losing windows on Ubuntu 13.10

[Thomas]

I found, that gnome-shell lose some windows.

I see it in two ways:

1. gnome-terminal: after a restart - with ALT+F2 -> r or kill -HUP $(pgrep gnome-shell|head -n1) or resume from suspend - a terminal windows can not be opened any more, but is listed in ALT+TAB list (I add a video)

2. remmina: I opened a connection and sometimes the window is just not to see any more - also not in ALT+TAB. But it must there, when I open a new connection in a other group I get a new window. When I open a new connection in the same group as the lost windows (it get normally attached as a new tab to the window) it get a connect to the server, but not the window. I can see on the terminal server and netstat, that the connection is established.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: gnome-shell 3.8.4-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-3.7-generic 3.11.0-rc6
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-3-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.12.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Aug 23 09:26:56 2013
DisplayManager: gdm
GsettingsChanges:
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'buttons-have-icons' b'true'
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'gtk-theme' b"'04-Crunchy-grey'"
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'menus-have-icons' b'true'
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-08-19 (3 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Alpha amd64 (20130724)
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Thomas (t.c)]

there is a list of open remmina windows... I am sure it is there... but cannot see it.

xwininfo -tree -root | grep -i remmina
     0x1a00214 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 305x873+1061+27 +1061+27
     0x1a002e8 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 305x873+1061+27 +1061+27
     0x1a00024 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 207x327+853+27 +853+27
     0x1a0013a "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 307x873+1061+27 +1061+27
     0x1a0c0a9 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 335x330+1061+116 +1061+116
     0x1a003bc "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 193x492+1061+197 +1061+197
           0x1a0bc76 "Remmina": ("remmina-icon" "remmina-icon") 33x24+0+0 +853+1
     0x1a0629c "Remmina": () 10x10+-100+-100 +-100+-100
     0x1a00001 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 10x10+10+10 +10+10

[Thomas (t.c)]

ok, now I killed the whole reminna app :(

thats the output, when I only have the tray icon open:

xwininfo -tree -root | grep -i remmina
     0x2e00141 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 207x327+894+27 +894+27
     0x2e002a7 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 305x873+1102+27 +1102+27
     0x2e03b1f "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 335x330+1102+116 +1102+116
     0x2e03dfa "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 305x873+1102+27 +1102+27
     0x2e039dc "Remmina": () 10x10+-100+-100 +-100+-100
     0x2e00001 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 10x10+10+10 +10+10
           0x2e000de "Remmina": ("remmina-icon" "remmina-icon") 30x24+0+0 +894+1

I report again, when iI hit the bug again. Any hints what I can try to reopen the window... I tryd this:

for id in $(xdotool search --name Remmina); do xdotool windowraise $id; done
and
for id in $(xdotool search --name Remmina); do xdotool windowmap $id; done

the first did nothing... the second opened a pixel window, which i could resize.. but with no content... then I killed the window with xkill and lost all.

[Thomas (t.c)]

and again... I lost a remmina window.
fist a open connection #1, than to #2 (other group, new window). wanted to switch back to #1 and see, that it is still not listed any more.

[Thomas (t.c)]

Ok.. now both windows are gone:

xwininfo -int -root -tree | grep -i remmina
     48284484 "localhost:8901 - DOMAIN": ("remmina" "Remmina") 1600x842+9+35 +9+35
     48235175 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 305x873+1102+27 +1102+27
     48234817 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 207x327+894+27 +894+27
     48250362 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 305x873+1102+27 +1102+27
     48249631 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 335x330+1102+116 +1102+116
     48249308 "Remmina": () 10x10+-100+-100 +-100+-100
     48289157 "localhost:8801 - DOMAIN": ("remmina" "Remmina") 1600x842+9+35 +9+35
     48234497 "Remmina": ("remmina" "Remmina") 10x10+10+10 +10+10
           48234718 "Remmina": ("remmina-icon" "remmina-icon") 30x24+0+0 +894+1

you can see both localhost sessions windows.

now I did

xdotool windowunmap 48284484
xdotool windowmap 48284484

on the last command I only see a flash from a grey window (no content).

[Thomas (t.c)]

thomas@nbtxc:~$ xprop -id 48284484
XKLAVIER_STATE(INTEGER) = 0, 0
WM_STATE(WM_STATE):
  window state: Withdrawn
  icon window: 0x0
_NET_FRAME_EXTENTS(CARDINAL) = 0, 0, 31, 0
_NET_WM_ALLOWED_ACTIONS(ATOM) = _NET_WM_ACTION_MOVE, _NET_WM_ACTION_RESIZE, _NET_WM_ACTION_FULLSCREEN, _NET_WM_ACTION_MINIMIZE, _NET_WM_ACTION_SHADE, _NET_WM_ACTION_MAXIMIZE_HORZ, _NET_WM_ACTION_MAXIMIZE_VERT, _NET_WM_ACTION_CHANGE_DESKTOP, _NET_WM_ACTION_CLOSE, _NET_WM_ACTION_ABOVE, _NET_WM_ACTION_BELOW
WM_HINTS(WM_HINTS):
  Client accepts input or input focus: True
  Initial state is Normal State.
  bitmap id # to use for icon: 0x2e0c348
  bitmap id # of mask for icon: 0x2e0c34e
  window id # of group leader: 0x2e00001
XdndAware(ATOM) = BITMAP
_MOTIF_DRAG_RECEIVER_INFO(_MOTIF_DRAG_RECEIVER_INFO) = 0x6c, 0x0, 0x5, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x10, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0
_NET_WM_ICON(CARDINAL) = Icon (22 x 22):

       ░▒░▒
     ░▒ ▒
    ░▒ ░ ░░
   ░░ ░░
   ▒ ░▒
  ▒ ░░
 ░▒ ▒░ ░▒░
 ▒ ▒▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░
 ▒ ░ ▒ ░░░
 ▒ ░▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░
 ▒ ░░▒ ▒▒▒░▒▒░░░▒░░
 ░░ ░▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒░▒▒░░░▒░░
  ░▒▒▒▒▒ ▒ ▒▒░░▒░░▒▒▒░░
     ▒ ▒ ▒ ▒▒░░░░▒▒▒▒░░
    ▒▒▒▒░▒ ▒▒░░░░░░▒▒░░
      ░ ▒░ ░░
         ░▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░
             ▒ ▒
             ▒▒▒▒▒▒

 Icon (16 x 16):

     ░▒▒░
   ░▒░ ░░
   ▒ ▒
  ▒ ▒
 ░░ ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░
 ▒ ▒▒▒░ ░░▒
 ▒ ░▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒░░
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 ░░ ▒▒ ▒░░░░▒░░
  ▒▒▒▒░▒ ▒░░░░▒░░
   ▒ ░ ▒ ░░
  ▒▒▒▒▒░▒▒▒░░░░░
         ▒▒▒▒▒▒

 Icon (24 x 24):

        ░▒░▒
      ░▒ ▒
     ░▒ ░ ░░
    ░░ ░░
    ▒ ░▒
   ▒ ░░
  ░▒ ▒░ ░▒░
  ▒ ▒▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░
  ▒ ░ ▒ ░░░
  ▒ ░▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░
  ▒ ░░▒ ▒▒▒░▒▒░░░▒░░
  ░░ ░▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒░▒▒░░░▒░░
   ░▒▒▒▒▒ ▒ ▒▒░░▒░░▒▒▒░░
      ▒ ▒ ▒ ▒▒░░░░▒▒▒▒░░
     ▒▒▒▒░▒ ▒▒░░░░░░▒▒░░
       ░ ▒░ ░░
          ░▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░
              ▒ ▒
              ▒▒▒▒▒▒

 Icon (32 x 32):

         ░▒▒▒░
        ▒░ ▒░
       ▒ ▒
      ▒ ░ ▒░
     ▒░ ░▒
    ░░ ░▒
    ▒ ░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░
   ░░ ▒ ░
   ▒ ▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
  ░▒ ▒▒░▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
  ░░ ░▒░▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
  ▒ ░ ▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
  ▒ ░▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
  ▒ ░░▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
  ▒ ░░░▒ ▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
  ░░ ░░▒▒▒ ▒▒▒░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒ ░
   ▒░ ░░▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
    ▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒ ░
        ▒ ▒░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░
        ▒ ▒ ░░ ▒
       ░░ ░░ ░▒░░░░▒▒░░░░░
       ░▒▒▒▒░ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ░
                    ...

[Thomas (t.c)]

both windows are (I only played around with the first window)

 window state: Withdrawn

what do it mean? I don't found useful information on google :(

only: "When a window is in the withdrawn state, neither its normal nor its iconic representations is visible"

http://tronche.com/gui/x/xlib/ICC/client-to-window-manager/XWithdrawWindow.html

[Thomas (t.c)]

when I understand it right, is a withdrawn windows just in a minimized state: http://effbot.org/tkinterbook/wm.htm#Tkinter.Wm.withdraw-method

so I can do this, but:

xdotool windowactivate 48284484
XGetWindowProperty[_NET_WM_DESKTOP] failed (code=1)

Looks like _NET_WM_DESKTOP properties get lost on the window.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

I have the same symptom with gnome-terminal (not tested remmina, will do).

It does not happens everytime, but quite often when I do a Alt-F2 r to restart the shell (which is unfortunately necessary; gnome-shell here is severely leaking memory and after 8 hours it's a 8G molasses than need to be restarted).

After it happens, gnome-terminals are transformed in phantom windows. You can see them in overview, but you can't see them when exiting from overview nor focus them. Sometime you can move one window from a desktop to another, and it will accept focus again (but you'll not be able to resize nor move it).

Strangely, even if I have tens of terminals open, it seems that I have just one process (maybe this is the problem?). If I killall gnome-terminal I end with a even more "nice" phantom windows, like the grey one in the attached screenshot. It behave as if it is glued to the screen (sticky), and it let pass clicks to the (obscured) window below. I need to logout/login again to get rid of it.

[gpothier (gpothier)]

I have what seems to be the same bug. A few extra facts:
- Restarting Gnome Shell (Alt+F2, r) does not solve the problem
- I can give the focus to the phantom windows (with alt+tab or windows key), but they remain invisible.
- The mouse cursor changes as I hover over different zones of the phantom windows. Eg., it turns to the resize cursor when over the (invisible) edges.
- When the phantom windows has focus, hitting alt+space brings the window menu. If I then select Minimize, and then switch to the phantom window using alt+tab, it reappears
- When the phantom windows reappear, the place they appear on screen does not match how they react to the mouse: mouse coordinates seem to be offset by a few hundred pixels vertically and horizontally. It also means they grab mouse events on zones of the screen that do not seem to belong to them.
- Extra weird: when attempting to resize a reappeared phantom window using its top or left borders (which is not easy as I have to blindly find the zone that gnome shell thinks is the window border), their apparent width or height do indeed change, but their position remain the same (ie. the border I am dragging doesn't move, but the opposite border does). Resizing using the bottom or right borders works as expected (except of course for the mismatch between mouse position and display position).
- When exiting reappeared phantom windows, their frame is still displayed, although it does not react to mouse events. It is drawn above all other windows. The windows do not appear in the alt+tab window list or in the exposé (windows key). Exiting from exposé mode, the frame come back and stay until I restar Gnome Shell.

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

Still here, and really a problem given the leak that makes gnome-shell grow over time and need to be restarted every 3-4 hours or so. Any news here?

[Steeve McCauley (steeve-mccauley)]

I'm seeing this after Alt-F2+r with gnome-terminal as well. When this happens, I can still interact with the tabs, move between them using the keyboard (Ctrl+PgUp/PgDn) etc but cannot resize or move the gnome-terminal window (the title bar is there, but it behaves as if it were invisible).

$ gnome-shell --version
GNOME Shell 3.8.4
$ gnome-terminal --version
GNOME Terminal 3.6.1

cat /etc/lsb-release
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=13.10
DISTRIB_CODENAME=saucy
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 13.10"

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

It is even worse on 14.04 Trusty, because gnome-shell is now a lot more crashy than with 13.10 + gnome3 PPA.

[:~] % gnome-shell --version
GNOME Shell 3.10.4
[:~] % gnome-terminal --version
GNOME Terminal 3.6.2

It does not happen with other terminals; it is really annoying. Reproducing is is a matter of trying to restart gnome-shell a couple of times with gnome-terminal windows opened in different desktops. You'll end with invisible windows (they are visible in the expose desktop but they disappear as soon as you select them) or unmovable, unkillable windows (they still works, but if kill the inner shell you ends with a "phantom" window which is now sticky in all the desktops).

Is there anyone looking at this? I am willing to help debug. Thanks!

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

Desktop shot showing the bug.

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

Added gnome-terminal because it really happens reliably just with it.

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

Tried to report upstream https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=730261

Temporary solution: install terminator.

[Romano Giannetti (romano-giannetti)]

Christian Persch [gnome-terminal developer] said on 2014-05-16 17:49:52 UTC, in the upstream bug:

"An essential component in your reproducer is restarting gnome-shell.
Gnome-terminal used to unrealise and re-realise all windows in this case; that
was removed from 3.8. So I think this is fixed in gnome-terminal >= 3.8. If you
do upgrade in the future and can still reproduce this then, please do reopen
the bug; marking OBSOLETE for now."

Sounds reasonable. Could be Remmina doing something similar?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[robline (rob-lineberger)]

I have the same bug. Ubuntu 14.04. If I run a web server such as django in terminal, close the laptop lid, sign in again, and the terminal window is gone. alt+TAB will show it, but tabbing over to the terminal icon shows nothing. alt+SPACE will show the context window, and I can maximize it. If I minimize it, I see the mimimize animation to the left sidebar, but clicking terminal in the left sidebar does not bring the window back.

[Jeremy Bícha (jbicha)]

Thank you for reporting this bug to Ubuntu. I apologize that we are not always to respond to bug reports promptly. Ubuntu 13.10 reached End of Life in 2014. See this document for currently supported Ubuntu releases: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

Please upgrade to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and re-test. If the bug is still reproducible, increase the verbosity of the steps to recreate it so we can try again.

Do feel free to report any other bugs you may find.