Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel [SOLVED]

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linx255
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Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel [SOLVED]

Post by linx255 »

Hi,

After installing updates I don't get window handles or move or resize windows, and can't use Compiz shortcut keys, for example. The panel vanished on the left monitor and on the right monitor the applet with the network / update / volume icons vanished. Luckily I have a backup copy of my OS that's saved me from this disaster. So now I'm having to spend all day narrowing down which of the following updates is causing the problem:

mint-artwork-common 2.0.9.1
chromium-browser 65.0.3325.181-0ubuntu0.16.04.1
firefox 59.0.2+linuxmint1+sylvia
thunderbird 1:52.7.0+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1
apt 1.2.26
curl 7.47.0-1ubuntu2.7
dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.4
icu 55.1-7ubuntu0.4
initramfs-tools 0.122ubuntu8.11
intel-microcode 3.20180312.0~ubuntu16.04.1
isc-dhcp 4.3.3-5ubuntu12.10
libvorbis 1.3.5-3ubuntu0.2
lshw 02.17-1.1ubuntu3.5
openssl 1.02g-1ubuntu4.11
paramiko 1.16.0-1ubuntu0.1
pciutils 1:3.3.1-1.1ubuntu1.2
tiff 4.0.6-1ubuntu0.4
virtualbox 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2
virtualbox-guest-additions-iso 5.1.34-0ubuntu1.16.04.2

Can you help "save my day" by correctly guessing which one may be causing it?
In the mean time I'm slowly working at isolating it and will post when I find the offending update.
Thanks.
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.
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
- 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
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xenopeek
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by xenopeek »

Probably viewtopic.php?f=90&t=266478
Some users are reporting being able to login but having problems with their panel instead (the taskbar if you will). Below workaround is suggested for them as well. This was confirmed to work by several users.
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linx255
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

No, I can login fine and I don't get any error messages.

Edit: I've narrowed it down to virtualbox 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2

Attempting to narrow down to one or both...
Last edited by linx255 on Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by Moem »

linx255 wrote: Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:46 pm No, I can login fine and I don't get any error messages.
Please read the above again:
Some users are reporting being able to login but having problems with their panel instead (the taskbar if you will).
Just apply the proposed fix, or get the update that does the job for you.
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If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

Which fix would you suggest? There are many suggested fixes in that post, some claiming success, others failure, and it would take a long time to try all that. I.e. Every time an update or command hoses the system I have to reboot into my other partition and restore my main OS. And worse, if I go removing packages I may not see the consequences right away, which complicates management of the OS images I use to ensure up time.

No virtualbox package should interfere with login, mate-panel, window manager, audio, or video. If it is, I think that code is crossing boundaries and should be changed to not affect other systems.

If I remove the virtualbox packages as suggested, then I won't be able to use virtualbox right? Sorry, I'm not following.. how does the fix work?
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
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- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by xenopeek »

There's only one solution: apt remove virtualbox-guest*
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by Moem »

linx255 wrote: Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:09 pm If I remove the virtualbox packages as suggested, then I won't be able to use virtualbox right?
No, you will still be able to run a Virtualbox on Mint. These packages aren't needed for that.
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If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

apt remove virtualbox-guest* does not work. I still lose my window handles.
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- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by trytip »

do you reboot after making changes to window manager? has you switched from compiz to marco or something else and back? is the decorations checked in compiz settings?
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

Yes, problem begins and persists after reboot ( I don't think it starts during the same session, though it might if I waited long enough ). Have not changed window manager, has always been Compiz. Decorations is checked. The mate-panel gets messed up, Compiz shortcut keys don't work, and can't move any windows.
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by trytip »

i didn't ask if you used another window manager. i asked if you changed from compiz to marco and the back to compiz. if you haven't done that it means i'm suggesting you change to marco or metacity and then back to compiz
if that doesn't kickstart anything, backup your config in compiz settings > preferences > export > DON'T skip defaults then use the reset to defaults
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

Sorry I got things confused. But no, I didn't switch anything. Later I'll backup Compiz settings and try restoring after the update. BRB
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linx255
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

I backed up my Compiz settings and restored them after the update to no avail. :(
I still don't understand why installing a virtualbox update would break Compiz. What's the connection? It doesn't make any sense to me.
I looked at the terminal during the update installation and noticed nothing even mentioning Compiz.
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by trytip »

did you restore your compiz backed up settings or the default settings? have you tried marco+compton yet?
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

I restored my backed up Compiz settings. However, it gave no indication the restore operation started or completed.
I can't find how to switch to Marco and I have to work right now, but will look into it later.
Would you be so kind to furnish me with commands / procedures to switch between the two window managers?
I kind of think switching won't do anything because 'compiz --replace' doesn't even work.
Hypothesis: it doesn't seem to be a problem with the settings.
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trytip
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by trytip »

go control center > desktop settings > windows > window manager > marco+compton
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

go control center > desktop settings > windows > window manager > marco+compton
This gives me handles back but only for non-Compiz options. Compiz remains broken after the update. :( :( :(
I could sure use a hair-pulling emoticon.
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- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
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trytip
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by trytip »

in compiz settings for Window Decorations what do you have? i use emerald theme manager what do you have ? the three options are
gtk-window-decorator --replace
kde-window-decorator --replace
emerald --replace
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by linx255 »

The only setting 'Window Decoration' gives me is /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator. Will try replacing... BRB

Ok, so immediately following the update gtk-window-decorator --replace will bring back the decorations so long as the terminal is still running, but upon reboot, the decorations are gone and the command no longer works; it does nothing.

I wonder if doing something like this would help... Image
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
- 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
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trytip
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Re: Update breaks Compiz / window manager and mate-panel

Post by trytip »

seems you may have some corrupted settings or permissions.
go inside .config/dconf/ and DELETE the user file then reboot
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