Software Updater window is invisible

Bug #1671540 reported by teo1978
28
This bug affects 5 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
update notifier
New
Undecided
Unassigned
update-notifier (Ubuntu)
Confirmed
Critical
Unassigned

Bug Description

The software Updater icon has just appeared in my Launcher (it's probably trying to tell me that there are updates available, but who knows really). However, the window cannot be accessed in any way.

By clicking on the launcher icon, a small arrow appears on the right of it, and the title "Software Updater" appears on the top screen title bar (see screenshot), but no window becomes visible.

By hitting Alt+Tab, Software Updater is not even in the list of the available windows: this is an inconsistency that, no matter whether or not there's a bug in Software Updater itself, reveals a lower level bug in Unity (or whatever system component is responsible for switching windows), as there must ALWAYS be a 1:1 correspondence between open windows listed in Launcher and windows available via Alt+TAB.

I don't know whether this is related to bug #1671529, but there is a difference (I'm almost sure of): in the case of that one the window was available via Alt+TAB, though it wouldn't show up if selected.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: update-manager 1:16.04.5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-64.85-generic 4.4.44
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-64-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Thu Mar 9 17:07:38 2017
DpkgHistoryLog.txt:

DpkgTerminalLog.txt:

GsettingsChanges:
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'show-details' b'true'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-height' b'378'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'first-run' b'false'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-width' b'484'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'launch-time' b'1489072980'
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-11 (1244 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: update-manager
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2016-12-11 (87 days ago)

Revision history for this message
teo1978 (teo8976) wrote :
Revision history for this message
teo1978 (teo8976) wrote :

What??

#1623856 doesn't look like the same bug at all.

affects: update-manager (Ubuntu) → update-notifier (Ubuntu)
Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

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

Changed in update-notifier (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
experimancer (experimancer) wrote :

Software Uodate window disappears frequently in my system too. I'm running Ubuntu 16.04.02, Unit-7.4.0 in Zbook-G3 laptop with Nvidia-372.13 binary driver. No matter what you the icon only occasionally flickes in the menu, but no window appears.

Killing the "update-notifier" process manually and starting it again from the HUD does not help.

Also, might be related, starting "update-manager" from CLI produces following error while the icon again flicker, but no window disappears:

/usr/bin/update-manager:28: PyGIWarning: Gtk was imported without specifying a version first. Use gi.require_version('Gtk', '3.0') before import to ensure that the right version gets loaded.
  from gi.repository import Gtk
/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/UpdateManager/UnitySupport.py:29: PyGIWarning: Dbusmenu was imported without specifying a version first. Use gi.require_version('Dbusmenu', '0.4') before import to ensure that the right version gets loaded.
  from gi.repository import Dbusmenu, Unity
/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/UpdateManager/UnitySupport.py:29: PyGIWarning: Unity was imported without specifying a version first. Use gi.require_version('Unity', '7.0') before import to ensure that the right version gets loaded.
  from gi.repository import Dbusmenu, Unity

Revision history for this message
experimancer (experimancer) wrote :
Revision history for this message
experimancer (experimancer) wrote :
Changed in update-notifier (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Critical
description: updated
Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Happens to me at least 4 out of 5 times.
Ubuntu 17.04
System76 Meerkat

Using the following always make the updated visible on my current desktop:
    wmctrl -R 'Software Updater'

I can collect data if there are questions since it happens so often.

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

I'm using this script to collect info. I'll post the results in the next message. It makes to files, a before and after calling wmctrl so they can be diff'ed easily

---------------- script below
#!/bin/bash

function die() {
    echo "Error: " $*
    exit 1
}

# collect info before the window is moved.

[[ $# -eq 1 ]] || die "Usage: $0 output_file"

OUT=$1

cat /dev/null >$OUT.before
cat /dev/null >$OUT.after

echo "BEFORE" >>$OUT.before
(
    echo -e "COMMAND: wmctrl -lGp\n"
    wmctrl -lGp
    echo -e "\nCOMMAND: xwininfo -name Software Updater"
    xwininfo -name 'Software Updater'
) 2>&1 | sed 's/^/ /' >>$OUT.before

echo "moving Software Updater to current desktop"
wmctrl -R 'Software Updater'

echo "AFTER" >> $OUT.after
(
    echo -e "COMMAND: wmctrl -lGp\n"
    wmctrl -lGp
    echo -e "\nCOMMAND: xwininfo -name Software Updater"
    xwininfo -name 'Software Updater'
) 2>&1 | sed 's/^/ /' >>$OUT.after

exit 0

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :
Download full text (4.6 KiB)

File: 20170526-softupd.log

BEFORE
    COMMAND: wmctrl -lGp

    0x04000008 -1 11829 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
    0x01c00002 0 1828 -2020 -1180 1920 1080 mat-Meerkat XdndCollectionWindowImp
    0x01c00003 0 1828 0 24 65 1056 mat-Meerkat unity-launcher
    0x01c00004 0 1828 0 0 1920 24 mat-Meerkat unity-panel
    0x01c00005 0 1828 -1241 -728 1141 628 mat-Meerkat unity-dash
    0x01c00006 0 1828 -420 -300 320 200 mat-Meerkat Hud
    0x0280000a -1 1986 0 0 1920 1080 mat-Meerkat Desktop
    0x03600010 0 3363 81 52 1159 1003 mat-Meerkat New Tab - Mozilla Firefox
    0x03c00006 0 29972 1025 237 722 682 mat-Meerkat Terminal
    0x03e000af 0 15845 269 271 736 612 mat-Meerkat emacs@mat-Meerkat

    COMMAND: xwininfo -name Software Updater

    xwininfo: Window id: 0x4000008 "Software Updater"

      Absolute upper-left X: 769
      Absolute upper-left Y: 384
      Relative upper-left X: 769
      Relative upper-left Y: 384
      Width: 447
      Height: 335
      Depth: 24
      Visual: 0xc0
      Visual Class: TrueColor
      Border width: 0
      Class: InputOutput
      Colormap: 0x4000007 (not installed)
      Bit Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
      Window Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
      Backing Store State: NotUseful
      Save Under State: no
      Map State: IsUnMapped
      Override Redirect State: no
      Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
      -geometry 447x335+769+384

AFTER
    COMMAND: wmctrl -lGp

    0x01c00002 0 1828 -2020 -1180 1920 1080 mat-Meerkat XdndCollectionWindowImp
    0x01c00003 0 1828 0 24 65 1056 mat-Meerkat unity-launcher
    0x01c00004 0 1828 0 0 1920 24 mat-Meerkat unity-panel
    0x01c00005 0 1828 -1241 -728 1141 628 mat-Meerkat unity-dash
    0x01c00006 0 1828 -420 -300 320 200 mat-Meerkat Hud
    0x0280000a -1 1986 0 0 1920 1080 mat-Meerkat Desktop
    0x03600010 0 3363 81 52 1159 1003 mat-Meerkat New Tab - Mozilla Firefox
    0x03c00006 0 29972 1025 237 722 682 mat-Meerkat Terminal
    0x03e000af 0 15845 269 271 736 612 mat-Meerkat emacs@mat-Meerkat
    0x04000008 0 11829 769 412 645 400 mat-Meerkat Software Updater

    COMMAND: xwininfo -name Software Updater

    xwininfo: Window id: 0x4000008 "Software Updater"

      Absolute upper-left X: 769
      Absolute upper-left Y: 412
      Relative upper-left X: 0
      Relative upper-left Y: 0
      Width: 645
      Height: 400
      Depth: 24
      Visual: 0xc0
      Visual Class: TrueColor
      Border width: 0
      Class: InputOutput
      Colormap: 0x4000007 (not installed)
      Bit Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
      Window Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
      Backing Store State: NotUseful
      Save Under State: no
      Map State: IsViewable
      Override Redirect State: no
      Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-268 +769-268
      -geometry 645x400+759+374

The diff

--- jk.before 2017-05-26 20:44:26.683069386 -0700
+++ jk.after 2017-05-26 20:44:26.839071897 -0700
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-BEFORE
+AFTER
     COMMAND: wmctrl -lGp

- 0x0...

Read more...

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

See attachment 20170604-softupd-bad.log for full log.

Before/after diff:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
1c1
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x04200008 -1 30547 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
16a16
> 0x04200008 0 30547 769 412 645 400 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
23,27c23,27
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 400
38c38
< Map State: IsUnMapped
---
> Map State: IsViewable
40,41c40,41
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-268 +769-268
> -geometry 645x400+759+374

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Log referenced by comment #9

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Sorry comment 11 should refer to comment 10.

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Another occurrence:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x04000008 -1 25120 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
13a13
> 0x04000008 0 25120 769 412 645 456 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
20,24c20,24
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 456
35c35
< Map State: IsUnMapped
---
> Map State: IsViewable
37,38c37,38
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-212 +769-212
> -geometry 645x456+759+374

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Another occurrence:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
1c1
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x04000008 -1 9042 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
15a15
> 0x04000008 0 9042 769 412 645 456 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
22,26c22,26
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 456
37c37
< Map State: IsUnMapped
---
> Map State: IsViewable
39,40c39,40
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-212 +769-212
> -geometry 645x456+759+374

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Latest:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
1c1
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x03e00008 -1 3052 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
14a14
> 0x03e00008 0 3052 769 412 645 456 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
21,25c21,25
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 456
36c36
< Map State: IsUnMapped
---
> Map State: IsViewable
38,39c38,39
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-212 +769-212
> -geometry 645x456+759+374

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Latest:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
1c1
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x04400008 -1 20962 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
16a16
> 0x04400008 0 20962 769 412 645 456 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
23,27c23,27
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 456
38c38
< Map State: IsUnMapped
---
> Map State: IsViewable
40,41c40,41
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-212 +769-212
> -geometry 645x456+759+374

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Latest:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
1c1
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x03e00008 -1 22574 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
12a12
> 0x03e00008 0 22574 769 412 645 456 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
19,23c19,23
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 456
34c34
< Map State: IsUnMapped
---
> Map State: IsViewable
36,37c36,37
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-212 +769-212
> -geometry 645x456+759+374

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Latest:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
1c1
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x03800008 -1 22758 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
12a12
> 0x03800008 0 22758 769 412 645 456 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
19,23c19,23
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 456
36,37c36,37
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-212 +769-212
> -geometry 645x456+759+374
$ cat /etc/lsb-release
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=17.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=zesty
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 17.04"

Revision history for this message
James Cobban (7-webmaster) wrote :

On 17.04 I have a very similar problem. The Software Updater icon in the Unity launch bar has turned green to indicate that updates are available. When I click on that icon it gains an orange "halo" indicating that the system knows that it has been selected, but no window opens. I cannot manually start the Software Updater. I have to reboot in order to run the Software Updater. xwininfo knows the window is there but nobody else does. I have had this problem for over a month and I would really appreciate some guidance.

$ xwininfo -name "Software Updater"

xwininfo: Window id: 0x3200008 "Software Updater"

  Absolute upper-left X: 769
  Absolute upper-left Y: 384
  Relative upper-left X: 769
  Relative upper-left Y: 384
  Width: 447
  Height: 335
  Depth: 24
  Visual: 0x300
  Visual Class: TrueColor
  Border width: 0
  Class: InputOutput
  Colormap: 0x3200007 (not installed)
  Bit Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
  Window Gravity State: NorthWestGravity
  Backing Store State: NotUseful
  Save Under State: no
  Map State: IsUnMapped
  Override Redirect State: no
  Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
  -geometry 447x335+769+384

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

Latest:

$ diff jk.before jk.after
1c1
< BEFORE
---
> AFTER
4d3
< 0x04e00008 -1 4296 1538 768 447 335 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
14a14
> 0x04e00008 0 4296 769 412 645 456 mat-Meerkat Software Updater
21,25c21,25
< Absolute upper-left Y: 384
< Relative upper-left X: 769
< Relative upper-left Y: 384
< Width: 447
< Height: 335
---
> Absolute upper-left Y: 412
> Relative upper-left X: 0
> Relative upper-left Y: 0
> Width: 645
> Height: 456
36c36
< Map State: IsUnMapped
---
> Map State: IsViewable
38,39c38,39
< Corners: +769+384 -704+384 -704-361 +769-361
< -geometry 447x335+769+384
---
> Corners: +769+412 -506+412 -506-212 +769-212
> -geometry 645x456+759+374

Revision history for this message
Mat Cucuzella (kookjr) wrote :

After upgrading to 17.10 I haven't had this problem. Since this is a Gnome based software version, maybe the problem was in Unity.

david braun (braunster)
tags: added: bionic
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