Desktop widgets are skinned down.

[spitfirejunky]

Occasionally when I start Ubuntu, all desktop widgets get skinned down.

This is what it looks like when it's normal:

http://i.imgur.com/pcZMW.png

This is what it looks like when something goes wrong:

http://i.imgur.com/wrauR.png

The error only occurs at startup, and happens less often than not. It has been happening for a very long time, under two different machines and several kernels for the past 2 years to be exact.

I'm currently running 64-bit Ubuntu with linux-image-2.6.35-28-generic. Let me know if you need any more details about my setup or anything else.

[Copper Bezel]

It's an issue in 10.10. Restarting Gnome-Settings-Daemon and Nautilus fixes it, and you can create a startup script to do the same. See here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1575703).

[spitfirejunky]

I already use:


sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

I take it that there's no permanent solution?

I also couldn't find anything helpful in that thread.

[Copper Bezel]

Wow, doesn't that command kill the xserver? The same as logging out?

It's not a solid solution, but it is permanent in the sense that it's persistent. I know that thread's a bit difficult to navigate. What you want to do is this:

Go to Preferences -> Startup Applications.

Add. Enter


sleep 10s; gnome-settings-daemon && killall nautilus

Three parts in there: A delay, the settings daemon, and a restart of the file browser and desktop background, which is one app that the settings won't apply to unless it's loaded after the daemon runs.

Now it should never happen again. Your backdrop might flicker on login.

[spitfirejunky]

Thank you.

I adjusted the settings to do this. I'll reply to this thread if the problem resurfaces.

[spitfirejunky]

So after several restarts the problem has not resurfaced. Just thought I'd put that out there.

Once again, thanks.

[Copper Bezel]

Very cool - glad to hear it. = )

[borobudur]

Go to Preferences -> Startup Applications.

Add. Enter


sleep 10s; gnome-settings-daemon && killall nautilus

This works just in super user mode for me, so it doesnt in the startup applications :-(

[Copper Bezel]

Does this (http://www.webupd8.org/2011/06/fix-ubuntu-linux-mint-theme-changing-to.html) fix work?

[borobudur]

Does this (http://www.webupd8.org/2011/06/fix-ubuntu-linux-mint-theme-changing-to.html) fix work?

Unfortunatly this didn't fix it too. I also rised the sleep time but didn't help.
I guess this also will be run in local user mode instead root.

[Copper Bezel]

Well, root shouldn't be running Gnome Settings Daemon at all. It's run by gdm in, well, GDM, then it's run by your user account in Gnome.