VLC and Mint 19.3 Mate

[ChrisC]

I recently upgraded from Mint 17 to Mint 19.3 (Mate desktop in both instances) and have a problem with the VLC media player (and one or two other applications). The problem is that when I open VLC the menu bar appears as shown in the attached screenshot. Clicking on the commands produces a black rectangle instead of the drop-down menu and none of the commands are visible. VLC does work to some extent, in that it will autostart when a DVD is put into the drive and ISO files also work but that's about the extent of it. I have looked at the VideoLAN website and forums but requests for assistance there have met with no response. I have uninstalled VLC and have purged the files (apt-get purge etc) and have reinstalled it but the problem persists. I used VLC with Mint 17 for about four years and found it to be an excellent piece of software - indeed, I much prefer it to Celluloid. I have had a very similar problem with KolourPaint. Does anyone know of a solution to this problem?

Chris

[greenpossum]

Hi, I suggest you provide more info so that other users of VLC on MATE 19.x can compare their environment with yours.

1. inxi -Fxxxrz
2. Version of VLC. How and from where did you install it?
3. What other apps on MATE are experiencing this problem? What's the connection between them?

VLC uses Qt.

Qt is a free and open-source widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces as well as cross-platform applications that run on various software and hardware platforms such as Linux, Windows, ...

To find out if the other apps experiencing this problem are also Qt based.
Open Synaptic Manager and locate the app package. (right-click) -> Properties then 'Dependencies' tab. Look for libqt*

[ChrisC]

OK - thanks Greenpossum. The details are as follows:

1) inxi -Fxxxrz produces this information:
System:
Host: chris Kernel: 5.3.0-40-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc
v: 7.4.0 Desktop: MATE 1.22.2 info: mate-panel wm: marco 1.22.3
dm: LightDM 1.26.0 Distro: Linux Mint 19.3 Tricia
base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic
Machine:
Type: Desktop System: Gigabyte product: N/A v: N/A serial: <filter>
Chassis: type: 3 serial: <filter>
Mobo: Gigabyte model: X79-UD3 v: x.x serial: <filter>
BIOS: American Megatrends v: F15 date: 08/30/2013
CPU:
Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-4820K bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Ivy Bridge rev: 4 L2 cache: 10.0 MiB
flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 59202
Speed: 1200 MHz min/max: 1200/3900 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1201 2: 1201
3: 1200 4: 1200 5: 1200 6: 1200 7: 1200 8: 1201
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GK107 [GeForce GTX 650] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: nvidia v: 435.21 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 10de:0fc6
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.5 driver: nvidia
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa compositor: marco v: 1.22.3
resolution: 1920x1200~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 650/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 435.21
direct render: Yes
Audio:
Device-1: Intel C600/X79 series High Definition Audio vendor: Gigabyte
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:1d20
Device-2: NVIDIA GK107 HDMI Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 02:00.1 chip ID: 10de:0e1b
Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.3.0-40-generic
Network:
Device-1: Intel 82579V Gigabit Network vendor: Gigabyte driver: e1000e
v: 3.2.6-k port: f040 bus ID: 00:19.0 chip ID: 8086:1503
IF: eno1 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: tun0 state: unknown speed: 10 Mbps duplex: full mac: N/A
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 2.73 TiB used: 1014.31 GiB (36.3%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Toshiba model: DT01ACA100 size: 931.51 GiB
speed: 6.0 Gb/s rotation: 7200 rpm serial: <filter> rev: A750 scheme: MBR
ID-2: /dev/sdd type: USB vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM001-1ER164
size: 1.82 TiB rotation: 7200 rpm serial: <filter> rev: 9401 scheme: GPT
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 91.17 GiB used: 52.83 GiB (58.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 29.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 31 C
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 40%
Repos:
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth-pro.list
1: deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list
1: deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com tricia main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic main restricted universe multiverse
3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates main restricted universe multiverse
4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-security main restricted universe multiverse
6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ bionic partner
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list
1: deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.skype.com/deb stable main
Info:
Processes: 247 Uptime: 2h 21m Memory: 7.69 GiB used: 1.89 GiB (24.6%)
Init: systemd v: 237 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.5.0 alt: 7 Shell: bash
v: 4.4.20 running in: mate-terminal inxi: 3.0.32

2) The current version of VLC is 3.0.8-0ubuntu18.04.1 I originally installed it from the Mint repository and having uninstalled and purged that version, I reinstalled it from the link on the VLAN website which took me here : https://community.linuxmint.com/software/view/vlc

3) KolourPaint is the only other app which has exactly the same problem as VLC but WPS Writer has a problem which may or may not be connected - the drop-down menus have square symbols where there should be words.

As for the Qt / libqt issue - I'm not quite certain I understand what you mean here. I have looked in the Package Manager and there are many libqt*** entries but I am not sure which one(s) are associated with VLC.

Does that help?
Chris

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Have you made any settings in VLC? If you click on Tools at the top of your screen, there is an entry for Preferences you can click on to change settings. Also, clicking on View give a choice of more settings.

There are a huge number of options in the settings so it make take a while to figure out what works best for you (I've been using VLC for years and I still learn something new about it from time to time). There are articles and videos available online to help with this.

[greenpossum]

Thanks for the additional info.
VLC, Kolourpaint and WPS writer are all based on the Qt GUI framework and require the Qt5 libs which are pre-installed with linux mint.
I suspect something has gone wrong with your upgrade from Mate 17.x to 18.3 and then from 18.3 to 19.3 leaving the libraries in an indeterminate state. This brings into question the integrity of your linux installation.
Instead of spending time trying to fixup the libs, I think it would be better in the long run if you were to backup your data and perform an install of 19.3 from scratch. A test you should do before installing to disk, is boot into the Live Mate 19.3 DVD/USB (installs into RAM) and then establish a connection to the internet. Start the Software Manager, install VLC and confirm that the main window and menus display as expected.

[deepakdeshp]

You can try purging and reinstall of vlc.

[ChrisC]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I shall look into them in detail but here are a few initial comments:

I have uninstalled and purged VLC a couple of times to no effect - same with Kolourpaint.

I installed Mint 19.3 from scratch - I didn't upgrade from 17 via 18 to 19 but installed 19.3 directly from a new download soon after it was released. I even tried a new install of 19.3 Cinnamon to see if that would work but it made no difference and I subsequently reinstalled 19.3 Mate again. However, I will look again at the installation and will certainly consider backing up and re-installing, maybe from a new download.

Many thanks for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.
Chris

[deepakdeshp]

You don't need another download. Verify the iso.
https://linuxmint.com/verify.php

[MrEen]

Change your theme. I get that with some themes. The one you're using is probably too old. Of course, the ones I get that same menu issue with are the best looking themes (for me) but I can't put up with that menu.

[pbear]

Two other suggestions, though I like MrEen's a lot.

First, try the 4.15 kernel. As you probably know, install from Update Manager, reboot, and select from Grub menu - Advanced Options.

Second, I notice you have an Nvidia graphics adapter. Have you pursued that angle?

[ChrisC]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have verified the ISO and all seems to be in order.

I have tried changing the theme (using the Control Centre - Appearance) but whichever one I try seems to make no difference. I currently have Mint-Y-Darker installed.

I'm slightly nervous about updating the kernel. I currently have 5.3.0-40-generic x86_64 installed but 5.3.0.46.102 is in the update manager although this comes with a warning 'Do be cautious' which so far I have heeded to the extent of installing all the available updates except the new kernel. VLC worked perfectly with Mint 17 although this presumably used an older kernel - although I'm not sure whether that's relevant. I'll have to look into this in more detail.

Chris

[ChrisC]

pbear - I have not investigated the Nvidia graphics adaptor - as with the kernel issue it's a bit beyond my level of understanding. All I can say is that I was using exactly the same machine with Mint 17 and there were no problems at all. But I wonder if that's relevant.

Chris

[pbear]

... I wonder if that's relevant.

Indeed, that's why I suggested you try an earlier kernel than the one you're using now. Easy to do.
Understand, installing a kernel does not remove the old one. There's no risk to trying this.

[ChrisC]

I have tried using an earlier kernel (4.15.0-96) but without success. I am now back with 5.3.0-46. I have also tried various themes, again, without the changes making any difference to the problem. Do the Qt5 settings (which also seem to affect the appearance of the desktop) have any relevance?

ChrisC

[pbear]

VLC works fine for me in Mate, so I'm rather more inclined to suspect it's an Nvidia issue (second candidate mentioned earlier).
.

[MrEen]

pbear, are you running marco? I'm wondering if the compositor could also be a culprit.

[pbear]

pbear, are you running marco? I'm wondering if the compositor could also be a culprit.

Who is marco? Does it matter 19.1 vs. 19.3? My main system is 19.1 (where VLC is my main media player). To test in 19.3, I had to use VBox, and VLC had to be installed. Still have that test box available (did it as a snapshot), so can answer the question. Just don't know where to look.

[MrEen]

pbear, are you running marco? I'm wondering if the compositor could also be a culprit.

Who is marco? Does it matter 19.1 vs. 19.3? My main system is 19.1 (where VLC is my main media player). To test in 19.3, I had to use VBox, and VLC had to be installed. Still have that test box available (did it as a snapshot), so can answer the question. Just don't know where to look.

I was referring to this:

Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GK107 [GeForce GTX 650] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: nvidia v: 435.21 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 10de:0fc6
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.5 driver: nvidia
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa compositor: marco v: 1.22.3
resolution: 1920x1200~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 650/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 435.21

I would imagine in the Window Manager settings there are compositor settings. For Xfce, it's actually Desktop Settings where the WM can be selected with or without a compositor.

[pbear]

Nothing like that, no. For example:

Code: Select all

pbear@vbox-mate-19-3:~$ inxi -SMG
System:    Host: vbox-mate-19-3 Kernel: 5.3.0-46-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: MATE 1.22.2 Distro: Linux Mint 19.3 Tricia 
Machine:   Type: Virtualbox System: innotek product: VirtualBox v: 1.2 serial: <root required> 
           Mobo: Oracle model: VirtualBox v: 1.2 serial: <root required> BIOS: innotek v: VirtualBox date: 12/01/2006 
Graphics:  Device-1: VMware SVGA II Adapter driver: vmwgfx v: 2.15.0.0 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.5 driver: vmware unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1366x669~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 9.0 128 bits) v: 3.3 Mesa 19.2.8 

Again, is there likely any difference between 19.1 and 19.3, on any of Marco, VLC, or Nvidia? Does it matter whether the OP got to 19.3 by upgrade?

[kukamuumuka]

Delete or rename $HOME/.config/vlc
https://wiki.videolan.org/Preferences/