Compiz Issues in Hardy Heron (8.04)

[Paqmann]

I have been running Gutsy for the past few months on a Dell Inspiron 6000

-1.6GHz Centrino Processor
-1.2Gb RAM
-30Gb HD
-ATI Mobility Radeon X300 video

Using Gutsy I had Compiz enabled, running beautifully, using the opensource video drivers and xgl (if memory serves). Upon upgrading to Hardy, I found that Compiz was disabled. I tried enabling it (System->Preferences->Appearance->Visual Effects and click either 'normal' or 'extra'), but received a message stating that the graphics could not be enabled. I tried using the ATI Restricted Drivers, but that just gives me a white screen when I try to enable Compiz.

I looked around online and found that maybe I needed to reinstall xserver-xgl. I did that, and (using the restricted drivers) got Compiz working, but very, very sluggishly. So slowly, in fact, that I couldn't use it. The helpful response I found for this problem was to remove xgl, taking me back to my original, helpless state.

So that leaves me in this position: I need XGL for Compiz to work at all, but I need to delete XGL in order for Compiz to work properly.

You can see the pickle I am in.

If anybody has any ideas (or needs more information; I tried to keep from getting too verbose here) I would be very grateful.

-Johannes

PS I know similar threads to this one are all over the forums already, but I've been through so many of them and just been run in circles that I figured this was the next step in finally getting somewhere.

[mjantz]

You aren't the only one with these problems. I am having the exact same issues almost verbatim as you described it with an ATI X1400 card.

[LaRoza]

Would this help? http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=764633

[mjantz]

I tried the SKIP_CHECKS fix suggested in that thread, but I am still getting a white screen when I try to run compiz --replace. I am currently using the restricted drivers for my ATI X1400 card, but I have removed xgl for the reason described in Paqmann's post.

[Paqmann]

I'm hoping to find a fix rather than just a workaround. Something about my obsessive-compulsive nature, I guess. I'll take broken-awaiting-a-fix over working-with-a-workaround-which-I'll-eventually-have-to-remove-if-it-ever-gets-fixed.

[Paqmann]

Bump.

[Paqmann]

Got sick of searching and tried the workaround; it did the same thing as enabling Compiz normally--went to a white screen. So the workaround is a no go.

It also might be worth mentioning that when I look at the restricted divers manager, the ATI Accelerated Graphics Driver is labeled as 'enabled' bot 'not in use'.

[ocean223]

Same thing happened to me and it drove me nutso. You need to get the Ubuntu restricted extras package first. I think I got it in Synaptic. THEN go to system>administration>hardware drivers and enable the restricted driver.

Hope this helps.

[rmksd]

I have the exact same problem with my radeon 9550 (my topic just died and was never replied to )
I have tried just about every guide around to fix this, but nothing seems to do the trick
I was really hoping to get compiz in Hardy

...and I just tried the restricted extra package with no difference.

[joshrobinson]

if the drivers "not in use" uncheck it, check it again, and restart

as for the white screen, i got that once, i changed back to the vesa driver, the reinstalled the fglrx driver, and it eventually worked fine