[SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
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[SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Just did the UP4 install, and for a couple of reboots everything looked fine after I switched back to the Mint-X theme.
Now, though, I get my normal background (the Mint Debian screen) on the login screen, and for a few seconds after I login, but then the background goes dark purple and it won't change with the Desktop applet.
On a hunch, I removed Nautilus and all the attendant packages, and the desktop background turned black, and the icons on the desktop disappeared (despite xfce being set to show them). The difference, though, is that the background for the login screen is now black, as opposed to my chosen desktop background.
I added just Nautilus back in (and whatever other packages it loaded with it), and the desktop went back to purple and I got the icons (though they don't look the same as they did before the upgrade, and are not what xfce says they should look like). There is still no desktop background on the gdm login screen.
After quite a bit more digging, it looks like xfce wants to run Nautilus as my default file manager, despite the fact that I hadn't installed it originally, and that the preferred application is, in fact, supposed to be Thunar. I have no idea why UP4 installed it in the first place.
I am not very skilled with all the geegaws & doodads for various X window managers/desktop envirnoments, so any help would be appreciated.
MikeC
Now, though, I get my normal background (the Mint Debian screen) on the login screen, and for a few seconds after I login, but then the background goes dark purple and it won't change with the Desktop applet.
On a hunch, I removed Nautilus and all the attendant packages, and the desktop background turned black, and the icons on the desktop disappeared (despite xfce being set to show them). The difference, though, is that the background for the login screen is now black, as opposed to my chosen desktop background.
I added just Nautilus back in (and whatever other packages it loaded with it), and the desktop went back to purple and I got the icons (though they don't look the same as they did before the upgrade, and are not what xfce says they should look like). There is still no desktop background on the gdm login screen.
After quite a bit more digging, it looks like xfce wants to run Nautilus as my default file manager, despite the fact that I hadn't installed it originally, and that the preferred application is, in fact, supposed to be Thunar. I have no idea why UP4 installed it in the first place.
I am not very skilled with all the geegaws & doodads for various X window managers/desktop envirnoments, so any help would be appreciated.
MikeC
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Re: Desktop Background disappearing
Similar issue today.
LMDE/XFCE tracking Testing.
updated, and it went fine as usual, but when I opened Nautilus (I had it installed and have been using it after issues with Thunar.
My background changed to the default Mint (same as log out screen), and with icons on the desktop (I have it set for no icons on desktop).
Setting manager does NOTHING. Cannot change wallpaper, or delete icons.
LMDE/XFCE tracking Testing.
updated, and it went fine as usual, but when I opened Nautilus (I had it installed and have been using it after issues with Thunar.
My background changed to the default Mint (same as log out screen), and with icons on the desktop (I have it set for no icons on desktop).
Setting manager does NOTHING. Cannot change wallpaper, or delete icons.
Last edited by GeneC on Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Desktop Background disappearing
Nautilus was the problem here also.
Un- installed it and things back to normal. Desktop settings works again.
Re-install Nautilus -- Desktop settings broke again.
running Nautilus from terminal
Will run Thunar until I find a fix.
Un- installed it and things back to normal. Desktop settings works again.
Code: Select all
Commit Log for Tue Apr 10 20:23:09 2012
Completely removed the following packages:
nautilus
nautilus-actions
nautilus-gtkhash
python-nautilus
Removed the following packages:
file-roller
gnome-settings-daemon
gnome-sushi
nautilus-data
nautilus-image-manipulator
nautilus-open-terminal
nautilus-scripts-manager
nautilus-sendto
nautilus-wipe
running Nautilus from terminal
Code: Select all
gene@zordon:~$ nautilus
** Message: Initializing gksu extension...
Initializing nautilus-open-terminal extension
Initializing nautilus-gdu extension
(nautilus:11954): libnotify-WARNING **: Failed to connect to proxy
Re: Desktop Background disappearing
I have totally removed Nautilus (I didn't want it in the first place!), and even renamed the /home/MyUserName/.config folder and had xfce rebuild it.
Still, I get no desktop icons nor a desktop background, just black that doesn't seem to pay attention to the xfce settings. I'm sure its something simple, but I'm stumped and a bit frustrated.
I thought the whole point of the UP scheme was that things like this wouldn't happen, and if this is how its going to be I will have to look hard at going to a more truly rolling release, which is a shame because I do like LMDE XFCE when it isn't gratuitiously installing things that I didn't ask for.
MikeC
Still, I get no desktop icons nor a desktop background, just black that doesn't seem to pay attention to the xfce settings. I'm sure its something simple, but I'm stumped and a bit frustrated.
I thought the whole point of the UP scheme was that things like this wouldn't happen, and if this is how its going to be I will have to look hard at going to a more truly rolling release, which is a shame because I do like LMDE XFCE when it isn't gratuitiously installing things that I didn't ask for.
MikeC
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
OK, after sleeping on it and doing a little more research, I created a temporary login on my LMDE XFCE box, and the desktop came up normally. I then renamed my old and cruft-laden home directory (which has the remnants of at least 2 other Linux distros in it), and then renamed the temporary login's home directory for use by my normal login and laboriously copied my important files from the old home to the new home. I am pretty sure that some lingering settings from my old Ubuntu 9.10 installation (the last time I used Nautilus) was causing the problem.
I still haven't figured out why Mint-Debian-Update decided to install Nautilus. Possibly it picked up the old setups, possibly it was related to the attempt by the LMDE team to put as much Cinnamon/Mate/Gnome3 stuff into UP4 as possible. If so, then they really should take a look at whether the updater is completely appropriate for LMDE XFCE, since XFCE users aren't so concerned about the current desktop wars.
In any case, for any LMDE XFCE users out there, definitely make sure to go through the list of recommended updates and make sure you're not installing anything untoward.
Now, if only I can figure out why the 3.2 kernel wouldn't install in this round even though it looks like I have all the header files.
MikeC
I still haven't figured out why Mint-Debian-Update decided to install Nautilus. Possibly it picked up the old setups, possibly it was related to the attempt by the LMDE team to put as much Cinnamon/Mate/Gnome3 stuff into UP4 as possible. If so, then they really should take a look at whether the updater is completely appropriate for LMDE XFCE, since XFCE users aren't so concerned about the current desktop wars.
In any case, for any LMDE XFCE users out there, definitely make sure to go through the list of recommended updates and make sure you're not installing anything untoward.
Now, if only I can figure out why the 3.2 kernel wouldn't install in this round even though it looks like I have all the header files.
MikeC
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Sounds like a lot of workarounds for what should be a simple solution:
run gconf-editor
apps - nautilus - preferences
unclick "show desktop"
You can have Nautilus and your old desktop too.
Hope this solves the problem more simply.
run gconf-editor
apps - nautilus - preferences
unclick "show desktop"
You can have Nautilus and your old desktop too.
Hope this solves the problem more simply.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Like I said: I'm not good with the innards of the various desktops, but as I don't want any Gnome stuff, what I did will suit me better in the long run.drdavidk wrote:Sounds like a lot of workarounds for what should be a simple solution:
run gconf-editor
apps - nautilus - preferences
unclick "show desktop"
You can have Nautilus and your old desktop too.
Hope this solves the problem more simply.
I will try to remember it for future, though, so thanks.
MikeC
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Sounds good. I don't like the elementary-ish Nautilus (3.2.1), but like dual-pane file managers, so I haven't updated to the new Nautilus, and now mostly use Dolphin. Wish Thunar had a dual-pane function.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
posted to the New LMDE isos (Pos-UP4) in testing, I wrote:
So, I'm pulling out Nautilus (sudo apt-get remove --purge nautilus) in hopes that it will fix my issue. Will report back after reboot/log-out.
FWIW: I did a totally clean install (I didn't save my home folder -or pull in old config files).
I'm not sure I'm following the solution here, why are people talking about Nautilus and gconf-editor? I guess, more appropriately, why is Nautilus in an xfce iso? (That sounds like I'm judging -I'm not, I really just don't understand).The only issue I'm having currently is an inability to change my desktops backgrounds. I 'Menu>Settings>Settings Manager>Desktop: where you can select Monitors, 1 or 2 and select a default background image, or none, for each. The behaviour I'm used to seeing is that changes take effect immediately when selecting a new background (or none); however that isn't happening/ I seem 'stuck' with the gelsan_debian.png background. Related: I can't remove the default Icons (Home, Fs, Trash, Removable) so I'd say the issue is with all my 'Desktop Settings'.
I don't KNOW that this is related directly to the rc iso -it very well COULD be something I've pulled in since the install.Any thoughts?
So, I'm pulling out Nautilus (sudo apt-get remove --purge nautilus) in hopes that it will fix my issue. Will report back after reboot/log-out.
FWIW: I did a totally clean install (I didn't save my home folder -or pull in old config files).
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
I had no idea why mint-debian-update installed Nautilus, either; I had a straight Mint XFCE system running for nearly a year. I suspect it was probably brought in as part of the backend updates they put in for the mainline LMDE to support Gnome3/Cinnamon/MATE.fiver22 wrote:posted to the New LMDE isos (Pos-UP4) in testing, I wrote:I'm not sure I'm following the solution here, why are people talking about Nautilus and gconf-editor? I guess, more appropriately, why is Nautilus in an xfce iso? (That sounds like I'm judging -I'm not, I really just don't understand).The only issue I'm having currently is an inability to change my desktops backgrounds. I 'Menu>Settings>Settings Manager>Desktop: where you can select Monitors, 1 or 2 and select a default background image, or none, for each. The behaviour I'm used to seeing is that changes take effect immediately when selecting a new background (or none); however that isn't happening/ I seem 'stuck' with the gelsan_debian.png background. Related: I can't remove the default Icons (Home, Fs, Trash, Removable) so I'd say the issue is with all my 'Desktop Settings'.
I don't KNOW that this is related directly to the rc iso -it very well COULD be something I've pulled in since the install.Any thoughts?
So, I'm pulling out Nautilus (sudo apt-get remove --purge nautilus) in hopes that it will fix my issue. Will report back after reboot/log-out.
FWIW: I did a totally clean install (I didn't save my home folder -or pull in old config files).
In my case, removing Nautilus did not solve the issue, but I didn't have to do a full re-install. I created a temporary login with sudo privs, renamed my old home folder (which had a lot of accumulated cruft from other distros that included Gnome2 and Nautilus related settings; it may have been that mint-debian-update saw those settings and included Nautilus on the update, but that is just a wild guess on my part), created a new home folder for my normal login. When I logged back in as my normal login, I had a fresh XFCE configuration to build on and I copied all my important data from the old directory into the new one.
MikeC
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Just a follow-up:
pulling out nautilus and restarting fixed the issue. Oddness.
pulling out nautilus and restarting fixed the issue. Oddness.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Removed nautilus and I am now very happy with a minimalist desktop background. I don't know why nautilus is included in the XFCE UP4 when it will cause problems.
thank you so much to the OP who fixed a nagging issue for me.
thank you so much to the OP who fixed a nagging issue for me.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
I second this.aljoriz wrote:Removed nautilus and I am now very happy with a minimalist desktop background. I don't know why nautilus is included in the XFCE UP4 when it will cause problems.
thank you so much to the OP who fixed a nagging issue for me.
Removing nautilus and some other packages solved the problem but now the login screen has black background. Not a big problem, but just a bit annoying.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
I have no "show desktop" option in apps->Nautilus->preferencesdrdavidk wrote:Sounds like a lot of workarounds for what should be a simple solution:
run gconf-editor
apps - nautilus - preferences
unclick "show desktop"
You can have Nautilus and your old desktop too.
Hope this solves the problem more simply.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
You're right. That's been removed from gconf-editor in this edition. I just upgraded and now have the same problem. I'll post if I find a solution.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Fiver22's solution (sudo apt-get remove --purge nautilus) worked for me. Tried just removing single package "nautilus" in Synaptic, but didn't work.
Re: [SOLVED?]Desktop Background disappearing
Had the same problem with disappearing desktop image and right click menu.
Followed fiver22's nautilus purge command and got it back. Using non DE Mint on most of my computers. Gettig interesting with this Mint DE version . I just hope not too interesting. thanks fiver22.
Followed fiver22's nautilus purge command and got it back. Using non DE Mint on most of my computers. Gettig interesting with this Mint DE version . I just hope not too interesting. thanks fiver22.