Compiz-Fusion Help in Gutsy

[amtur_poet]

I just recently upgraded from Ubuntu 7.04 to 7.10, because I was eager to use compiz-fusion. However, when I was done upgrading, and I booted into Gutsy, there was not trace of compiz on the system. [My computer also had a horrible MBR crash afterwards, but I don't know if those 2 occurances are related.] I was able to fix my system, and re-install Ubuntu 7.04. I'm worried that if I upgrade, my computer will crash again, and I can't get compiz-fusion to install on 7.04, because I'm a linux beginner, and don't know much about code installation. Can someone help me with either one of these problems?

[bluepowder7]

1 - i found that a fresh install of 7.10 is much better than an upgrade from 7.04, so maybe try that approach

2 - once you have 7.10, fusion is there but the fancy manager for it isn't installed, so you'd need to install it through synaptic. it's very much point-n-click to do that. very easy.

[Cragrat]

Sorry, what's the fancy manager actually called?

[bluepowder7]

Sorry, what's the fancy manager actually called?

if you go to Synaptic, look for "compizconfig-settings-manager" and check it for installation. it might have to download and install some other bits as well, so just OK those.

once it's installed, it'll show up under System - Preferences - Advanced Desktop Effects Settings

[Cragrat]

Thanks. I think I have this now. When I right click the desktop and go to 'Change Desktop Background', on the Visual Effects Tab, I can't select anything other than 'Normal'.
I can see the Compiz-Fusion in Preferences but whenever I try to select anything other than 'Normal', I get "Desktop effects could not be enabled". I only have an 'on board' graphics card, so maybe it's that??

[asmiller-ke6seh]

First - regarding doing a new install of Gutsy - remember to back up your HOME directory so that you can restore all your data and essential configuration files after the installation is complete - then do a fresh GUTSY install.

What kind of graphics subsystem do you have? It is possible that it doesn't have the ability to support Compiz-Fusion.

Gutsy allows you to turn on a subset of the Compiz-Fusion functionality through the APPEARANCE controls - if your hardware will support it.

[Cragrat]

Not sure. All I know is that I don't have a separate Graphics Card and that the 'On Board' is (I think) 128mb.

[bluepowder7]

what's the computer specs? i'm also running on-board graphics on both the laptop (kinda inherent) and desktop, and fusion works well on both of them. in one case, it's an intel graphics chipset, and in the other it's an nvidia, and each is stealing up to 256megs of my system ram.

[Cragrat]

What specs would you like to see? Sorry, still finding my way around the menus....

[bluepowder7]

What specs would you like to see? Sorry, still finding my way around the menus....

what kinda computer do you have? who makes it, what's the model number?

[Cragrat]

Compaq SR1619 - AMD Athlon 64 CPU - ATI Radeon Express Graphics - Bought from PC World 2 Years ago.

[Ub1476]

Try this guide: install 8.42.3 on RS482 [ ATI Radeon Xpress 200] on a fresh install Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=591066&highlight=ATI+Radeon+XPRESS+200)

It's for th latest driver from ATI, and those support the default AIGXL.

If you want to use the older drivers, you can check them in System>Administration>Restricted Driver Manager. Remember to install "xserver-xgl" if you decide to use those.

[bluepowder7]

i did a quick search, and found a few guides. try reading through them to see if they apply to you (might depend on which version of ubuntu you have, and the exact model of your card)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=488385

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=321766

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=482773

[Cragrat]

I installed the ATI Accelerated Graphics Driver using the Restricted Drivers Manager.
The screen looks much better than before.
When I now go to 'Appearence preferences' -> 'Visual Effects' and try to select anything other than 'None', I no longer get "Desktop Effects Could Not Be Enabled" but "The Composite Extension Is Not Available" instead.
Sorry, you can tell that I'm avoiding using the Terminal like the plague. The main reason for this is that there's so many threads suggesting long & cumbersome solutions but nothing definitive.

[Cragrat]

Does this little lot help?
steve@study-pc:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 Host Bridge (rev 10)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 PCI Bridge
00:12.0 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc 4379 Serial ATA Controller
00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 USB Host Controller
00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 USB Host Controller
00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 USB2 Host Controller
00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 SMBus Controller (rev 11)
00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 PCI-ISA Bridge
00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 PCI-PCI Bridge
00:14.5 Multimedia audio controller: ATI Technologies Inc IXP SB400 AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 [Radeon Xpress 200G Series]
02:03.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
02:04.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Controller (rev 80)
steve@study-pc:~$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies Inc RS480 [Radeon Xpress 200G Series]"
Driver "fglrx"
Busid "PCI:1:5:0"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
Horizsync 30-70
Vertrefresh 50-160
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "ATI Technologies Inc RS480 [Radeon Xpress 200G Series]"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen "Default Screen"
Inputdevice "Generic Keyboard"
Inputdevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection
Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "0"
EndSection
steve@study-pc:~$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
af_packet 28172 2
fglrx 765588 11
rfcomm 47656 2
l2cap 28672 11 rfcomm
bluetooth 63876 4 rfcomm,l2cap
ipv6 317192 12
ppdev 11272 0
powernow_k8 16608 0
cpufreq_ondemand 10896 1
cpufreq_stats 8160 0
freq_table 6464 3 powernow_k8,cpufreq_ondemand,cpufreq_stats
cpufreq_conservative 9608 0
cpufreq_powersave 3072 0
cpufreq_userspace 6048 0
container 6400 0
dock 12264 0
ac 7304 0
sbs 21520 0
video 21140 0
button 10400 0
battery 12424 0
sbp2 27144 0
lp 15048 0
snd_atiixp 24084 1
snd_ac97_codec 122200 1 snd_atiixp
ac97_bus 4096 1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss 50048 0
snd_mixer_oss 20096 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 94344 3 snd_atiixp,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy 5380 0
snd_seq_oss 36864 0
snd_seq_midi 11008 0
snd_rawmidi 29824 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 9984 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 62496 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_mid i_event
snd_timer 27272 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 10260 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi ,snd_seq
parport_pc 41896 1
parport 44172 3 ppdev,lp,parport_pc
serio_raw 9092 0
pcspkr 4608 0
psmouse 45596 0
sg 41384 0
snd 69288 12 snd_atiixp,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_os s,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_time r,snd_seq_device
sd_mod 32512 0
k8temp 7680 0
soundcore 10272 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 12560 2 snd_atiixp,snd_pcm
i2c_piix4 11020 0
i2c_core 30208 1 i2c_piix4
shpchp 38300 0
pci_hotplug 36612 1 shpchp
evdev 13056 3
ext3 146576 1
jbd 69360 1 ext3
mbcache 11272 1 ext3
8139cp 28032 0
ide_cd 35488 0
cdrom 41768 1 ide_cd
ide_disk 20352 3
usb_storage 81728 0
libusual 22824 1 usb_storage
ata_generic 9988 0
ohci1394 38984 0
ieee1394 109528 2 sbp2,ohci1394
8139too 31232 0
mii 7424 2 8139cp,8139too
ehci_hcd 40076 0
atiixp 7824 0 [permanent]
ide_core 141200 4 ide_cd,ide_disk,usb_storage,atiixp
ohci_hcd 25092 0
usbcore 161584 5 usb_storage,libusual,ehci_hcd,ohci_hcd
sata_sil 14600 0
libata 138928 2 ata_generic,sata_sil
scsi_mod 172856 5 sbp2,sg,sd_mod,usb_storage,libata
thermal 16528 0
processor 36232 2 powernow_k8,thermal
fan 6920 0
fuse 52528 1
apparmor 47008 0
commoncap 9472 1 apparmor
steve@study-pc:~$

[DutyDuty]

When you want the box around it, use the button that looks like this : #
and you get this!

You have ATI graphics. Try finding the instructions for that.

[Dark_X]

I used XGL to get mine working. It works great!

[DutyDuty]

You're going to have to use terminal at some point in Linux. It's a fact. You get comfortable with time.

Yeah, I second XGL.

[uBrendon]

When I search compizconfig-settings-manager in synaptic nothing comes up help please. I'm in gusty and I'm on a Toshiba A135-S4656

[DutyDuty]

In synaptic, search "compizc"

That should return the package, if not, "compiz" will show it.

[Cragrat]

Thanks for your perseverance guys. I understand what you're saying but what's XGL exactly?

[DutyDuty]

XGL is (someone correct me if I'm wrong) an environment like GNOME, Blackbox, Fluxbox, etc. It's a sort of map that compiz runs well with.

[Cragrat]

OK. I seem to need XGL as well as Compiz-Fusion. I'm sorry. This is all getting way over my head. I don't understand what I need to get and how to install it. If I can't just download something and maybe enter just a few simple Terminal Commands, I think I'm going to have to give it all up.:(:(
I'm despondent now. I've come so far with this. This is the last hurdle to overcome before I stay with Ubuntu and not drift off back to Microsoft.

[Cragrat]

Yipee! I've got XGL!
Now have wobbly windows too. I've enabled the cube but it's still 2D.

[amtur_poet]

if you go to Synaptic, look for "compizconfig-settings-manager" and check it for installation. it might have to download and install some other bits as well, so just OK those.

once it's installed, it'll show up under System - Preferences - Advanced Desktop Effects Settings
When I search for it in Synaptic, nothing comes up. I also tried to download the file manually, the package installer says "Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: python-compizconfig"
I also tried searching for "compiz" in synaptic, it said all the available packages were installed.