg 1:7.5+5ubuntu1
> libgl1-mesa-glx 7.7.1-1ubuntu2
> libdrm2 2.4.18-1ubuntu3
> xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.9.1-3ubuntu5
> xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.13.0-1ubuntu5
> SourcePackage: compiz
> dmi.bios.date: 07/14/2008
> dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.bios.version: A09
> dmi.board.name: 0D501F
> dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.chassis.type: 8
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA09:bd07/14/2008:svnDellInc.:pnXPSM1530:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0D501F:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
> dmi.product.name: XPS M1530
> dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
> system: distro = Ubuntu, architecture = i686, kernel = 2.6.32-22-generic
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/579709/+subscribe
>

[Id2ndR (id2ndr)]

@Patrick

Mine is this command line: compiz --sm-client-id 10a36a7ec6334d79b0128129781916570000000035950029

The trouble appears about 1 of 10 logins.

System : Ubuntu 10.04 x64 up to date.
nvidia driver of serie 256.
Autologin in GDM.

[Patrick Rynhart (prynhart)]

A possible workaround for this issue (as recommended by a Lucid user in #compiz) was to use fusion-icon to launch compiz. To achieve this, if fusion icon is not already installed, start Ubuntu Software Center and install the package "Compiz Fusion Icon". Then, in GNOME, System -> Preferences -> Appearance, click the "Visual Effects" tab and select "None". Then System -> Preferences -> Startup Applications and add a new Startup Program with Name "Compiz Fusion" (or similar) and with command line /usr/bin/fusion-icon. Log out and in again.

I have been trialling this configuration for a while and haven't seen the issue reoccur. My compiz args are now (as the result of a "ps aux | grep compiz"): "compiz --replace --sm-disable --ignore-desktop-hints ccp"

[Alexander Kallenbach (kallenbachalex)]

Still a problem in Maverick.

[sterios prosiniklis (steriosprosiniklis)]

Problem solved.

sudo gedit usr/share/applications/compiz.desktop
change line exec=compiz, with Exec=compiz ccp

Be sure that you do not have in start up applications a compiz or fusion-icon entry,
and eliminate any custom script you may use to launch compiz

gconf-editor
... desktop > gnome > session > required_components .... windowmanager=compiz
... apps > compiz > general > options .... active_plugins check that ccp is there, if not enable.

Done!

[Victor Vargas (kamus)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. This particular bug has already been reported and is a duplicate of bug 577482, so it is being marked as such. Please look at the other bug report to see if there is any missing information that you can provide, or to see if there is a workaround for the bug. Additionally, any further discussion regarding the bug should occur in the other report. Please continue to report any other bugs you may find.