Screensaver does not turn on [Ubuntu / Xubuntu Karmic]

[Charlie Kravetz]

Binary package hint: gnome-screensaver

RELEASE: Karmic Koala
CD/DVD VARIANT: 64bit Xubuntu installed fresh using ext4 and grub2
ISO BUILD:
SYMPTOMS: Using Applications -> Settings -> Screensaver to set the screensaver preferences has no effect. The screensaver is set to start in 10 minutes. Unfortunately, it never activates.

Run in terminal gives me:
charlie@wecan:~$ gnome-screensaver-preferences
** (gnome-screensaver-preferences:6402): DEBUG: Found best visual for GL: 0x21

There are no entries in ~/.xsession-errors log and no entries in any system log that I can find looking in /var/log.

gnome-screensaver:
  Installed: 2.27.0-0ubuntu3
  Candidate: 2.27.0-0ubuntu3
  Version table:
 *** 2.27.0-0ubuntu3 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

FWIW, "gnome-screensaver-command -a" does activate the screen saver for me in a Gnome session (XFCE unfortunately does not bring up the window manager in Karmic for me)

PS: Charlie just told me in IRC that the above command works for him as well, but that the timed activation of the screensaver does not.

[tekstr1der (tekstr1der)]

Wanted to add that is an issue with vanilla karmic Ubuntu alpha 3 as well for some while now. At the set screensaver start time, screen fades to black as if about to start the screensaver, then immediately returns to full display.

[Tuomas Aavikko (taavikko)]

Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
Package: gnome-screensaver 2.27.0-0ubuntu4
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-5.24-generic
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-5-generic x86_64
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare

[Mathieu Pellerin (nirvn-asia)]

Confirmed on Ubuntu Karmic with latest updates up to August 13. (The gnome-screensaver-command -a command does bring screensaver on too)

[Mike Butash (michael-butash)]

I can correlate similar behaviour after upgrading from ibex to jaunty to karmic yesterday, screensaver will not initiate on it's own, but will via "gnome-screensaver-command -a" and other gnome applets to lock screen. My occurrence is slightly different that my system will never even try to go into screen saver, rather its as though the system is never seen as "idle". I also have a separate bug report for gnome-power-manager as it exhibits the same problem of never dimming the screen at a set time. There is nothing relevant in xsession-errors, messages, or anywhere I can find.

[Scott Nelson (scott-nelson)]

I can also confirm. I have mine set to turn on screensaver after 5 minutes and turn off the monitor after 15 minutes. Both were working before upgrade, but neither work now.

[Kyle Liddell (lists-kyle)]

I'm seeing this on debian - let me know if I should handle this through the debian folks, but it seems relevant here. debian squeeze provided gnome-screensaver-2.22.2 until recently, which worked. There was an update to gnome-screensaver-2.26.1, and it doesn't work there. Nor 2.26 on gentoo. Ah, and here's the ubuntu connection: it does seem to work with 2.24 on ubuntu.

[Bernhard (b.a.koenig)]

Screensaver actually started working for me a couple of updates ago in karmic.

[tekstr1der (tekstr1der)]

Screensaver has not worked once for me during Karmic development cycle starting just prior to alpha 2.

[Alexander Hunziker (alex-hunziker)]

Also started working for me recently, maybe one of the g-p-m updates?

[tekstr1der (tekstr1der)]

Just a me-too confirming working gnome-screensaver after latest round of gnome updates.

[Steve Beattie (sbeattie)]

I am also seeing that the screensaver has started working again in Gnome sessions, closing as Fix Released. Charlie or anyone else, please re-open this bug if, after the recent gnome-power-manager updates, it's still not fixed in Xubuntu. Thanks!

[Alexander Hunziker (alex-hunziker)]

While I have the screensaver kick in as it should now, the display doesn't go to sleep after the time set in the power management preferences. Can somebody confirm that?

[Rachel Greenham (rachel-strangenoises)]

Yes, I'm still seeing this, with a freshly-installed-from-alpha4 installation. I'm all up to date and so far the screensaver and display sleep have both never activated on their own as if, as someone here said, the system is never considered idle for some reason.

This is on an amd64 system with nvidia drivers 185.

gnome-screensaver-command -a works fine.

[Josef Wells (josefwells)]

I updated to karmic 2 weeks ago. At first the screensaver/power management didn't work at all. After the first week, screensaver started working, but the power management (turning the monitor off) never kicks in.

amd64 with nvidia 185 as well.

[Andrea Cimitan (cimi)]

me too, intel and no compiz

[Danny Wood (danwood76)]

I am also having this issue, neither gnome-power-manager nor the gnome-screensaver will activate as X seems to not be idle.
I cant remember it not working until recently when I came home from work to see my PC awake and burning in my monitor.

The computer seems to try to sleep but gnome-power-manager reports X as not idle and wakes the system back up.

Also activating the screensaver using the command posted above activates the screensaver and manually putting the display into sleep by DPMS works also.

I am reopening this bug on that basis.

[Andrea Cimitan (cimi)]

still doesn't work here

[Andy Braben (abraben)]

I have a fully updated Karmic system since Alpha 3 and screensaver/power management have never worked correctly.

[Josef Wells (josefwells)]

In addition to my Karmic x64 install, I noticed this is also broken on Debian Unstable i686 for me. So maybe it is upstream? Found this:
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=538694

Odd that Debian unstable is on gnome 2.26 and Ubuntu 2.28. My mind is blown.

[pliz (pliz)]

I've upgraded from jaunty yesterday and seeing this problem - screensaver does not activate, monitor does not enter powersave mode and gnome-screensaver-command -a works

Why does the status to this bug say fix released?

[Bernhard (b.a.koenig)]

Because it works for most people. Did you download all the recent updates?

[pliz (pliz)]

@Bernhard: Yes! I just upgraded! Any suggestions?

[pliz (pliz)]

Oh! BTW what was the fix? Maybe I can apply it manually?

[Bernhard (b.a.koenig)]

The fix is supposed to be in the packages. Since this is fixed for most people, maybe you should explain again what exactly your problem is.

Are you sure that your screensaver is switched on (go to "Preferences" > "Screensaver")?

[pliz (pliz)]

@Bernhard: It started working after one of updates today (I do them everyday). Thank you!

[Hugues Chabot (hugues.chabot)]

Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
Package: gnome-screensaver 2.28.0-0ubuntu3
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-14.48-generic
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-14-generic x86_64
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout fuse lpadmin plugdev sambashare
XsessionErrors:
 (polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:1880): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_once_init_leave: assertion `initialization_value != 0' failed
 (empathy:1909): libebook-WARNING **: Can't find installed BookFactories
 (empathy:1909): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (xfce4-settings-manager:2153): Gtk-CRITICAL **: gtk_widget_destroy: assertion `GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget)' failed

[Hugues Chabot (hugues.chabot)]

I upgraded from Xubuntu Jaunty to Xubuntu Karmic RC yesterday (my installation is currently up to date) and screensaver (and power management) does not work anymore. Screen saver is configured to start after 5 minutes. Running "gnome-screensaver-command -a" starts the screensaver correctly. Should I change the status of the bug (for me, the fix is not released).

[Charlie Kravetz (cjkgeek)]

This bug was originally and is still not working in Xubuntu Karmic. I have changed the status to reflect triaged. Please do not change it to fix released until it becomes fixed in Xubuntu. If you are running the Gnome / Ubuntu desktop and the screensaver is working, great. Do NOT mark this bug fixed. It is still not working for those of us using Xubuntu. That is an issue, and a valid bug. It makes it very difficult to get it fixed when you add a "meme" saying it works for you in Gnome. Please stop adding to the bug now, unless it is to report a fix in Xubuntu.

Thanks.

[candelfleur (candelfleur)]

fresh install karmic yesterday, since then unexpected behaviour of screensaver in gnome.
used screensaver elextric sheep pack in the repos plus private sheep pack
sometimes it turns screensaver on when i am surfing while i am clicking, sometimes it doesnt turn on when i am waiting for it, eg using quod libet.
maybe it has to do with medibuntu repos or other interactions, its something i changed today
updates made (~ every 2 hours since fresh install)

[Andy Barilla (andybarilla)]

I have the same problem. The screensaver does not turn on, however powersaving does. Up to date karmic as of late 10/28.

[pliz (pliz)]

Ok! Here is what I see. If I change screensaver and power settings - nothing really changes and previous settings work not the new ones for both power and screensaver. Have not tried yet changing settings and restarting gnome.

[Michael.S.G (ozfalcon)]

I did have the screen saver working at one stage in xubuntu 9.10

I can't remember what I had installed, But you could try this:
http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/panel-plugins/xfce4-xfapplet-plugin
And ensure the gnome services under advanced of xfce services.

The alternate to using "Gnome-Screensaver" is to remove it
and install XScreensaver instead. (Uses the same data files).

XScreensaver is probably (imho) a better choice for xubuntu.

[bingel (bingel)]

Same problem: screensaver doesn't work and power manager settings are ignored.

Power Manager service is activated and flagged for autostart in "xfce4-session-settings" tool but it doesn't seem to run.

[Kevin (kevinshlee)]

Same as bingel's case. The screensaver doesn't work and the power manager settings are ignored.
Yet I'm not using Xubuntu but Ubuntu 9.10 desktop amd64. So I guess, this problem occurs in Ubuntu Karmic Koala too.

[Brendan_P (brendan-p)]

For me this bug only appears late in the session, on first login screensaver works fine, then later it does not.

[candelfleur (candelfleur)]

update my problems:
its ubuntu 32 bit, karmic koala fresh install.
updates where ok, but with new updates change of behaviour:
no occurrence of turn-on of screensaver while surfing anymore.
problem that it doesnt turn on seems to be correlating with certain programms, maybe also when a programm window is open and active.
eg deluge.
when starting the screensaver per command "gnome-screensaver-command -a" it turns on with reduced graphical abilities.
after a minute electric sheep works like hoped.
next turn on of screensaver works automatically after the time period i adjusted.

[Charlie Kravetz (cjkgeek)]

@ candelfleur and Brendan_P: Please file a new bug report for that. This report is for the screensaver never turning on automatically in Karmic 9.10. It is not a sometimes action, nor associated with some programs. If your screensaver works at all in 9.10 as it should, please file a new report. thanks.

[Thomas Novin (thomasn80)]

How is this not priority high? This is a huge security risk!

[MaxFrames (maxframes)]

I second that last comment: not being able to configure an automatic screen lock after a given time of inactivity is obviously a security issue at least in certain environments.
Personally I am getting this bug in Xubuntu 9.10, upgraded from 9.04. The screen saver can be started manually (either by command line or by the lock screen button/shutdown menu) but does not start automatically. On this particular computer, I originally installed 6.06 and upgraded to every new release; this is the first time I see this bug happening.

[AdrianChallinor (adrian-challinor)]

I agree with ThomasNovin and MaxFrames. This should be treated with more urgency.

Not only is it a security threat, alleviated only by users taking action that shoudl be automatic, it is also a "green" issue, in that it appears that power management does not kick in either.

[Jon Frost (jon-thefrost)]

http://art.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8354673&postcount=7

and

http://blogs.gnome.org/hughsie/2009/08/17/

[Edourdo (pwm1989)]

hey I have been using intrepid till now that i upgraded to karmic and I had the circuit screen saver, after the upgrade it was gone so I installed it in synaptic and I cant get it to work. it goes to black screen under all screensavers that werent included as default, what is wrong?

[Forest (foresto)]

I'm having this problem as well. Just to reiterate and clarify through all the noise posts, the problem is that gnome-screensaver runs but does not activate at the configured idle time on Xubuntu Karmic. It worked fine on Jaunty.

This bit in ~/.xsession-errors appears to be the smoking gun:

** (gnome-screensaver:1319): WARNING **: Failed to get session presence proxy: Could not get owner of name 'org.gnome.SessionManager': no such name

A few google searches reveal that gnome-screensaver changed the way it detects idle time, now requiring gnome-session to do it. That seems short-sighted considering that gnome-screensaver is widely used by other desktops, such as xfce, which don't use the gnome session manager.

[Forest (foresto)]

These bugs are related:

http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=536381
http://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5927

The gnome-screensaver developers switched to gnome-session for idle time queries, instead of sticking with the traditional method. The xfce developers (understandably) don't want to add gnome-specific interfaces to their session manager to work around the breakage.

I'm hesitant to make one of the above bugs the "official" upstream bug, lest finger pointing between upstream developers leave xfce users out in the cold. Perhaps the solution for xubuntu would be to use xscreensaver instead of gnome-screensaver?

[Marc Deslauriers (mdeslaur)]

There seems to be more than one issue in this bug.

For gnome-screensaver not coming up in xubuntu and mythbuntu, please refer to bug #493573 from now on.

[Josef Wells (josefwells)]

I cleaned out my users .gnome* .gconf* etc.... and my screensaver/power-saving started working again, however, if I go to screensaver preferences and make a change, it stops working until the next logout/login.

I can not be sure that the fresh .gnome* .gconf* made a difference, or if that coincided with a change in the package.
I am also not 100% sure that mucking with the screensaver preferences breaks it, but others should give it a try.

[Marc Deslauriers (mdeslaur)]

Josef,

what desktop environment are you using? (Gnome, XFCE, etc.)
what change do you make in the preferences panel that makes it stop working?
When you say "stop working", do you mean gnome-screensaver doesn't come up after the idle timeout, or does it not work at all?

[Josef Wells (josefwells)]

Sorry for lack of detail..
Karmic w/ gnome and metacity.
(upgrade from Jaunty, upgrade from Intrepid Install)

When I say "stop working" I mean that screensaver and powersave modes
no longer engage after any idle timeout.

Josef

On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 12:22 PM, Marc Deslauriers
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Josef,
>
> what desktop environment are you using? (Gnome, XFCE, etc.)
> what change do you make in the preferences panel that makes it stop working?
> When you say "stop working", do you mean gnome-screensaver doesn't come up after the idle timeout, or does it not work at all?
>
> --
> Screensaver does not turn on [Ubuntu / Xubuntu Karmic]
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/397892
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in Xubuntu: New
> Status in “gnome-screensaver” package in Ubuntu: Triaged
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: gnome-screensaver
>
> RELEASE:  Karmic Koala
> CD/DVD VARIANT:  64bit Xubuntu installed fresh using ext4 and grub2
> ISO BUILD:
> SYMPTOMS:  Using Applications -> Settings -> Screensaver to set the screensaver preferences has no effect. The screensaver is set to start in 10 minutes. Unfortunately, it never activates.
>
> Run in terminal gives me:
> charlie@wecan:~$ gnome-screensaver-preferences
> ** (gnome-screensaver-preferences:6402): DEBUG: Found best visual for GL: 0x21
>
> There are no entries in ~/.xsession-errors log and no entries in any system log that I can find looking in /var/log.
>
> gnome-screensaver:
>  Installed: 2.27.0-0ubuntu3
>  Candidate: 2.27.0-0ubuntu3
>  Version table:
>  *** 2.27.0-0ubuntu3 0
>        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages
>        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/xubuntu-desktop/+bug/397892/+subscribe
>

[Marc Deslauriers (mdeslaur)]

A new gnome-screensaver package was just published as a security update for karmic.
The update fixes a known issue that causes gnome-screensaver not to come up after the idle timeout expires.

Please install the update and reboot, and try gnome-screensaver again.

http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-866-1

[Tanker Bob (tankerbob)]

Marc,

Tonight's gnome-screensaver release fixed the issue for me. It did require a reset after updating. 64-bit Ubuntu Karmic, 8 GB RAM, NVidia 8800GTS w/185 driver. Great work, thanks!

[Marc Deslauriers (mdeslaur)]

I am closing this bug as a new gnome-screensaver was published as an update to Karmic that should take care of this issue.

For gnome-screensaver not coming up in xubuntu and mythbuntu, please refer to bug #493573 from now on.

If you are still having problems with gnome-screensaver in a Gnome session, please open a new bug.

[Desh Danz (nicoluno)]

Fix released but nothing changed, the screensaver works for some time then, late in session, suddenly stops starting.

[Marc Deslauriers (mdeslaur)]

Desh Danz:

Your issue is not the same, please open a new bug for it, and we'll investigate it.

[Jānis Kangarooo (kangarooo)]

Installed 5 xubuntu 9.10 and none screensaver works so it affects +5 people.

[Charlie Kravetz (cjkgeek)]

Please see comment #54 for xubuntu. This is still invalid for xubuntu.

[Lionel Le Folgoc (mrpouit)]

Please don't open bugs against the *project*, it's not used for bug tracking.