Firefox displays page with missing or garbaged characters

[Cliff Carson]

When displaying a web page some single characters are garbage. This is most noticable when displaying pages like Facebook when there are a number of page application causing the page text to be re-written. If you have a lot of this re-write activity you can see random characters disappear ( interesting the "a" was garbage after typing) and reappear. Will add a screen shot of Facebook that has two examples. The first being where the "m" is missing from the Talking Points Memo header. The second is in the ad for Discover Card, the "c" in bank is garbage.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: firefox 23.0+build2-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.10.0-5.15-generic 3.10.2
Uname: Linux 3.10.0-5-generic x86_64
AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
ApportVersion: 2.12-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: cliff 1629 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: cliff 1629 F.... pulseaudio
BuildID: 20130807180628
CRDA: Error: command ['iw', 'reg', 'get'] failed with exit code 1: nl80211 not found.
Channel: Unavailable
CurrentDmesg:
 [ 40.589285] usblp 2-2:1.1: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 2 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x5711
 [ 40.589390] usbcore: registered new interface driver usblp
 [ 40.591110] systemd-udevd[1988]: failed to execute '/lib/udev/usb-db' 'usb-db /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1e.0/0000:04:01.2/usb2/2-2/2-2:1.3': No such file or directory
Date: Mon Aug 19 13:15:53 2013
ForcedLayersAccel: False
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-07-28 (21 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Alpha amd64 (20130728)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.1.1 dev eth0
 169.254.0.0/16 dev eth0 scope link metric 1000
 192.168.1.0/24 dev eth0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.201
IwConfig:
 eth0 no wireless extensions.

 lo no wireless extensions.
MarkForUpload: True
MostRecentCrashID: bp-539e7f89-c4d4-4d3c-a067-032c02130521
Plugins:
 Shockwave Flash - /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so
 Gnome Shell Integration - /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libgnome-shell-browser-plugin.so (gnome-shell)
PrefSources:
 prefs.js
 /usr/share/mozilla/extensions/{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}/<email address hidden>/defaults/preferences/001ubuntu-gnome-mods.js
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
Profiles: Profile0 (Default) - LastVersion=23.0/20130807180628 (In use)
RelatedPackageVersions: gnome-shell 3.8.3-1ubuntu4
RfKill:

RunningIncompatibleAddons: False
SourcePackage: firefox
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 01/05/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: V7.7
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: G41M-P33 (MS-7592)
dmi.board.vendor: MSI
dmi.board.version: 3.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: MSI
dmi.chassis.version: 3.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrV7.7:bd01/05/2010:svnSi:pnG41M-P33:pvr3.0:rvnMSI:rnG41M-P33(MS-7592):rvr3.0:cvnMSI:ct3:cvr3.0:
dmi.product.name: G41M-P33
dmi.product.version: 3.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Si
---
ApportVersion: 2.12.7-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,vpswitch,snap,mousepoll,resize,place,move,wall,grid,regex,imgpng,session,gnomecompat,animation,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,workarounds,scale,expo,ezoom,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: trusty
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2e32] (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. Device [1462:7592]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-12-17 (21 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 14.04 "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20131217)
MachineType: Si G41M-P33
MarkForUpload: True
Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.907-0ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.12.0-7-generic root=UUID=ae61c7ab-c5ce-4862-985b-7b235036faee ro splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.12.0-7.15-generic 3.12.4
Tags: trusty third-party-packages ubuntu single-occurrence has-fix
Uname: Linux 3.12.0-7-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dialout dip fax floppy fuse lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo tape video
dmi.bios.date: 01/05/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: V7.7
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: G41M-P33 (MS-7592)
dmi.board.vendor: MSI
dmi.board.version: 3.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: MSI
dmi.chassis.version: 3.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrV7.7:bd01/05/2010:svnSi:pnG41M-P33:pvr3.0:rvnMSI:rnG41M-P33(MS-7592):rvr3.0:cvnMSI:ct3:cvr3.0:
dmi.product.name: G41M-P33
dmi.product.version: 3.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Si
version.compiz: compiz N/A
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.50-1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.0.0-1ubuntu4
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.0.0-1ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.14.5-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.8.2-1ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.2.0-0ubuntu10
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.907-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.10-1ubuntu1
xserver.bootTime: Wed Jan 8 08:24:42 2014
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.devices:
 input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 6
 input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 7
 input MosArt Optical Mouse MOUSE, id 8
 input UVC Camera (046d:0804) KEYBOARD, id 9
 input AT Translated Set 2 keyboard KEYBOARD, id 10
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id 9417
 vendor IBM
xserver.version: 2:1.14.5-1ubuntu2

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[BGunnells (bgunnells)]

I have seen this same issue as well, but not just in Firefox. I have not captured a screenshot, but I have seen random garbage characters in other applications, most recently just now in the Software Updater application. Interestingly, when possible, highlighting the text including the garbage character apparently triggers a redraw and corrects the problem. //bg

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Cliff Carson, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p xserver-xorg-video-intel REPLACE-WITH-BUG-NUMBER

Please note, given that the information from the prior release is already available, doing this on a release prior to the development one would not be helpful.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

[Cliff Carson (ccarson1)]

I see two, what I though were related, 13.10 problems on my Laptop (reported this bug on that system) and my desktop. The first, as reported in this bug, is single characters becoming garbage which can be corrected by causing that character to be refeshed (ie; marking the word with the mouse). This problem is still occuring on my 13.10 desktop but not on the 13.10 laptop. The second problem is while scrolling small blank rectangles appear randomly on the page. These rectangles disappear if you page up and then back down (or maybe they appear in different locations). This problem occurres on my laptop and not the desktop. I can easily reproduce both these problems.

I have a new level of 14.04 on the desktop which neither the garbaged characters or the blank rectangles occure. I will run the apport-collect command on the 14.04 desktop to document the level not failing.

[Cliff Carson (ccarson1)]

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[Cliff Carson (ccarson1)]

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[Cliff Carson (ccarson1)]

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[penalvch (penalvch)]

Cliff Carson, thank you for providing the requested test. Regarding only your hardware originally reported against, and the original issue"Firefox displays page with missing or garbaged characters", given this is fixed in Trusty, would you need a backport to a release prior to Trusty, or may this be closed as Status Invalid?

[Cliff Carson (ccarson1)]

Christopher, I installed today's daily build of Gnome 14.04 on my laptop. I see no indication of either problem (bad single characters or blank rectangles) with this system. I don't need any fix for 13.10 since this is only a display problem and doesn't stop me from any task I want to do. I had been following a Bug 1098334 thinking it was the same problem and was actively being worked on. In looking for 1098334 (I forgot the bug number) I found at least 3 more that appeared to be the same problem but no avtivity on them.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Cliff Carson, this bug report is being closed due to your last comment https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/1214051/comments/24 regarding this being fixed with an update. For future reference you can manage the status of your own bugs by clicking on the current status in the yellow line and then choosing a new status in the revealed drop down box. You can learn more about bug statuses at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Status. Regarding any other bugs you may have, it's always best to file a new report, versus depend on another reporter's report being addressed. If you open a new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it. Thank you again for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Please submit any future bugs you may find.