Graphics corruption on login when using nVidia drivers

[Scott Sweeny]

When logging into my precise system, during the brief transition between the LightDM greeter and the Unity desktop my screen shows what can only be described as a jumbled collage of things that have been on my screen recently. Little bits of titlebars or content from web pages that were open when I logged out.

This happens every time I log in to my desktop with nVidia graphics. I have not seen it on my laptop which uses Intel graphics.

Perhaps video RAM is not being cleared somehow? I have noticed that the effect is less severe when booting cold rather than using the system reboot. In that case it's still a jumble but there is no recognizable content. Just shapes and colors.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: nvidia-current 295.20-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-17.27-generic 3.2.6
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-17-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 295.20 Mon Feb 6 21:07:30 PST 2012
 GCC version: gcc version 4.6.2 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.2-14ubuntu2)
.tmp.unity.scope.cities: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/tmp/unity-scope-cities'
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 1.93-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,compiztoolbox,snap,gnomecompat,vpswitch,place,grid,session,move,regex,imgpng,mousepoll,resize,animation,expo,wall,ezoom,workarounds,fade,scale,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Fri Mar 2 10:19:46 2012
DistUpgraded: Log time: 2012-01-04 20:26:21.308451
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 nvidia-current, 295.20, 3.2.0-16-generic, x86_64: installed
 nvidia-current, 295.20, 3.2.0-17-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.1.8, 3.2.0-17-generic, x86_64: installed
GraphicsCard:
 NVIDIA Corporation G80 [GeForce 8800 GTS] [10de:0193] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: NVIDIA Corporation Device [10de:0420]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
JockeyStatus:
 xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
 xorg:nvidia_current_updates - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
MachineType: System manufacturer P5K-E
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-17-generic root=UUID=e610b8df-32fe-4598-ac60-3d7d2f02fa93 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: nvidia-graphics-drivers
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-01-05 (57 days ago)
XorgConf:
 Section "Device"
  Identifier "Default Device"
  Option "NoLogo" "True"
 EndSection
dmi.bios.date: 12/10/2007
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 0906
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: P5K-E
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev 1.xx
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0906:bd12/10/2007:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnP5K-E:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnP5K-E:rvrRev1.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: P5K-E
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.0~bzr3025-0ubuntu1~ppa1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.30-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.1-0ubuntu2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.1-0ubuntu2
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.99.901+git20120126-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.17.0-1ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build2

[Sam_ (and-sam)]

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 931967, 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. Feel free to continue to report any other bugs you may find.