Top 10 problems with Unity/Ubuntu 11.10 and their solutions

[Meelad]

I think we are done now with the reactions to the new version of Ubuntu and Unity, and it's time now to start trying to fix its most important problems..

This thread is NOT for bashing Unity or Ubuntu 11.10.. This thread is to try to solve the problems of the people who are willing to give it a try (me included).

Now I don't have all the solutions but we'll try to solve them all one by one together, or at least confirm that there is no way at the moment to solve this problem so that everybody will be informed..

We'll begin with listing the problems, and I'll keep updating the OP in this thread when new problems/solutions are established.. I'll begin now..


1- Unity crahses after playing with Compiz..

Suggested solution: log out (using CTRL+ALT+DEL) and try to log in with Unity 2D or as a guest.. The idea is to get access to the terminal.. In the terminal window run:

gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/compiz-1

and then re-enable the Unity plug-in in CCSM. If it doesn't work run the following code in the terminal:

unity --reset

and log out and in again (using Unity). Unity should start normally now. If it still doesn't start, go through the same steps and run this command in the terminal instead:

unity --replace

Cause of problem: Activating some plugins in Compiz could automatically disable essential plugins that unity uses, leading to disabling it.. Resetting Unity's settiings should solve this problem.
Solution status: waiting to be confirmed..
System Installation: Ubuntu 11.10, final release, both upgraded and fresh installations.



2- Buggy (extremely slow) wireless internet connection
I need more information about this one, since I confirm that I don't have this problem after a fresh installation of 11.10.. (I can download at 2.0 Megabyte per second through a wireless connection with moderate signal)

Suggested Solution: This solution seems to work for some people.. Give it a shot.. Open the terminal and run:

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/iwlagn.conf

And change:

options iwlagn 11n_disable=1 11n_disable50=1

to:

options iwlagn 11n_disable=1

And then reboot.. If the above file doesn't exist just create one and enter the line above, and then reboot..

Cause of Problem: Unclear. Although it seems to happen more often with upgrade to 11.10 than with fresh 11.10 installations, but it may be caused by specific types of hardware. (The solution aims to disable the 802.11n connectivity)
Solution Status: waiting to be confirmed..
System Installation: Ubuntu 11.10, final release. Mostly in upgraded systems.



3- Ubuntu 11.10 ignores the default applications set in System Settings
The problem is when I change the default Music player for example in System Settings => System Info => Default Applications, Ubuntu ignores my new choice and keep running music files with Banshee by default..

Suggested Solution: It's not a pretty solution but at least you won't have to change the default application for every single file extension.. You can in one command in the terminal change the default application for every extension the current app is default for.. First create a backup for the file we are going to change (just in case):

sudo cp /etc/gnome/defaults.list /etc/gnome/defaults.list0

Then run:

sudo sed -i s/[current-default-app-name]/[new-default-app-name]/g /etc/gnome/defaults.list

Example:

sudo sed -i s/banshee/audacious2/g /etc/gnome/defaults.list

This will change the default music app from banshee to Audacious.

Then, log out and in again and you should be able to run ALL of your music files with Audacious through double clicking..

There is a drawback though.. There is a possibility that Audacious can't run ALL the files that banshee can run, the command above won't differentiate between those files, as it will just replace banshee with Audacious as the default app for all the file types banshee was associated with.. If you don't think this is a problem for you, then go for it.. In general I don't expect you to face a lot of problems with files that banshee can run but Audacious can't, in which case you can change this single file type back to banshee through Right Click on the file => Properties => Open With => Choose banshee and click on Set As Default.

If anything goes wrong you can always switch back to the old settings using the backup we created earlier with this command:

sudo cp /etc/gnome/defaults.list0 /etc/gnome/defaults.list

Cause of Problem: Ubuntu 11.10 associates files types individually with apps by default. So it doesn't matter if you change the default app for music in the System Info settings, because banshee will remain associated with all the individual music files types, which seem to have the priority over the general default app setting. At the moment I don't understand what the Default Application settings in System Info are for.
Solution status: waiting to be confirmed..
System Installation: Ubuntu 11.10, final release, both upgraded and fresh installations.



4- Can't run Unity 3D after upgrading the system

Suggested Solution: Make sure the additional drivers for your graphics card are installed (if not install them through More Apps => Customization => Additional Drivers) then run in the terminal:

gedit /home/[Your Home Directory]/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/config

And replace its content with:

[general_ubuntu]
profile = 
integration = true

[gnome_session]
profile =

Log out and in again.

Cause of Problem: Old settings from older version of Ubuntu. With fresh 11.10 installation you should not have this problem.
Solution Status: waiting to be confirmed..
System Installation: Ubuntu 11.10, final release. In upgraded systems.



5- Unable to mount ipod - Unhandled Lockdown error (-5)

Suggested Solution: Run the following code in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install ifuse libimobiledevice-utils
idevicepair unpair && idevicepair pair

Cause of Problem: Missing plug-ins.
Solution Status: Confirmed.
System Installation: Ubuntu 11.10, final release, both upgraded and fresh installations.


-----------------------------------

Helpful advices:

1- Don't upgrade to Ubuntu 11.10.. A fresh installation seems to be much more stable than upgrades.
2- Don't play with Compiz too much, and be careful when you do that not to disable important plug-ins that Unity needs.
3- Always update your 11.10 system. I just updated my fresh 11.10 installation through System Update, and programs seem to run faster now.. The team seem to be busy now making adjustments to increase the stability of the system. One of those adjustments may solve one or more of your problems.

--------------------------------

Feel free to share your experience.

Note: The idea behind making one thread to list the 10 most common problems with Unity/Ubuntu 11.10 is to make the transition easier for new users, by knowing beforehands what to expect in most cases and by making access to the solutions of the most common problems much easier..

[ajgreeny]

Great idea!

You forgot the need to reset compiz as well as unity with your solution, which I think should be

gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/compiz
unity --reset

unless the change to gnome3 has removed the need for that first command.

I am unable to run unity 3D on my machines, so can't even attempt these in any really useful way.

[Meelad]

Great idea!

You forgot the need to reset compiz as well as unity with your solution, which I think should be

gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/compiz
unity --reset

unless the change to gnome3 has removed the need for that first command.

I am unable to run unity 3D on my machines, so can't even attempt these in any really useful way.

Thanks for your input.. I'll add it to the solution above..

Feedback from people trying this solution is appreciated.

Also feel free to list more problems (especially the most important ones) that you encounter with Unity and 11.10.

[philinux]

General Help sticky thread.

[Meelad]

I'm working now on a solution for the wireless internet connection problem (which I see is quite common) and the default applications problem (for music and video for example)..

If anybody can help I appreciate it...

[alexvy13]

Yea, my internet has been slower since I've been using alpha 2 of oneiric
Windows Partition works normal speed, but ubuntu doesnt.

[Meelad]

Yea, my internet has been slower since I've been using alpha 2 of oneiric
Windows Partition works normal speed, but ubuntu doesnt.

Did you upgrade to 11.10 or made a fresh installation?

[Meelad]

A suggested solution for the default app problem was added.. Waiting for your feedback..

I can definitely use some help here guys..

On to the next problem..

[Meelad]

OP updated. New problem added..

[Armaeddon]

I had the first issue mentioned here, and when i tried to log on to the terminal, it tells me that Authentication has failed. What do i do?I know my username and password are correct.

edit: i was able to do it by searching for "terminal" and launching that. Thanks a ton!