Cinnamon not starting

[LexMK]

Whenever I try to log in in Cinnamon, it tells me that something went wrong and I need to log out and try again.
I do so again and again and it still does not work.
Tried to uninstall and reinstall it, still not working.
Gnome is not working too.
Mate is working fine.

What's happening?

[xircon]

1>. Try creating a new user - see if that user works.

2>. Did you install any new extensions/applets - remove them.

Cheers

Steve

[LexMK]

Already done both of these.
Did not work.

[killer de bug]

You probably forgot to desactivate compiz.

In fall back mode : terminal --> gnome-session-properties & --> uncheck Compiz.

It worked for me this way.

[LexMK]

Compiz is not checked.

Additional info:
Cinnamon worked fine until yesterday.
Installed LMDE as soon as 201204 RC came out.
Always updated when asked.

[zerozero]

so, let's see:
1- updates between yesterday and the the moment of the crash?
2- any (doesn't matter how small) change you made to the system in that time?

systems just don't go puff over the night, it has to be either an update or a change, even if to you it seems completely unrelated

[LexMK]

so, let's see:
1- updates between yesterday and the the moment of the crash?
2- any (doesn't matter how small) change you made to the system in that time?

systems just don't go puff over the night, it has to be either an update or a change, even if to you it seems completely unrelated

1- Last update was Firefox 12. Rebooted twice after that and nothing happened
2- None recently. Last big change I made was installing Linux 686 for multi-core support (core2duo), but that was more than a week ago. Never had problem with it.

[zerozero]

can you please share with us 2 outputs

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inxi -SGxr

(copy&past the command to your terminal and copy&past the output from the terminal here)

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cat /var/log/apt/history.log

(copy here - within code tags - the last couple days updates)

[LexMK]

can you please share with us 2 outputs

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inxi -SGxr

(copy&past the command to your terminal and copy&past the output from the terminal here)

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cat /var/log/apt/history.log

(copy here - within code tags - the last couple days updates)

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System:    Host lexcomp Kernel 3.2.0-2-686-pae i686 (32 bit) Distro Linux Mint Debian Edition
Graphics:  Card nVidia G84 [GeForce 9500M GS] X.org 1.11.4 Res: 128x33 Gfx Data: N/A for root
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
           deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import
           deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming testing main contrib non-free
           deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming/security testing/updates main contrib non-free
           deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/incoming/multimedia testing main non-free
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/bimsebasse-cinnamonextras.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/bimsebasse/cinnamonextras/ubuntu oneiric main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/bimsebasse/cinnamonextras/ubuntu oneiric main

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Start-Date: 2012-05-04  00:16:46
Commandline: /usr/sbin/synaptic --hide-main-window --non-interactive --parent-window-id 48234532 -o Synaptic::closeZvt=true --progress-str Please wait, this can take some time --finish-str Update is complete --set-selections-file /tmp/tmpXNUtYj
Upgrade: cinnamon-applet-usermenu:i386 (2.1.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1, 2.2.2-0ubuntu1~ppa1)
End-Date: 2012-05-04  00:16:50

Start-Date: 2012-05-04  19:46:44
Commandline: apt-get install gnome-screensaver
Install: gnome-screensaver:i386 (3.2.2-1)
End-Date: 2012-05-04  19:46:51

Start-Date: 2012-05-04  20:06:02
Commandline: apt-get install browser-plugin-lightspark
Install: libboost-system1.48.0:i386 (1.48.0-3, automatic), libboost-program-options1.48.0:i386 (1.48.0-3, automatic), libboost-thread1.48.0:i386 (1.48.0-3, automatic), browser-plugin-lightspark:i386 (0.5.4.1-1+b1), gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3:i386 (0.10.15.debian-1, automatic), libxml++2.6-2:i386 (2.34.2-1, automatic), lightspark-common:i386 (0.5.4.1-1+b1, automatic), gnash-common:i386 (0.8.10-5, automatic), libboost-filesystem1.48.0:i386 (1.48.0-3, automatic)
End-Date: 2012-05-04  20:06:17

Start-Date: 2012-05-05  02:02:42
Commandline: apt-get install vrms
Install: vrms:i386 (1.16)
End-Date: 2012-05-05  02:02:47

Start-Date: 2012-05-05  02:49:28
Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-install-packages' sender=':1.61'
Install: cinnamon-applet-betterplaces:i386 (1.1.2-0ubuntu1~ppa1)
End-Date: 2012-05-05  02:49:32

Start-Date: 2012-05-05  02:50:49
Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-install-packages' sender=':1.66'
Install: cinnamon-applet-simplermenu:i386 (1.0.0-0ubuntu1~ppa1)
End-Date: 2012-05-05  02:50:52

Start-Date: 2012-05-05  02:55:30
Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-install-packages' sender=':1.87'
Install: cinnamon-applet-gnomemenusystem:i386 (2.3.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1, automatic), cinnamon-applet-gnomemenuapps:i386 (2.3.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-gnomemenuplaces:i386 (2.3.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1, automatic)
End-Date: 2012-05-05  02:55:35

Start-Date: 2012-05-05  02:55:56
Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-install-packages' sender=':1.92'
Install: cinnamon-applet-places:i386 (1.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1)
End-Date: 2012-05-05  02:55:59

Start-Date: 2012-05-06  18:14:56
Commandline: apt-get install audacity
Install: libvamp-hostsdk3:i386 (2.1-1, automatic), libwxgtk2.8-0:i386 (2.8.12.1-7, automatic), audacity:i386 (1.3.14-3), libportsmf0:i386 (0.1~svn20101010-3, automatic), audacity-data:i386 (1.3.14-3, automatic), libflac++6:i386 (1.2.1-6, automatic), libwxbase2.8-0:i386 (2.8.12.1-7, automatic)
End-Date: 2012-05-06  18:15:18

Start-Date: 2012-05-08  22:45:04
Commandline: apt-get install pymol
Install: libtorque2:i386 (2.4.16+dfsg-1, automatic), pymol:i386 (1.4.1-3+b2), libopenmpi1.3:i386 (1.4.3-2.1, automatic), libmaloc1:i386 (0.2-2.3, automatic), apbs:i386 (1.2.1b-1, automatic), python-pmw:i386 (1.3.2-6, automatic), blt:i386 (2.4z-4.2, automatic), python-tk:i386 (2.7.1-3, automatic), libnuma1:i386 (2.0.8~rc3-1, automatic), libibverbs1:i386 (1.1.6-1, automatic), tk8.5:i386 (8.5.11-1, automatic), freeglut3:i386 (2.6.0-1.1, automatic)
End-Date: 2012-05-08  22:45:30

Start-Date: 2012-05-08  22:47:07
Commandline: apt-get remove pymol
Remove: pymol:i386 (1.4.1-3+b2)
End-Date: 2012-05-08  22:47:12

Start-Date: 2012-05-09  08:40:22
Commandline: apt-get dist-upgrade
Upgrade: thunderbird:i386 (11.0-1lmde1, 12.0.1-1lmde1), firefox:i386 (11.0-1lmde1, 12.0), thunderbird-l10n-en-us:i386 (11.0, 12.0.1), firefox-l10n-en-us:i386 (11.0, 12.0)
End-Date: 2012-05-09  08:40:32

Start-Date: 2012-05-09  14:26:44
Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-install-packages' sender=':1.116'
Install: libgl1-mesa-swx11:i386 (7.11.2-1, automatic), libgl1-mesa-swx11-i686:i386 (7.11.2-1), libosmesa6:i386 (7.11.2-1, automatic)
Remove: libgl1-mesa-dev:i386 (7.11.2-1), libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 (7.11.2-1)
End-Date: 2012-05-09  14:26:59

Start-Date: 2012-05-10  00:59:07
Commandline: apt-get install geany
Install: geany-common:i386 (0.21.dfsg-1, automatic), geany:i386 (0.21.dfsg-1)
End-Date: 2012-05-10  00:59:19

Start-Date: 2012-05-10  01:17:32
Commandline: apt-get remove cinnamon
Remove: cinnamon:i386 (1.4.0-lmde1), cinnamon-applet-places:i386 (1.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-messagingmenu:i386 (1.1.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-simplermenu:i386 (1.0.0-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-gnomemenusystem:i386 (2.3.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-gnomemenuapps:i386 (2.3.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-betterplaces:i386 (1.1.2-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-usermenu:i386 (2.2.2-0ubuntu1~ppa1), cinnamon-applet-gnomemenuplaces:i386 (2.3.1-0ubuntu1~ppa1)
End-Date: 2012-05-10  01:17:52

Start-Date: 2012-05-10  01:20:40
Commandline: apt-get install cinnamon
Install: cinnamon:i386 (1.4.0-lmde1), gnome-shell:i386 (3.2.2.1-2, automatic), alacarte:i386 (0.13.2-3, automatic), gnome-session-fallback:i386 (3.2.1-1, automatic), gnome-system-monitor:i386 (3.2.1-1, automatic), gnome-applets:i386 (3.2.1-1, automatic), gnome-contacts:i386 (3.2.2-2, automatic), gnome-panel:i386 (3.2.1-2+b1, automatic), gnome-applets-data:i386 (3.2.1-1, automatic), gnome-session:i386 (3.2.1-1, automatic), gnome-panel-data:i386 (3.2.1-2, automatic), gnome-shell-common:i386 (3.2.2.1-2, automatic)
End-Date: 2012-05-10  01:21:09

[zerozero]

Start-Date: 2012-05-09 14:26:44
Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-install-packages' sender=':1.116'
Install: libgl1-mesa-swx11:i386 (7.11.2-1, automatic), libgl1-mesa-swx11-i686:i386 (7.11.2-1), libosmesa6:i386 (7.11.2-1, automatic)
Remove: libgl1-mesa-dev:i386 (7.11.2-1), libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 (7.11.2-1)
End-Date: 2012-05-09 14:26:59

i think the problem is here (if you completely ruled out the compiz possibility)
- i don't understand why, but this day you installed and removed some mesa-related packages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_%28computer_graphics%29
the thing is, i can't see in those logs any reason for that to happen, you have to help us help you: why on 2012-05-09 14:26:44 you did that? and what were trying to do?

reinstalling

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libgl1-mesa-dev:i386 (7.11.2-1), libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 (7.11.2-1)

solves the issue in any way?

[LexMK]

Start-Date: 2012-05-09 14:26:44
Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-install-packages' sender=':1.116'
Install: libgl1-mesa-swx11:i386 (7.11.2-1, automatic), libgl1-mesa-swx11-i686:i386 (7.11.2-1), libosmesa6:i386 (7.11.2-1, automatic)
Remove: libgl1-mesa-dev:i386 (7.11.2-1), libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 (7.11.2-1)
End-Date: 2012-05-09 14:26:59

i think the problem is here (if you completely ruled out the compiz possibility)
- i don't understand why, but this day you installed and removed some mesa-related packages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_%28computer_graphics%29
the thing is, i can't see in those logs any reason for that to happen, you have to help us help you: why on 2012-05-09 14:26:44 you did that? and what were trying to do?

reinstalling

Code: Select all

libgl1-mesa-dev:i386 (7.11.2-1), libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 (7.11.2-1)

solves the issue in any way?

Doing this solved the problem. Cinnamon is now working fine.

I was trying to, well, this might sound ridiculous, but I was trying to get more FPS. As stated before, I installed Linux 686 for multi-core support and it worked fine, so I thought that using Mesa optimized for 686 would improve performance. Which it did. I had +40 fps (from +-670 to +-710) in Glxgears.

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cat /proc/pci | grep VGA || lspci | grep VGA | colrm 1 4 ; cat /proc/cpuinfo | \
egrep "model name|MHz" ; xdpyinfo | egrep "version:|dimensions|depth of" ; glxinfo | \
egrep -A2 "direct rendering|OpenGL vendor" ; uname -sr; vblank_mode=0 \
glxgears & sleep 30 ; killall glxgears

[melbo]

systems just don't go puff over the night, it has to be either an update or a change, even if to you it seems completely unrelated

This is very good advice and the reason many systems 'suddenly' go weird...
As it turns out, it was a small change that was in his apt log.

Maybe we need to add some zerozero fortunes to the terminal??

[zerozero]

Maybe we need to add some zerozero fortunes to the terminal??

[LexMK]

Still I can't understand what exactly went wrong with that package.
It's supposed to be optimized for 686. Did this because I use this computer for video editing and I have a GeForce 9500, which worked fine with the proprietary driver in Win Vista, but now it feels slow in Linux with nouveau. Guess it's time to go AMD.

[zerozero]

Lex,
gives us the output, again of

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inxi -Gx

but as user, not root. the output is different.

regarding nvidia/amd i don't know, i never used amd but what i read about it is not the greatest.

[LexMK]

Lex,
gives us the output, again of

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inxi -Gx

but as user, not root. the output is different.

regarding nvidia/amd i don't know, i never used amd but what i read about it is not the greatest.

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Graphics:  Card nVidia G84 [GeForce 9500M GS] X.Org 1.11.4 Res: 1280x800@59.9hz
           GLX Renderer Gallium 0.4 on NV84 GLX Version 2.1 Mesa 7.11.2 Direct Rendering Yes


Regarding AMD/Nvidia, this website (http://www.free3d.org/), which is the one where I found about the Glxgears "benchmark" shows that AMD cards are far better with free drivers.

[zerozero]

LexMK,
you bring a subject that is far more complex than it looks like: free drivers support vs. proprietary drivers.
i don't have a clear about the subject:
- i would love to see FOSS support to be the answer but it is still in many places (intensive 3D rendering) a short one compared to the proprietary blob.
- afaik Gallium can only go that far for now, to take full advantage of your hardware you need proprietary drivers;
- it's sad (i wish i could use my systems without them) but it's the truth (or at least the way i see it);
- in the end of the day it's your choice

[altscribe]

Still I can't understand what exactly went wrong with that package.
It's supposed to be optimized for 686. Did this because I use this computer for video editing and I have a GeForce 9500, which worked fine with the proprietary driver in Win Vista, but now it feels slow in Linux with nouveau. Guess it's time to go AMD.

Of course it's slow in Nouveau! You really want to install the "nvidia-glx" package, then run "nvidia-xconfig" to setup your xorg.conf file for things to run right. Probably want to read the documentation first, to get the steps right. It's actually pretty easy, as Nvidia installs go, and once it's installed it will automagically update as needed.

You will see a massive speed increase and have a setup that is running the way you expect. I don't think ATI makes anything under $800 as nice as the excellent card you are currently running...

There are a couple nice Nvidia utilities, particularly "nvidia-settings" that will allow you to fine tune the card for your purposes.

altscribe