NVIDIA disappearing title bar on Ubuntu 11.04

[Ilan Tal]

There are NVIDIA problems reported in Bug #771788 but no one mentions the title bars sometimes go missing on all open windows. It is connected to Java somehow in that it will happen when I close a Java window, but it only happens sometimes, not all the time. I use Fiji, a Java based program and I reported it there in detail

http://pacific.mpi-cbg.de/wiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions#I_updated_to_Ubuntu_11.04_and_now_I_no_longer_see_the_Title_bar_when_I_close_Fiji

including a work around which sometimes works. The only sure way to solve the problem is to log off and log on again. I would like to make sure this is reported as a bug so that it will be fixed. In Ubuntu 10.10 and previous the problem did not exist.
Thanks,
Ilan

[Fabio Marconi (fabiomarconi)]

Hello
Are you using propretary Nvidia driver?
If so try to remove it and instead install the Experimental
Thanks
Fabio

[Ilan Tal (ilan-tal)]

Yes I am using the standard driver. Can you give me a link to the
Experimental one?
Thanks,
Ilan

On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 8:54 PM, Fabio Marconi <email address hidden>wrote:

> Hello
> Are you using propretary Nvidia driver?
> If so try to remove it and instead install the Experimental
> Thanks
> Fabio
>
> ** Changed in: ubuntu
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/791325
>
> Title:
> NVIDIA disappearing title bar on Ubuntu 11.04
>
> Status in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> There are NVIDIA problems reported in Bug #771788 but no one mentions
> the title bars sometimes go missing on all open windows. It is
> connected to Java somehow in that it will happen when I close a Java
> window, but it only happens sometimes, not all the time. I use Fiji, a
> Java based program and I reported it there in detail
>
> http://pacific.mpi-
>
> cbg.de/wiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions#I_updated_to_Ubuntu_11.04_and_now_I_no_longer_see_the_Title_bar_when_I_close_Fiji
>
> including a work around which sometimes works. The only sure way to solve
> the problem is to log off and log on again. I would like to make sure this
> is reported as a bug so that it will be fixed. In Ubuntu 10.10 and previous
> the problem did not exist.
> Thanks,
> Ilan
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/791325/+subscribe
>

[Ilan Tal (ilan-tal)]

How do I try the Experimental 3D driver? I don't see anything in Synaptic
and Additional Drivers shows only a single choice
NVIDIA accelerated graphics card (version current) [Recommended]

This driver is activated but not currently in use.

How can I try the experimental driver?
Thanks,
Ilan

On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 9:39 PM, Ilan Tal <email address hidden> wrote:

> Yes I am using the standard driver. Can you give me a link to the
> Experimental one?
> Thanks,
> Ilan
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 8:54 PM, Fabio Marconi <email address hidden>wrote:
>
>> Hello
>> Are you using propretary Nvidia driver?
>> If so try to remove it and instead install the Experimental
>> Thanks
>> Fabio
>>
>> ** Changed in: ubuntu
>> Status: New => Incomplete
>>
>> --
>> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
>> of the bug.
>> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/791325
>>
>> Title:
>> NVIDIA disappearing title bar on Ubuntu 11.04
>>
>> Status in Ubuntu:
>> Incomplete
>>
>> Bug description:
>> There are NVIDIA problems reported in Bug #771788 but no one mentions
>> the title bars sometimes go missing on all open windows. It is
>> connected to Java somehow in that it will happen when I close a Java
>> window, but it only happens sometimes, not all the time. I use Fiji, a
>> Java based program and I reported it there in detail
>>
>> http://pacific.mpi-
>>
>> cbg.de/wiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions#I_updated_to_Ubuntu_11.04_and_now_I_no_longer_see_the_Title_bar_when_I_close_Fiji
>>
>> including a work around which sometimes works. The only sure way to solve
>> the problem is to log off and log on again. I would like to make sure this
>> is reported as a bug so that it will be fixed. In Ubuntu 10.10 and previous
>> the problem did not exist.
>> Thanks,
>> Ilan
>>
>> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
>> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/791325/+subscribe
>>
>
>

[Fabio Marconi (fabiomarconi)]

Hello
If they aren't proposed, probably arren't working for your card, but if you want to try in Synaptic have to search for nouveau

[Ilan Tal (ilan-tal)]

My display card is GeForce 8400GS, which isn't anything special (except I
wanted TWO monitors).
Synaptic finds nouveau-firmware, which I don't think I want (not installed).
It also finds xserver-xorg-video-nouveau and libdrm-nouveau1a, both of which
are installed.

So it looks like the experimental version doesn't like my GeForce.
What do I need to change the status from Incomplete to something better?

Thanks,
Ilan

[Fabio Marconi (fabiomarconi)]

Hello
the problem isn't surely with the nvidia drivers, or gnome, here the problem is in the application that you use Fiji or in Java
I assign to Jave package for a better triage
Thanks
Fabio

[Ilan Tal (ilan-tal)]

Hi Fabio,
Personally I am quite convinced that the problem is with the nvidia. Since I
am developing the application, I will quite frequently have problems with
NetBeans under the debugger. While in the debugger when I close a window
with clinical data, suddenly ALL windows, including even NetBeans, lose
their title bar. This can happen 10 times/day, which is quite annoying.

This never happened before 11.04. I discovered it initially while using
Fiji, but it happens in NetBeans where I am not using Fiji. The initial fix
which is included in the FAQ inside Fiji, has a fix for nvidia. While this
helps, it doesn't solve the problem. It is totally hopeless without the fix,
but the fix isn't nearly 100%. You can look at the link inside Fiji FAQ and
see where someone else had the problem long ago and how they fixed it.

It is almost certainly a nvidia problem, which Java somehow knows how to
trigger. Java in itself couldn't be so clever as to know how to remove the
title bar from all windows, but it could certainly somehow trigger something
inside nvidia.

It seems that the nvidia driver before 11.04 wasn't sensitive to the unknown
Java trigger.

Ilan

On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 2:10 PM, Fabio Marconi <email address hidden>wrote:

> Hello
> the problem isn't surely with the nvidia drivers, or gnome, here the
> problem is in the application that you use Fiji or in Java
> I assign to Jave package for a better triage
> Thanks
> Fabio
>
> ** Package changed: ubuntu => icedtea-java7 (Ubuntu)
>
> ** Changed in: icedtea-java7 (Ubuntu)
> Status: Incomplete => New
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/791325
>
> Title:
> NVIDIA disappearing title bar on Ubuntu 11.04
>
> Status in “icedtea-java7” package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> There are NVIDIA problems reported in Bug #771788 but no one mentions
> the title bars sometimes go missing on all open windows. It is
> connected to Java somehow in that it will happen when I close a Java
> window, but it only happens sometimes, not all the time. I use Fiji, a
> Java based program and I reported it there in detail
>
> http://pacific.mpi-
>
> cbg.de/wiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions#I_updated_to_Ubuntu_11.04_and_now_I_no_longer_see_the_Title_bar_when_I_close_Fiji
>
> including a work around which sometimes works. The only sure way to solve
> the problem is to log off and log on again. I would like to make sure this
> is reported as a bug so that it will be fixed. In Ubuntu 10.10 and previous
> the problem did not exist.
> Thanks,
> Ilan
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/icedtea-java7/+bug/791325/+subscribe
>

[Ilan Tal (ilan-tal)]

Hi Fabio,
If you look at the link in the FAQ

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/ubuntu-desktop-effects-fixing-the-missing-titlebar/

you will see that missing title bars has been around since Ubuntu 7.04 and
that it is a nvidia problem, not a Java problem. Java manages to trigger the
problem when it closes a window but Java isn't causing the problem.

In the above link they talk of changing the resolution size, which isn't the
case here. The proposed fix does help and I used it, but it doesn't solve
the problem.

If I could somehow try the experimental version, I would certainly check it
to see if there is an improvement. I've got Ubuntu 11.04 running on both my
desktop as well as my laptop and I see the problem on both systems.
Interestingly Unity-2D seems to help to the point where in Unity-2D I have
not yet seen the problem. Since Unity-2D doesn't use the nvidia driver, this
is another strong indication that the problem is with the nvidia driver, and
certainly not with Java.

Ilan

[curly101 (curlymurly)]

Hi guys,
I'm also having this issue since Ubuntu 11.04, and it's still related to Java (using IntelliJ).

fyi, there us a better solution w/o need to reboot/logout:
1) install ccsm (compiz config manager)
2) go to ccsm/effects/window decorations
3) uncheck/check button

haven't got time to make sme 1 click script or macro to do that stuff, but it's still better than rebooting.

best regards,
curly

[Ilan Tal (ilan-tal)]

Hi Curly,
In Fiji FAQ there is a script to avoid logout:

compiz --replace &

The problem has become very severe when I use Netbeans to develop my plugin. I run the plugin under Netbeans debug and when I quit the application it will almost always kill the title bars. (very annoying.) The above script does essentially the same thing as what you suggest, but many times it will leave the program buttons visible and they will not fold into the left side of the screen when I move a window to cover that area. In such a case, only a logout works.

Unity-2D also seems to do the trick which would imply that it isn't Java related, but NVIDIA related. Still I would love to see it get fixed or somehow try the experimental version.

Ilan

[Dejan (dejan-rodiger)]

Hi all,

I recently had similar problem: nvidia driver installed, additional drivers shows that driver is activated but currently not in use which is not true, ubuntu 11.04 x86_64
When I had active compiz, I didn't have title bar (it was missing). I finally fixed this by going into cssm (compiz settings manager) and activated Effects/Window Decoration. For Window Decorator I am using GTK Window Decorator.

So title bar reapired, but then I couldn't move windows or resize them with mouse or with keyborad (Alt-Space, Move). I fixed this also going into cssm and activating Window Management/Move Window+ResizeWindow+several others.

So my problem was actually that compiz sometimes looses configuration!

Dejan

[Ilan Tal (ilan-tal)]

Hi Dejan,
Recently my problems running the debugger under Netbeans became so serious that I desperately needed a solution. In 90% of the cases where I stopped debugging, it would lose the title bar. It was impossible to work.

I've logged in using Unity-2D and the problems are completely gone. At some stage it would be nice to return to the original Unity, but for the moment I am continuing with Unity-2D. Not as pretty, but it gets the job done and it never wipes out the title bars.

Ilan

[Dejan (dejan-rodiger)]

Hi Ilan,

yes, this is true. You can use Unity 2D or Ubuntu Classic without Compiz and it doesn't have this problems with no titlebar.
I am still using Classic with Compiz, until Unity becomes better, or when Gnome 3 becomes more stable.

Dejan