Unity doesn't work with ATI RV730/M96 [Mobility Radeon HD 4650/5165] in 13.04

[Beowulf]

After upgrading to 13.04 Unity stopped working, the launcher doesn't show up on the screen. Gnome fallback and xfce4 work.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: unity 7.0.0daily13.04.18~13.04-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-19.29-generic 3.8.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-19-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
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
Date: Fri Apr 26 15:11:36 2013
DistUpgraded: 2013-04-26 14:09:50,260 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: raring
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.5.0-27-generic, x86_64: installed
 bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.8.0-19-generic, x86_64: installed
 fglrx-legacy, 8.97.100.7, 3.5.0-27-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.2.10, 3.5.0-27-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.2.10, 3.8.0-19-generic, x86_64: installed
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RV730/M96 [Mobility Radeon HD 4650/5165] [1002:9480] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:3624]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-05-11 (349 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC
MarkForUpload: True
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-19-generic root=UUID=246998be-2cd0-44bf-84ed-f543cab86250 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: unity
UnitySupportTest:
 Error: command ['/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test', '-p', '-f'] failed with exit code 1: X Error of failed request: BadRequest (invalid request code or no such operation)
   Major opcode of failed request: 138 (ATIFGLEXTENSION)
   Minor opcode of failed request: 66 ()
   Serial number of failed request: 23
   Current serial number in output stream: 23
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-26 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 08/25/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: F.46
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: 3624
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: 18.51
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvrF.46:bd08/25/2011:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPPaviliondv7NotebookPC:pvrRev1:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn3624:rvr18.51:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC
dmi.product.version: Rev 1
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.9~daily13.04.18.1~13.04-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu36
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.43-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 3:1.12.4+git20121105-makson1~ppa2
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 2:2.7.3+git20120928~quantal2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 2:6.14.6+git20120928~quantal1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 3:2.20.8+git20120928~quantal2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 2:1.0.2+git20120928~quantal1
xserver.bootTime: Fri Apr 26 15:01:06 2013
xserver.configfile: /etc/X11/xorg.conf
xserver.errors:
 fglrx(0): atiddxDriScreenInit failed, GPS not been initialized.
 fglrx(0): XMM failed to open CMMQS connection.(EE) fglrx(0):
 fglrx(0): XMM failed to initialize
xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.version: 3:1.12.4+git20121105-makson1~ppa2
xserver.video_driver: fglrx

[Beowulf (s-highlander)]

I fixed the problem by typing the two commands into the terminal window

dconf reset -f /org/compiz/
unity --reset-icons &disown

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131)]

This is not a bug with Ubuntu or Unity. Raring/13.04 does not support the fglrx/Catalyst legacy driver. You are using a 3rd party PPA, and the fglrx-legacy driver is not installed correctly for the 3.8.x kernel, which breaks 3D aceeleration, and thus, Unity.

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131)]

@Marco: If you're having issues with Unity and the open-source radeon driver, please file a new bug. Otherwise, read what I wrote in comment #3.