Synaptic Preferences Window hangs on clicking Ok or Apply

Bug #174570 reported by Andrew Mathenge
34
This bug affects 4 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
gconf
New
Undecided
Unassigned
Nominated for Main by pitwalker
synaptic (Ubuntu)
Invalid
Medium
pitwalker
Nominated for Jaunty by pitwalker

Bug Description

Start synaptic normally from the menu or command line. Type in my password.
Then click on Settings --> Preferences --> Network
Change settings in Network to "Direct connection to the internet"
Click on Apply (or OK).
Application hangs.

The only way to get out is to kill it.

Revision history for this message
Greg Grossmeier (greg.grossmeier) wrote :

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Unfortunately we can't fix it, because your description does not yet have enough information.

Could you please tell us what version of Ubuntu you are running?

Also, what is the output of this command?
dpkg -s synaptic | grep "Version:"

Revision history for this message
Andrew Mathenge (mathenge) wrote :

The version of Ubuntu that I'm using is: 7.10
The output of dpkg -s synaptic | grep "Version:" is: Version: 0.60ubuntu5

Thank you for replying to this bug submission.

Revision history for this message
Greg Grossmeier (greg.grossmeier) wrote :

Unfortunately I am unable to reproduce this bug. Does it happen every time? Does it get reset to "manual proxy settings" after you set it to "direct connection"?

Changed in synaptic:
status: New → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Andrew Mathenge (mathenge) wrote :

I had changed the settings at work to our proxy server. Manual proxy configuration.

However, I normally change it back to "Direct connection to the internet" when I get home since I don't have a proxy server at home.

This was working fine till about a week, or so, ago.

Now the setting is stuck at Manual proxy configuration and I cannot change it back to "Direct connection to the internet."

Is there a file that I can manually configure without using the GUI to make this change?

Thanks for trying.

Revision history for this message
Andrew Mathenge (mathenge) wrote :

When I click the Apply or OK button after changing the setting to "Direct connection to the internet" Synaptic Package Manager hangs. After I kill the application and launch it again, the setting is back to "Manual proxy configuration."

Andrew.

Revision history for this message
Andrew Mathenge (mathenge) wrote :

I found the following workaround on the Ubuntu forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=530115

config file is at '/root/.synaptic/synaptic.conf'

If you are getting hang-ups I would relocate its entire config folder
and start it after in a terminal to read any output.

Code:

~ $ sudo -s
# cd /root
# mkdir .backups
# mv .synaptic .backups/
# exit
~ $ gksudo synaptic

This didn't work for me since the proxy setting still wouldn't change, so I used "vi" to edit the configuration file at: /root/.synaptic/synaptic.conf and changed the setting for "useProxy" from "1" (which means use the proxy) to "0" (which means do NOT use the proxy).

Unfortunately, I have to edit this file to use the proxy when I'm at work, and then edit it again when I return home. I don't know why the GUI crashes each time I try to use it to make this change.

Changed in synaptic:
importance: Undecided → Medium
status: Incomplete → Triaged
Revision history for this message
notoriousdbp (david-baird-parker) wrote :

I'm getting this problem now in intrepid. Go to Settings > Preferences and no matter what I alter clicking 'Apply' sends my CPU up to 100% and the application just hangs. Have to kill it in system monitor.

Revision history for this message
Andrew Mathenge (mathenge) wrote :

My problem, back in 2007, had to do with trying to change the proxy networking settings. As I recall, everything else would work just fine. My solution was to edit the synaptic configuration file manually.

Would you mind posting the contents of your synaptic configuration file? There might be a clue there. It's a text file located at:

        /root/.synaptic/synaptic.conf

Additionally, you can try to re-install synaptic. You can do this from the command line by typing in:

       sudo apt-get install synaptic dpkg

Revision history for this message
notoriousdbp (david-baird-parker) wrote :
Revision history for this message
arnochem (arnochem) wrote :

i'm newbie in linux. i'm getting this problem too.
after read this report bugs, I edit my "synaptic.conf". and thats work for me & i'm very happy with this.
I have to edit "synaptic.conf" to use the proxy when I'm at work, and then edit it again when I return home. but its ok for me.

Revision history for this message
pitwalker (pitwalker) wrote :

This problem is not solved yet. I can reproduce it with my up to date Jaunty.
Before I make the upgrade, my Intrepid instance also produce this error.
Currently I use the synaptic 0.62.5ubuntu1.
I deleted the /root/synaptic/synaptic.conf.
I go to settings/preferences, I not alter anything
and then when OK or Apply pressed the application is not responding.

(I try with en-us and hungarian translation, with and without desktop effects.)

I cannot reproduce this error in other Intrepid, but always reproducable in my installation.

Changed in synaptic:
assignee: nobody → pitwalker
status: Triaged → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
pitwalker (pitwalker) wrote :

This problem is exists only under Gnome or Failsafe Gnome sessions.
When run under desktop user or root (gksu /usr/bin/synaptic).

Quick solve:
-create new desktop user
-delete the settings from /home/username/.gconf/desktop/gnome
(the exact place is currently unknown for me)

((correction: /root/.synaptic/synaptic.conf))

Revision history for this message
pitwalker (pitwalker) wrote :

/home/username/.gconf/desktop/gnome/interface/%gconf.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<gconf>
 <entry name="icon_theme" mtime="1235167358" type="string">
  <stringvalue>gnome</stringvalue>
 </entry>
 <entry name="gtk_theme" mtime="1235167357" type="string">
  <stringvalue>Glossy</stringvalue>
 </entry>
 <entry name="accessibility" mtime="1225138994" type="bool" value="true"/>
</gconf>

The accessibility line cause the error.

Changed in synaptic:
status: Confirmed → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Samuel Kogler (daasdingo) wrote :

I am able to reproduce the bug on ubuntu 8.10 x86_64
Version: 0.62.1ubuntu10

someone found a fix?

Revision history for this message
Kiren Pillay (kirenpillay1) wrote :

As above, I also confirm having this bug. Ubuntu 8.10 x86_64.
Version: 0.62.1ubuntu10

Revision history for this message
TroubleMakerDV (grayman2000) wrote :

Confirm on 9.04.
8.10 updated to 9.04.
Few days synaptic worked just fine, now it fails with same symptoms.

Interesting:

1. login with SSH and start synaptic on external x-server. prefs saved just perfectly. For testing purposes changed "store history for 90 days" (BTW, why such value? I want to have at least semi-annual history!)
/root/.synaptic/synaptic.conf contains correct value of "90"

"treat recommended as dependencies" turned off. And during the session it remains OFF.

After re-launch number of days is same as I've set up. "treat recommended" NOW is ON again.

2. launch under regular user WITHOUT sudo. Hangs.
Delete ~/.synaptic
Launch w/o sudo. Hangs. ~/synaptic directory is empty.

Same, but with sudo/gksu

"Keep history" now is 30 (thirty!) days. Where did synaptic took that value?
Of course, "treat recomended" is ON. :-)

Revision history for this message
TroubleMakerDV (grayman2000) wrote :

upd for above:

1. pitwalker's suggestion about accessibility did not worked. But I really have played with accessibility technologies
2. under another user with administrative privilegies all works fine except for saving a value for "treat recommended..." parameter: it is ON after synaptic's restart.

Revision history for this message
TroubleMakerDV (grayman2000) wrote :

upd 2: after turning "accessibility..." off in system-parameters synaptic does NOT hang on "apply" or "ok"
seems problem is solved

Revision history for this message
shemgp (shemgp) wrote :

I removed the accessibility line from the %gconf.xml and it worked.

Revision history for this message
Phill (phill.l) wrote :

Removing the accessibility line worked for me too (Ubuntu 9.10 64-bit).

Revision history for this message
Oliver Joos (oliver-joos) wrote :

@TroubleMakerDV: The bug about synaptic not remembering "treat recommended as dependencies" is even older than this one: bug #154349. Feel free to add yourself as affected there!

Revision history for this message
TroubleMakerDV (grayman2000) wrote : Re: [Bug 174570] Re: Synaptic Preferences Window hangs on clicking Ok or Apply

Disable "assistive technologies" and all becomes normal.

On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 01:06, Oliver Joos <email address hidden> wrote:

> @TroubleMakerDV: The bug about synaptic not remembering "treat
> recommended as dependencies" is even older than this one: bug #154349.
> Feel free to add yourself as affected there!
>
> --
> Synaptic Preferences Window hangs on clicking Ok or Apply
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/174570
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in The GConf Registry System: New
> Status in “synaptic” package in Ubuntu: Invalid
>
> Bug description:
> Start synaptic normally from the menu or command line. Type in my password.
> Then click on Settings --> Preferences --> Network
> Change settings in Network to "Direct connection to the internet"
> Click on Apply (or OK).
> Application hangs.
>
> The only way to get out is to kill it.
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/gconf/+bug/174570/+subscribe
>

--
С уважением,
С.А.

Revision history for this message
Adarsh J (adarshaj) wrote :

@TrobleMakerDV : Thank you, I had the exact same problem on Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook remix, disabling "assistive technologies" helped.

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