[karmic] Desktop blacked out when Compiz is enabled on -ati driver

[Connor Imes]

When compiz is enabled, the desktop background is black and there are no icons visible (but they are still there, they can be clicked if you know where to put the mouse). This problem appeared after upgrading my Karmic development system on 8/27 which included mesa updates. Per Bryce's request in bug 420599 I am filing this bug.

I am also still able to see and use my gnome-panels and run applications.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sat Aug 29 23:29:57 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
Package: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.6.0~git20090817.7c422387-0ubuntu3
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-8.28-generic
RelatedPackageVersions:
 xserver-xorg 1:7.4+3ubuntu5
 libgl1-mesa-glx 7.6.0~git20090817.7c422387-0ubuntu3
 libdrm2 2.4.12+git20090801.45078630-0ubuntu1
 xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.8.1-1ubuntu1
 xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.12.99+git20090629.f39cafc5-0ubuntu6
SourcePackage: mesa
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-8-generic i686
XorgConf: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'
system:
 distro: Ubuntu
 architecture: i686kernel: 2.6.31-8-generic

[lspci]
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 82855PM Processor to I/O Controller [8086:3340] (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:011e]
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon RV250 [Mobility FireGL 9000] [1002:4c66] (rev 01)
     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:011e]

[Connor Imes (ckimes)]

Problem still exists in Karmic Beta (did a fresh install with Alpha 6). I'm trying to the ubuntu-x-swat 's x-updates PPA, but still no success.

connor@karmic-dev:~$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-radeon
xserver-xorg-video-radeon:
  Installed: 1:6.12.99+git20090929.7968e1fb-0ubuntu1~xup~1
  Candidate: 1:6.12.99+git20090929.7968e1fb-0ubuntu1~xup~1
  Version table:
 *** 1:6.12.99+git20090929.7968e1fb-0ubuntu1~xup~1 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net karmic/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     1:6.12.99+git20090825.fc74e119-0ubuntu2 0
        500 http://ubuntu.media.mit.edu karmic/main Packages
connor@karmic-dev:~$ apt-cache policy libgl1-mesa-dri
libgl1-mesa-dri:
  Installed: 7.6.1~git20091002.c01a77d3-0ubuntu1~xup~1
  Candidate: 7.6.1~git20091002.c01a77d3-0ubuntu1~xup~1
  Version table:
 *** 7.6.1~git20091002.c01a77d3-0ubuntu1~xup~1 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net karmic/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     7.6.0~git20090817.7c422387-0ubuntu7 0
        500 http://ubuntu.media.mit.edu karmic/main Packages

[Stefan Nagy (stefan-nagy)]

I can confirm this bug on Ubuntu 9.10 (Beta) - seems like I've got the same video card as Connor Imes: 'ATI Technologies Inc Radeon RV250 [Mobility FireGL 9000] [1002:4c66] (rev 01)'.

[Stefan Nagy (stefan-nagy)]

When I enable compiz, the content of the Evolution-window is also blacked out. I can't find another application which is affected - just Evolution.

[Gergely Papp (gergely-papp)]

The same problem here on my RV280.

Also the compiz benchmark falls back to 10fps, from 40fps when the desktop should be visible .

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV280 [Radeon 9200] (rev 01)
01:00.1 Display controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV280 [Radeon 9200] (Secondary) (rev 01)

[Stefan Nagy (stefan-nagy)]

1. I'm quite shure that this bug is a duplicate of #385539.

2. Sorry for the confusion with Evolution (comment #6). I can reproduce this behavior with every other application (even nautilus for example) - just by enlarging the window; there seems to be something like a 'critical size', above which the window content goes black... Can anyone confirm that?

[Nils Naumann (nau)]

Am Mittwoch, den 07.10.2009, 18:45 +0000 schrieb Stefan Nagy:
> 1. I'm quite shure that this bug is a duplicate of #385539.
>
> 2. Sorry for the confusion with Evolution (comment #6). I can reproduce
> this behavior with every other application (even nautilus for example) -
> just by enlarging the window; there seems to be something like a
> 'critical size', above which the window content goes black... Can anyone
> confirm that?
>

Yes. I can confirm this behaviour, I have checked it with a terminal
window.

[_dan_ (dan-void)]

its not ati specific i got black windows with nvidia aswell

[Samuel (samuel-ss)]

my desktop gets black screen without seeing the icons, that when I have compiz on, but if you turn off compiz the screen returns to normal, showing the image of the screen and the icons on the desktop . (I have an Ati Radeon 9250)

[Macarena (marcoaasilva)]

I have only got this problem using 1280 x 1024 resolution. With 1024 x 768 it's alright.
(Ati Radeon 9250)

[Edson (soued0311)]

I can confirm that the resoluion is alright wit 1024 x 768 on my Ati Radeon 9200.

[Lucien Demeuse (lucien-demeuse)]

I have exactly the same problem with Radeon 9200 SE RV280.
The problem is for Compiz only with 1280x1024 resolution. No problem for 1152x864

[Uli Grafenstein (uli-von-grafenstein)]

Same problem here to, with Radeon 9200. Black desktop and Compiz problems with 1280x1024 resolution, desktop background and Compiz working well with 1152x864

[roly (colin-rawlinson)]

I don't know if this a duplicate bug report as this is the one that fit my search criteria, as for the "original report" I hope someone has posted a solution.

I had this problem before on 8.xx and here again.

I run a radeon 9250 and the fix then as now is to install from the software centre

ATI binary X.Org driver

Then do a reboot

..and hopefully, you'll be on your way

[Malac (malacusp)]

This only happens for me at 1280 x 1024 ratio 5:4
1280 x 960 and lower i.e 4:3 ratios are all fine.
Radeon 9250

Hope this helps.