When using Firefox via VNC connection, the decorators inside the Firefox window are missing.

[AndrewR]

Binary package hint: firefox-3.5

I am connecting to my home machine running Ubuntu 9.10 (with latest updates) from a Windows XP machine, using an SSH tunnel and VNC to view a desktop window. I am using vnc4server as the vnc server on my Ubuntu machine.

With this setup, Firefox is failing to display form elements of webpages properly. The outlines of buttons, checkboxes, text input areas, and select boxes are not drawn. Also missing is the scroll bars, tab outlines, toolbar button outlines, toolbar separators, menu separators and outlines, and address bar "down" arrow in the main Firefox window.

Using the machine locally, Firefox works fine. Also, Galeon 2.0.7 and Epiphany 2.28.0 are working correctly through the SSH/VNC setup.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Nov 16 09:36:55 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: firefox-3.5 3.5.5+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.9.10.1
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-14.48-generic
SourcePackage: firefox-3.5
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-14-generic x86_64

[AndrewR (andrew-awrsolutions)]

It looks like this is a problem with the New Wave control set. I went to System > Preferences > Appearance, then Customize and choose a theme set for "Control" and the scroll bars and other missing buttons and form pieces return. It also appears that the "Black" control set displays the same issue.

I use Compiz when using the computer locally. If I switch to Metacity locally, the New Wave controls display correctly. When viewing through VNC, they are missing.

[Michael Cook (michaelcook-mjc)]

I have the same experience with a fresh U9.10 install using vnc. Not selecting "New Wave" does fix the problem for me but it was not obvious this was the problem originally until I came across this bug report.
Let me know if you need config-info.