Problem with visual effects

[valtikka]

I have problem with turning the visual effects on (to normal, extra or custom). Usually it says "Desktop effects can't be enabled". Still, sometimes they go on and everything works well (3D effects and all). Still, everytime I reboot, visual effects are OFF by default and I must try my luck starting them again.. and when/if I get it running again, the custom settings are usually changed.

Sometimes, if i just keep clicking the effect radio button (Custom, for example) it might go on on a third or fourth try.. But usually Ubuntu freezes if I try to click effects on too many times .

First of all, I installed Ubuntu 7.10. Then upgraded all the > 200 upgrades it offered (including the nvidia-glx-new). Then I installed the CCSM
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

..Oh, and if I logout and login right away, ubuntu crashes almost everytime.

I would be glad if someone had an idea of what might be wrong. I can post the xorg.conf here if needed.

-valtikka

Hardware:
AMD athlon 2000+
ram 1 GB
GeForce FX 5600 256MB

[Ub1476]

Posting the xorg.conf file would be fine.. You can also try to launch compiz from terminal, and see what output it gives (when it works and when it doesn't).

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
compiz

Or, maybe you have better luck with up-to-date software/drivers when the Hardy Heron (Ubuntu 8.04) is launched tomorrow:)

[valtikka]

I reconfigured the xorg.conf file with sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg and let it detect monitor automatically etc.. did not provide any help to my problem..


# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Wed Sep 12 14:29:35 PDT 2007

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Wed Sep 12 14:30:30 PDT 2007
# 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 "ServerLayout"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
Load "v4l"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "se"
Option "XkbOptions" "lv3:ralt_switch"
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"
Identifier "stylus"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"# Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

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

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

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "L204WT"
VendorName "Generic LCD Display"
ModelName "LCD Panel 1680x1050"
HorizSync 31.5 - 65.5
VertRefresh 56.0 - 65.0
Gamma 1
ModeLine "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1280x768@60" 80.1 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1280x720@60" 74.5 1280 1336 1472 1664 720 721 724 746 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1280x800@60" 83.5 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1440x900@60" 106.5 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1600x1024@60" 136.4 1600 1704 1872 2144 1024 1025 1028 1060 -hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1680x1050@60" 147.1 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

#
Identifier "monitor1"
Gamma 1
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "LG L204WT"
HorizSync 28.0 - 83.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "nVidia Corporation NV31 [GeForce FX 5600]"
Driver "nvidia"
BoardName "nv"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Device"

#
Identifier "device1"
Driver "nvidia"
BoardName "nv"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
Screen 1
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce FX 5600"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "nVidia Corporation NV31 [GeForce FX 5600]"
Monitor "L204WT"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Virtual 1680 1050
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050@60" "1600x1024@60" "1440x900@60" "1280x800@60" "1280x720@60" "1280x768@60" "800x600@60" "800x600@56"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"

#
Identifier "screen1"
Device "device1"
Monitor "monitor1"
DefaultDepth 24
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "TwinView" "0"
Option "metamodes" "1680x1050@60 +0+0; 1600x1024@60 +0+0; 1440x900@60 +0+0; 1280x800@60 +0+0; 1280x720@60 +0+0; 1280x768@60 +0+0; 800x600@60 +0+0; 800x600@56 +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "nvidia-auto-select"
EndSubSection
EndSection


And juho-pekka@Juho-Pekan:~$ compiz
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: 02:00.0 0300: 10de:0312 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1680x1050) to maximum 3D texture size (4096): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Starting gtk-window-decorator
/usr/bin/compiz.real (video) - Warn: No 8 bit GLX pixmap format, disabling YV12 image format



And just stays there few minutes (I don't know what that is supposed to do) and after that visual effects goes to none (and decorations dissappear).

If I do it another time,no that compiz is off(?)

juho-pekka@Juho-Pekan:~$ compiz
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: 02:00.0 0300: 10de:0312 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Segmentation fault (core dumped)
Comparing resolution (1680x1050) to maximum 3D texture size (): [: 352: -gt: argument expected
[: 352: -gt: argument expected
Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Starting gtk-window-decorator
Segmentation fault (core dumped)


There.

[Ub1476]

That's quite a complicated setup compared to mine:

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

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "vmmouse"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Defaultdepth 24
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen "Default Screen"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection


I suppose you are running dual-monitors?

I checked out the No 8 bit GLX pixmap format error, and found this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=571645&page=2), but it obviously doesn't have anything to do with your problem..

I'm sorry, but I don't have any excact clue to why it acts as it does. Due to the segmentation fault you can try to reinstall Ubuntu-desktop:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop --reinstall

And maybe clearing the configuration files for Compiz in ~/.compiz will help, but I doubt it..

[Codename]

What happens if you run Compiz from the Terminal?
compiz

[valtikka]

I don't have dual monitor. Just one widescreen monitor. I was wondering myself too that why is that xorg.conf so complicated.. I'll try that desktop reinstalling.

I have posted the effects of compiz above.

Re-installing desktop didn't help. I can't find .compiz from my home directory (yes, hidden files are shown).. I wonder can all this have something to do with my (screwed) monitor settings?

[valtikka]

(how can I delete this post? :))

[Ub1476]

Might be you can find .compiz in ~/.config/.compizm but for me it
's ~/.compiz.

If this does not work, I suggest you wait for Hardy Heron to be released. Will probably come in a couple or a little more hours:)

Alternative, you can try to use my xorg.conf, because xorg is much more "smarter" now than it were before, and do not need such detailed setup as in yours. If you dare, do backup first:

cd /etc/X11
sudo cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.b
gksudo gedit xorg.conf

That would make xorg.conf.b the backupfile.

[valtikka]

I tried your xorg.conf and it didn't change anything. In other words, my xorg.conf was complicated for no reason.

Well, I upgraded to Hardy and compiz works now :) And I can even find the .compiz which I didn't in my Gutsy.

Thanks for all the support.