unity overlaps virtualbox on fullscreen

[Jonathan Almeida]

Binary package hint: unity

Bug: When using VirtualBox (OSE 4.0.4), Unity overlaps it and doesn't go away when click on the virtual window. That is, the application launcher is always visible with the menu bar at the top as well.

How to replicate: The problem occurs when using the keyboard shortcuts to switch from a different workspace to the workspace with the virtual OS.

How to temporarily fix bug: Using Alt + Tab sometimes works, otherwise you need to switch to another workspace and then click on the VirtualBox icon in the Unity launcher.

I've only used Windows XP for virtualization so far, so I cannot confirm whether this happens for other OS virtualizations.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: unity 3.8.6-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl fglrx
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,shift,move,wall,resize,place,vpswitch,compiztoolbox,imgpng,mag,grid,commands,water,gnomecompat,unitymtgrabhandles,regex,snap,session,zoom,animation,expo,workarounds,ezoom,staticswitcher,fade,scale,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Wed Apr 13 05:44:03 2011
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: natty
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 virtualbox-ose, 4.0.4, 2.6.38-8-generic, x86_64: installed
 fglrx, 8.840, 2.6.38-8-generic, x86_64: installed
 bcmwl, 5.100.82.38+bdcom, 2.6.38-7-generic, x86_64: installed
 bcmwl, 5.100.82.38+bdcom, 2.6.38-8-generic, x86_64: installed
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/unity-window-decorator
GraphicsCard:
 ATI Technologies Inc Manhattan [Mobility Radeon HD 5000 Series] [1002:68e0] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0413]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha amd64 (20110329.1)
InstallationMedia_: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha amd64 (20110329.1)
InstallationMedia__: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha amd64 (20110329.1)
InstallationMedia___: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha amd64 (20110329.1)
JockeyStatus:
 kmod:wl - Broadcom STA wireless driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use) [auto-install]
 xorg:fglrx - ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Studio 1558
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_CA:en
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=aa8f4543-9ca0-4741-98c2-a72fc546caf0 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature_: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
ProcVersionSignature__: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
ProcVersionSignature___: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Renderer: Unknown
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 10/12/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A11
dmi.board.name: 0874P6
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A11
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: A11
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA11:bd10/12/2010:svnDellInc.:pnStudio1558:pvrA11:rvnDellInc.:rn0874P6:rvrA11:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrA11:
dmi.product.name: Studio 1558
dmi.product.version: A11
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110411-0ubuntu1
version.fglrx-installer: fglrx-installer N/A
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu12
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.23-1ubuntu6
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.10.2-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.10.2-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+4ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.0-0ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.14.0-4ubuntu7
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110107+b795ca6e-0ubuntu7

[Anton Dessiatov (anton-dessiatov)]

I've got the same issue too. One thing that I can add from myself is that I've got this problem in dual-monitor environment on the secondary monitor.

BTW, switching off fullscreen mode and reenabling it temporary fixes bug. However, switching between virtual desktops eventually brings this bug back to life.

[Alistair Buxton (a-j-buxton)]

This doesn't just affect Virtualbox - it happens with many fullscreen applications.

[jlms (jjllmmss)]

Same issue.

This can't be a low priority issue.

It is affecting the most important ends of the Ubuntu users spectrum: expert users that need to keep Virtual machines around for sophisticated tasks and new users that want to keep a familiar OS around in case they get stuck with Ubuntu.

This really needs to be a higher priority.

[satire (satiremail)]

To get around this problem use compiz to keep above VirtualBox windows over any other windows by enabling Windows Rules plugin and create Above "name=Qt-subapplication" rule. It worked for me.

[Martin Skogevall (martin-skogevall)]

I vote for raising the priority. This is the single one issue that makes me want to switch away from Unity, and I have even started looking at alternatives to Ubuntu to get rid of this.

The issue got even worse with 12.04 since both the "windows" key and alt key overlays the full screen virtual machine. The only way to avoid getting eht overlay is by holding the win/alt key down for a longer time. This means it is impossible to quickly flip between windows in the virtual box machine!

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I believe this is a duplicate of bug 734908. And the problem with Unity stealing the Super/Windows and Alt keys is bug 741869.