Graphical corruption and hangs when using Expo workspace switcher

[Alex Thompson]

After upgrading from 11.10 to 12.04 the workspace switcher causes graphical corruption and/or the system to hang. All screens are white. If it can be recovered from and a new workspace is selected, there are NVRM Xid error messages in dmesg and errors in .xsession-log

[ 4288.251778] NVRM: Xid (0000:0f:00): 13, 0003 00000000 00008297 00001458 00000006 00000100
[ 4288.368216] NVRM: Xid (0000:0f:00): 13, 0003 00000000 00008297 00001458 00000006 00000100
[ 4288.558326] NVRM: Xid (0000:0f:00): 13, 0003 00000000 00008297 00001458 00000006 00000100

compiz (decor) - Warn: failed to bind pixmap to texture
WARNING: can not get name for '<CellRendererText object at 0x23d7960 (GtkCellRendererText at 0x27bd240)>'
WARNING: can not get name for '<CellRendererText object at 0x25be780 (GtkCellRendererText at 0x290d6c0)>'
WARNING: can not get name for '<CellRendererText object at 0x2ab73c0 (GtkCellRendererText at 0x27fba20)>'
compiz (decor) - Warn: failed to bind pixmap to texture
WARNING: can not get name for '<CellRendererText object at 0x29ea690 (GtkCellRendererText at 0x2b47d80)>'
WARNING: can not get name for '<CellRendererText object at 0x2ab7730 (GtkCellRendererText at 0x2a93120)>'
WARNING: can not get name for '<CellRendererText object at 0x2c843c0 (GtkCellRendererText at 0x2bdc480)>'
compiz (decor) - Warn: failed to bind pixmap to texture
compiz (decor) - Warn: failed to bind pixmap to texture
compiz (decor) - Warn: failed to bind pixmap to texture

I have downgraded the nvidia driver from 295.40 to 295.33 as .40 has known issues (although, not with the Quadro FX 1800 card I am using with this system).

(I have also just enabled the ubuntu-proposed channel to see if the 5.12 update to unity and other compiz updates fix the bug and enabled and disabled the x-swat channel to downgrade the nvidia driver)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: unity 5.12-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-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 295.33 Sat Mar 17 14:55:45 PDT 2012
 GCC version: gcc version 4.6.3 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.3-1ubuntu5)
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,compiztoolbox,grid,snap,move,gnomecompat,mousepoll,imgpng,resize,place,regex,vpswitch,animation,unitymtgrabhandles,expo,wall,workarounds,ezoom,session,fade,scale,unityshell,scaleaddon]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Tue May 1 11:50:31 2012
DistUpgraded: 2012-04-30 15:52:19,520 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus: nvidia-current, 295.33, 3.2.0-24-generic, x86_64: installed
GraphicsCard:
 NVIDIA Corporation G94 [Quadro FX 1800] [10de:0638] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: NVIDIA Corporation Device [10de:062c]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100429)
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: Hewlett-Packard HP Z400 Workstation
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_AU.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=dec23202-2970-4015-8fd2-401d5b62dee7 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-04-30 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 04/06/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: 786G3 v03.07
dmi.board.asset.tag: SGH020R9J0
dmi.board.name: 0B4Ch
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: D
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: SGH020R9J0
dmi.chassis.type: 6
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr786G3v03.07:bd04/06/2010:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPZ400Workstation:pvr:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn0B4Ch:rvrD:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct6:cvr:
dmi.product.name: HP Z400 Workstation
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.8-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu35
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.32-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.2-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.2-0ubuntu3
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu10.1
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.0-0ubuntu1
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

[Alex Thompson (alexofdoom)]

I deleted my compiz settings to have them replaced by defaults and everything is working as expected now. The bug can probably be closed, although it would be nice to know the cause of the issues.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Jan Schürmann (visionfactory.net)]

using the nvidia drivers on a fresh install of 12.04 64-bit with the GT9800 leads to system freezing if activating the workspace Expo...
only switching to console with STRG+ALT+F1 and back "brings the system back.

with the nouveau driver everything works nearly fine...

[asala (asala)]

In my case, not even ctrl-alt-F1 was able to bring up a console. --using nvidia driver 295.40, 2 displays in twinview--.
Crash was catastrophic, and the only remaining option was Alt-SysRq+REISUB.
However, I executed compiz settings manager and unchecked both "hide panels/docks in expo" and "Mipmaps" and that seemed to solve the issue. Later activation of Hide panels/docks didn't hang the system so I guess it's the "Mipmaps" thing the responsible of the crash.