Quick Fix for Blank Desktop, Unity Vanished

[u2nTu]

This Compiz Configuration Settings Manager (ccsm)-related disturbance happened to me a few days ago and I wanted to post the quick fix for others who may be stricken with it.

Symptom:
Unity Launcher and Panel disappear after logout or reboot following use of ccsm

DON'T:


Panic
Get angry and uninstall 11.10
Uninstall ccsm (most important)


DO:


Ctrl-alt-t to open a terminal
Run 'ccsm' again
Navigate to Preferences
See that Profile is 'Default' (If gibberish, pick the other one.)
Be sure Backend is GConf Configuration Backend (not Flat File)
Goto Plugin List tab and uncheck 'Automatic pulgin sorting' and confirm
Under 'Disabled Plugins', pick 'unityshell'
Hit right-arrow to move it over to 'Enabled Plugins' column
Exit ccsm

After a logout or reboot, Unity should be back.

It is known that ccsm is currently buggy, but most features do work. My first reaction after the experience ("No such bug-riddled program shall remain on my system!") was to uninstall. It's now back and I look forward to updates fixing the bugs.

[ian.d.rossi]

Thank you! This post really helped me. Here is what happened with me to help others out.

My problems started while I was trying to change the key bindings for Scale and Preferences > Backend was already set to Gcon. I used your solution and changed Backend to Flat file and then back again. Although enabling the unityshell plugin is probably what fixed it.

p.s. You should correct the typo: 10.11 > 11.10

Ian

[u2nTu]

@ian.d.rossi, Thanks for the note (glad to be of help) and noticing the typo, now fixed.

Threw this together for post #15 of this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1873679), which I found too hilarious to pass up.
(http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1873679)

[mefumofu]

Thank you so much for sharing this, you just lowered my stress level a ton!