Using Unity with 11.04, full screen windows (such as chrome, firefox, or gnome screensaver) turn screen completely white. This is after upgrade from 10.10.

[Tres Finocchiaro]

Binary package hint: unity

Behaviour is very sporadic if window size takes up 50% more of the screen. Reproducible 100% of the time for full screen windows. May be related to proprietary graphics driver (used the one from repos).

Screenshot attached illustrating behaviour.

Categorised as "unity", but bug may be "metacity", "nvidia" or "compiz" related.

Description: Ubuntu Natty (development branch)
Release: 11.04

unity:
  Installed: 3.8.2-0ubuntu1
  Candidate: 3.8.2-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 3.8.2-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

compiz:
  Installed: 1:0.9.4git20110322-0ubuntu5
  Candidate: 1:0.9.4git20110322-0ubuntu5
  Version table:
 *** 1:0.9.4git20110322-0ubuntu5 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

metacity:
  Installed: 1:2.30.3-0ubuntu7
  Candidate: 1:2.30.3-0ubuntu7
  Version table:
 *** 1:2.30.3-0ubuntu7 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: nautilus 1:2.32.2.1-0ubuntu12
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.41-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: i386
Date: Thu Apr 7 10:19:50 2011
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/nautilus
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: nautilus
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-04-06 (0 days ago)
XsessionErrors:
 (nautilus:3348): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_value_free: assertion `value != NULL' failed
 (nautilus:3348): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_value_free: assertion `value != NULL' failed
 (nautilus:3348): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_value_free: assertion `value != NULL' failed
 (nautilus:3348): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_value_free: assertion `value != NULL' failed
 (nautilus:3348): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_value_free: assertion `value != NULL' failed

[Omer Akram (om26er)]

thanks for the bug report. Can you please first update unity to latest, if the issue still happens try to reproduce this bug in the Classic session with compiz and let us know if the issue happens there too.

[Tres Finocchiaro (tres-finocchiaro)]

Omer,

Thanks for the quick response.

> can you please first update unity to latest

Update was done yesterday per instruction on Ubuntu page using "sudo do-release-upgrade -d", then checked for updates using update manager before submitting. If another method is needed, happy to do so.

> try to reproduce this bug in the Classic session

Switched to classic. Classic no longer has "desktop effects" as an option in "System, Preferences, Appearance". Enabled "compiz" manually using "compiz --replace &;exit", and problem still occurs in classic mode.

-Tres

[Omer Akram (om26er)]

so I guess we can assume this is a bug in compiz.

PS: I have seen the blank window case in atleast two other bug reports

[P-sobo (p-sobo)]

I am also having the same problem. It happens when I have more then one window open for any program. Meaning if I have my browser open full screen then the next browser, Gwibber, or Banshee window I open will be a blank white. I have to minimize all and then view one at a time or open them as smaller windows around 40% or smaller of the total screen size. Sometimes the windows will both appear but the graphics are out of line, Meaning I cannot click on anything because the graphic is not where the actual button or link is located. I have been working around these little mishaps but the worse that I cannot avoid is trying to full screen a video player. No matter how small I make the window of the player when I click full screen the entire screen goes white. Of course I cannot minimize the player and still have access to the full screen button so this is becoming quite annoying while on Youtube and a few flash games. I have tried updating the flash with different configurations but no luck so far. Since it happens with other screens though not using flash I do not think that's the problem. This problem did not start till I upgraded a few days ago from Ubuntu 10.10 to 11.04 beta. I hope my description can help and get this bug fixed.

[Tres Finocchiaro (tres-finocchiaro)]

I am using nvidia proprietary driver (Recommended Version)

I searched for updates, applied them (200MB) and the problem still existed.

I then used the restricted driver tool to install version 173 of the driver. Version 173 seems to have some performance issues, but the white screen issues do not occur.

For those nvidia users upgrading from 10.10 receiving this issue, try removing and then activating the driver from the restricted driver tool, or switching to the 173 version and please post your success.

-Tres

[Bence Lukács (lukacs-bence1)]

This bug also affects me, but the difference is that I installed the Natty Narwhal Beta 2, and didn't upgrade from Maverick.
I'm use the the nVidia propietary driver too. (I have a nVidia Geforce 6100 nForce 405)
Sorry for my bad English... :S

Lukács

[P-sobo (p-sobo)]

I switched to version 173 and now I am not white screening and I can full screen videos now. I am going to try re adding the current version to see if it updates and fixes the problem.

[Enlightened Shadow (enlightenedshadow)]

I am having the same issue. Mine is exactly like P-sobo's in comment number 6. I upgraded from 10.10 to 11.04. I am using Nvidia Accelerated Graphics Driver (version current) [Recommend] Proprietary driver as well. However it says that it is activated but not currently in use (odd). I will attempt to use the 173 version in hopes that this will fix it. It does seem to be related to Nvidia Drivers. Hopefully I can download the most current driver for Ubuntu and it will work. Who knows lol.

I really like 11.04 and the Unity sidebar but I can't stand this white out problem. The sooner it's resolved the better. Thanks guys.

[Enlightened Shadow (enlightenedshadow)]

Update: I know I just posted my last comment 5 mins ago but I just switched to the Nvidia Accelerated Graphics Driver (version 173) and am happy to report that the white out bug is gone. I'm fairly sure it's in the Nvidia driver then. Oddly enough though, it still says that the driver is active but not currently in use... I have no clue why it's saying that.

Oh well, off to report some other bugs like the disappearance of my AutoEtho1. Now it says "Wired Network Device Not Mannaged"... weird...

[P-sobo (p-sobo)]

The 173 version is definitely not white screening at all only now I am having problems with my log on screen. If the computer comes out of hibernate then the screen is splattered with black white and yellow. Before it was just white screened but now it looks bad. I can still type my password no problem though I just do not want it to cause any damage.

[David Marín (davefx)]

The same problem. Uninstalling all nvidia packages and installing version 173 seems to fix my white screen problem.

[Enlightened Shadow (enlightenedshadow)]

Just an update, I haven't had any issues since downgrading to version 173. The only thing that I have noticed as being different is some flash games run a bit slower than they are supposed to. I'm sure that there are other issues I haven't even noticed though since I don't use the log in screen at all.

It would be best if this bug could just be fixed in Compiz to allow us to use the proprietary driver. I'm no Compiz/Ubuntu expert so I will leave that to someone else to do :).

[Liam Young (gnuoy)]

fwiw I am getting this with unity 3d on 11.10 using NVIDIA Driver version: 280.13

[jhfhlkjlj (fdsuufijjejejejej-deactivatedaccount)]

Can this be reproduced in 12.04 and 12.10?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for Compiz because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for compiz (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]