[Fix available] Window manager xfwm 4.13.0 broken after last mesa update

[raffael84]

If I try to install http://ppa.launchpad.net/xubuntu-dev/st ... _amd64.deb then I get:

Error: dependency is not satisfiable: libxfconf-0-3 (>= 4.6.0)

[clem]

Thanks Raffael,

Let's forget 4.13.3.. I can reproduce the issue with 4.13.3 even though 4.13.0 works here..

Can you post your "inxi -Gxx"?

[raffael84]

T450:

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➜  ~ inxi -Gxx
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 5500 vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:1616 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1600x900~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Broadwell GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 19.0.2 compat-v: 3.0 
           direct render: Yes

Acer:

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anni@Anni-Acer:~$ inxi -Gxx
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 5500 vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           chip ID: 8086:1616 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Broadwell GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 19.0.2 compat-v: 3.0 
           direct render: Yes 

---

I have to retract my suggestion regarding this problem being specific to Thinkpads.

Because I just installed due updates on the Acer and suddenly the window manager is broken there, too, despite having run prior to the updates already with xfwm4 4.13.0. Again downgrading to 4.12.4 solved the problem.

So, it seems to be a two-component-bug with some update X breaking xfce for versions >4.12.4 and xfce running fine with versions >4.12.4 as long as the update X isn't installed.

[raffael84]

So on the Acer xfwm4 4.13.0 ran fine until I ran the updates at 11:12. This is the list of those updates from history.log - one of them apparently broke the window manager in conjunction with xfwm4 4.13.0.

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Start-Date: 2019-07-04  11:12:03
Commandline: /usr/sbin/synaptic --hide-main-window --non-interactive --parent-window-id 29360156 -o Synaptic::closeZvt=true --set-selections-file /tmp/tmpe54g4uf2
Requested-By: anni (1000)
Install: libllvm8:amd64 (1:8-3~ubuntu18.04.1, automatic), libllvm8:i386 (1:8-3~ubuntu18.04.1, automatic), libatomic1:i386 (8.3.0-6ubuntu1~18.04.1, automatic)
Upgrade: libreoffice-math:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libgles2-mesa:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libdrm-nouveau2:amd64 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libdrm-nouveau2:i386 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libreoffice-l10n-zh-cn:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-zh-tw:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libegl-mesa0:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libreoffice-gtk3:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-java-common:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-base:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-core:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libglapi-mesa:i386 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libglapi-mesa:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libreoffice-l10n-en-gb:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-en-za:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libxatracker2:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libegl1-mesa:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libreoffice-l10n-de:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-es:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-fr:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-it:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-pt:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-ru:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), python3-uno:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-pt-br:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libgbm1:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libreoffice-style-galaxy:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-base-core:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libdrm-amdgpu1:amd64 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libdrm-amdgpu1:i386 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libreoffice-ogltrans:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-impress:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-de:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-es:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-fr:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-it:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-pt:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-ru:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libwayland-egl1-mesa:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), ure:amd64 (6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-sdbc-hsqldb:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-writer:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-common:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libdrm2:amd64 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libdrm2:i386 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libgl1-mesa-dri:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libreoffice-help-zh-cn:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-zh-tw:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libgl1-mesa-glx:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), fonts-opensymbol:amd64 (2:102.10+LibO6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 2:102.10+LibO6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libdrm-intel1:amd64 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libdrm-intel1:i386 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libreoffice-pdfimport:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-l10n-pt-br:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), uno-libs3:amd64 (6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-style-tango:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libdrm-radeon1:amd64 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), libdrm-radeon1:i386 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1), linux-firmware:amd64 (1.173.6, 1.173.8), libreoffice-help-en-gb:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-help-en-us:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-gnome:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-calc:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-base-drivers:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-draw:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libreoffice-avmedia-backend-gstreamer:amd64 (1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.6, 1:6.0.7-0ubuntu0.18.04.7), libglx-mesa0:amd64 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libglx-mesa0:i386 (18.2.8-0ubuntu0~18.04.2, 19.0.2-1ubuntu1.1~18.04.1), libdrm-common:amd64 (2.4.95-1~18.04.1, 2.4.97-1ubuntu1~18.04.1)
End-Date: 2019-07-04  11:16:37

[arsivci]

As requested:

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ars@callisto:~$ inxi -Gxx
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics 
  vendor: Toshiba America Info Systems driver: i915 v: kernel 
  bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0106 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Sandybridge Mobile v: 3.3 Mesa 19.0.2 
  compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 

peace,
t

[arsivci]

Restored system with timeshift (just to see what it does, never used it before), re-upgraded everything except the last mesa. Everything is peachy now.

[xenolith]

Ditto here. Massively annoying.

Panel disappeared. Windows not resizing; no window resize/close buttons. Tried to tweak around with the window manager settings but to no avail

[mrenderby]

I had similar Problems since this morning with my lenevo T420.

Downgrade to 4.12 with "apt install xfwm4=4.12.4-0ubuntu1" did help and everything is working again. Thanks a lot!!

Here's the inxi -Gxx:

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Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics 
  vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0126 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1600x900~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Sandybridge Mobile v: 3.3 Mesa 19.0.2 
  compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 

[PeDePano]

Hello! I'm having the exactly same issue with my Linux Mint 19.1 XFCE installation. After yesterday's update and reboot my xfwm4+Compositing just stopped working. Thanks god this community is so active, so we already have a thread here. Going to Desktop Settings and selecting just "xfwm4" and then rebooting again "solved" the problem. This problem is not just a Thinkpad problem, I have a Asus X450LA notebook.

I believe that this is somehow related to mesa driver because, 2 weeks ago or so I tried to get a newer driver version by adding the following repo and updating:

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sudo add-apt-repository ppa:paulo-miguel-dias/pkppa

The result, after rebooting with my new driver, were the same I'm having right now. So I just reinstalled Linux Mint, this time keeping the distro drivers.

Now, as I said, by using only "xfwm4", I can have my computer working but, no transparencies, animations just solid colors everywhere.

Here is the output from "inxi -Gxx" as requested

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Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics vendor: ASUSTeK 
  driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0a16 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell Mobile v: 4.5 Mesa 19.0.2 
  compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 

[clem]

OK we know what's going on.

The issue is described at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... ug/1835315. The latest MESA update is using LLVM8 and doesn't play nice with some software. We don't really know what else it breaks, but we know it breaks XFWM4 4.13 and doesn't affect XFWM 4.12 on Intel hardware.

Until this is fixed upstream, we're downgrading XFWM4 from version 4.13 to version 4.12 via a package update in Linux Mint 19 and 19.1: xfwm4_4.13.0-2~downgrade-4.12.5-1ubuntu0.18.04.1+tara. This update is live on the main repository and will be live in the mirrors shortly.

[macr1408]

Changing from "Xfwm4 + Compositing" to "Xfwm4 + Compton" seems to restore basic operation for me... fingers crossed.

For others encountering this problem like myself who also didn't know how to "try switching to compton", here were the steps that I used.

Boot the computer, and log in. If the start menu doesn't work (which is often), Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get a terminal window and "sudo shutdown -r now" to reboot the computer again.

When the start menu finally happens to work, pick Settings -> Desktop Settings.

In the resultant window, under Window Manager (only header I see), change the "Manager" setting from "Xfwm4 + Compositing" to "Xfwm4 + Compton" and click "Close".

Restart computer again.

At this point, it appears to operate like it did prior to the "mesa" package updating.

As another data point, I have another Linux Mint 19.1 XFCE machine (same T510 hardware) that had not been exposed to the latest updates. I updated everything but the "mesa" package, and it works as is (using the install default of "Xfwm4 + Compositing").

Wow this really saved my day! I came to work and lost around 3 hours trying to solve this problem. Thank you. I was thinking about getting rid of xfce (and even Mint) but gladly saw this thread.

[Gannet]

I have two PCs running Linux Mint 19.1. Both developed this problem over the last 24 hours after a mint update. The way I solved the problem was to downgrade the window manager, xfwm4, as follows:

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$ sudo apt-get install xfwm4=4.12.5-1ubuntu0.18.04.1

It was difficult to do because the menu's had disappeared and [ctrl]+[alt]+T had stopped working. I was able to lunch Firefox by opening another terminal with [ctrl]+[alt]+[F2] and starting firefox with

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$ firefox --display=:0

I was then able to switch back to my menuless desktop with [ctrl]+[alt]+[F7]. This allowed me to research the problem including these posts. I then opened another terminal with [ctrl]+[alt]+[F3] to enter the commands. Before updating using the code above, I checked the current version and available versions with

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$ apt-cache policy xfwm4

This told me that I was running xfwm4 V4.13.0-1mint1+tara and I used the version below this in the list to downgrade. Please do this check first before downgrading as you may be experiencing a similar problem with a different cause.

This downgrade resulted in xfwm4 reappearing on the Mint Update Manager. I right clicked it and selected "Ignore updates for this package". I have tested this for a wee while and it seems to have worked. I thought to post this straight away as a lot of others may be struggling with the same problem. I fixed my laptop the same way but in this case I was able to use [ctrl]+[alt]+T to open a terminal. This made things a bit easier. Here is the link that pointed me in the right direction. :

https://translate.google.co.uk/translat ... rev=search

Here clem and mrenderby suggested the solution. My contribution is just a "how to" as the a lot of the functionality in xfce was lost. I am not an expert. I'm passing on my solution but if anyone with better understanding can add something, I would appreciate it. I'll post if I find anything further.

[PeDePano]

OK we know what's going on.

The issue is described at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... ug/1835315. The latest MESA update is using LLVM8 and doesn't play nice with some software. We don't really know what else it breaks, but we know it breaks XFWM4 4.13 and doesn't affect XFWM 4.12 on Intel hardware.

Until this is fixed upstream, we're downgrading XFWM4 from version 4.13 to version 4.12 via a package update in Linux Mint 19 and 19.1: xfwm4_4.13.0-2~downgrade-4.12.5-1ubuntu0.18.04.1+tara. This update is live on the main repository and will be live in the mirrors shortly.

Just updated and everything seems to be working fine here with "xfwm4+Compositing" option in Desktop Settings. Ty so much for the quick response and congrats to mesa team, they managed to break XFCE, what seems to be kinda hard to do .

[rodrigosantellan]

OK we know what's going on.

The issue is described at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... ug/1835315. The latest MESA update is using LLVM8 and doesn't play nice with some software. We don't really know what else it breaks, but we know it breaks XFWM4 4.13 and doesn't affect XFWM 4.12 on Intel hardware.

Until this is fixed upstream, we're downgrading XFWM4 from version 4.13 to version 4.12 via a package update in Linux Mint 19 and 19.1: xfwm4_4.13.0-2~downgrade-4.12.5-1ubuntu0.18.04.1+tara. This update is live on the main repository and will be live in the mirrors shortly.

I just installed the downgraded package and reverted the configurations I had done and now all is working as expected again!

The code for inxi -Gxx is:

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Graphics:  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 620 vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:5916 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
           resolution: 1366x768~60Hz, 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 620 (Kaby Lake GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 19.0.2 compat-v: 3.0 
           direct render: Yes 

Thanks a lot for help and the rapid response of the team so I'm able to get my desktop running again!
Regards

[trytip]

find out which LLVM you have DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"
install the mesa which is being developed https://launchpad.net/~oibaf/+archive/u ... cs-drivers

the one drawback you get a mesa upgrade almost everyday, but at least bugs are being worked on, or i should say they are being worked on.

i should have to say use timeshift to create a restore snapshot before making any system changes

[linxmintq]

find out which LLVM you have DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"
install the mesa which is being developed https://launchpad.net/~oibaf/+archive/u ... cs-drivers

the one draw you get a mesa upgrade almost everyday, but at least bugs are being worked on, or i should say they are being worked on.

i should have to say use timeshift to create a restore snapshot before making any system changes

But until that, I won't update systemd, which ruined my system and I had to restore the system back to an earlier date.

Note:
The system only detects xfwm4_4.13.0-2 installed, and there is no other in the repositories.

[Crippled]

The latest update on 7/4/2019 reverts back to xfce 4.12.3. Since I didn't have any issues with xfce 4.13, I am not reverting back to xfce 4.12.3.

[rodrigosantellan]

find out which LLVM you have DRI_PRIME=1 glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"
install the mesa which is being developed https://launchpad.net/~oibaf/+archive/u ... cs-drivers

the one drawback you get a mesa upgrade almost everyday, but at least bugs are being worked on, or i should say they are being worked on.

i should have to say use timeshift to create a restore snapshot before making any system changes

For me is a little unsafe this solution because it's my working machine, I choose mint because the stability and not having to worry about cutting edge.
Regards.

[Gannet]

Just checked. The downgraded update is now in Update Manager for LM19.

[OunceofCommonSense]

I didn't realize that there was a downgrade available until I installed Cinnamon DE on top of my XFCE mint install. Cinnamon seems to work but I can't get back into XFCE. If I log out and select XFCE it goes straight to Cinnamon DE