Compiz won't start! [Solved]

[alonsoty]

sorry for incomplete informations...
With "same problem" I mean that Compiz did not start and an attempt to run it from terminal produces the same error:
>Failed to load pugin "yes"<.

Surely the problem is the faulty skel package; in fact deleting the content of compiz config files on my main Sabayon system also shows this issue... and Compiz try to load the infamous "yes" plugin...

[cmost]

Alonsoty, what should I do to test your theory on my system? From where might I copy "good" config files back to ~/.config/compiz/ ?

Alternately, how might I go about completely obliterating the existing compiz directories and configuration files and then re-installing (recreating) everything from scratch? I'm at my wits end here. Thanks!

[alonsoty]

Hi, try stop fusion-icon process and then copy all files from /etc/skel/.config/compiz
to your ~/.config/compiz folder...
then restart fusion-icon.

Alternatively you can use my files in the previous post

[cmost]

OMG! Alonsoty you are a freaking genius!! I did exactly as you suggested and Compiz finally works again! Your tip solved it after weeks of researching!!! You have my gratitude and thanks! Good work! Now I won't have to reinstall my entire system from scratch. I hate "killing" the patient to cure the disease!

[alonsoty]

Wow, thanks!
I'm glad you've solved, but actually Joost had realized what's the real cause of problem for first!

I hate "killing" the patient to cure the disease!

I know a little something

Ciao

[joost]

The only one that actually gave the correct solution was Fitz in his first post.
Nevertheless glad it is resolved, and scary that compiz seems so fragile.

[cmost]

The only one that actually gave the correct solution was Fitz in his first post.
Nevertheless glad it is resolved, and scary that compiz seems so fragile.

I realize now that Fitz had the solution, but he didn't say HOW (exactly) to recover the files and neither did the post he linked (which I had already found.) I'm afraid that even after eight years on Linux, I'm not an expert on the underpinnings; until today, I didn't know what was in the /etc/skel/ directory. But as you say it turned out okay in the end. Thanks for all the help guys!!

[nomad]

I have recently installed 5.5 KDE into a test box: Intel DG33BUC, E6550, 4gb RAM, ASUS 210 video card.

When fusion-icon is started in the terminal, I received this:

===
* Detected Session: kde
* Searching for installed applications...
* No GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap with direct rendering context
... nor with indirect rendering, this isn't going to work!
* Using the GTK Interface
* No module named gtk
... Trying another interface
* Using the Qt4 Interface
* Interface not installed
... Trying another interface
* Using the Qt3 Interface
* Interface not installed
*** Error: All interfaces failed, aborting!
===

I have tried re-install of compiz-fusion, deleting the compiz directory, copied from the /skel directory, re-sintalling compiz-fusion again. Checked for python, opengl and nvidia:

===
xuan3 .config # eselect opengl set nvidia
Switching to nvidia OpenGL interface... done

xuan3 .config # eselect python list
Available Python interpreters:
[1] python2.6
[2] python2.7 *
===

But to avail. Then when I run 'nvidia-settings' and click on 'OpenGL/GLX Information', the nvidia-settings window crash and the terminal display this message:

===
The program 'nvidia-settings' received an X Window System error.
This probably reflects a bug in the program.
The error was 'BadWindow (invalid Window parameter)'.
(Details: serial 258 error_code 3 request_code 137 minor_code 4)
(Note to programmers: normally, X errors are reported asynchronously;
that is, you will receive the error a while after causing it.
To debug your program, run it with the --sync command line
option to change this behavior. You can then get a meaningful
backtrace from your debugger if you break on the gdk_x_error() function.)
===

Ran 'glxinfo' and received:

===
name of display: :0
X Error of failed request: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter)
Major opcode of failed request: 137 (NV-GLX)
Minor opcode of failed request: 4 ()
Resource id in failed request: 0x5200003
Serial number of failed request: 31
Current serial number in output stream: 31
===

Anyone has any explanation/solution? Thnx.

[alonsoty]

Hi, seems you don't have a GLX estension loaded in your Module section of /etc/X11/xorg.conf file... can you post the content of this file? Please insert it use Code tag.

With relative old NVidia hardware I've experienced a very strange problems:
Try also remove vga=xxx in your kernel boot parameter

This is my xorg.conf on a Acer laptop:

Code: Select all

#############################
Section "InputClass"
   Identifier "evdev keyboard catchall"
   MatchIsKeyboard "on"
   MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
   Driver "evdev"
   Option "XkbModel" "acer_laptop"
   Option "XkbLayout" "it"
   Option "XkbOptions" "terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Module"
   SubSection "extmod"
      Option "omit xfree86-dga"
   EndSubSection
   Load "i2c"
   Load "ddc"
   Load "vbe"
#   Load "dri"
   Load "glx"
   Load "synaptics"
   Disable "dri"
   Disable "dri2"
EndSection

#############################
Section "ServerFlags"
   Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Monitor"
   Identifier "Generic Monitor"
   VendorName "Unknown"
   ModelName "AUO"
   HorizSync 30.0 - 75.0
   VertRefresh 60.0
   Option "DPMS"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Device"
   Identifier "SabayonVga0"
   Driver "nvidia"
   VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
   BoardName "GeForce 8600M GT"
#   BusID "PCI:01:00"
#   Option "RenderAccel" "on"
#   Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"
#   Option "BusType" "PCI"
#   Option "ColorTiling" "on"
#   Option "EnablePageFlip" "on"
#   Option "LogoPath" "/usr/share/backgrounds/sabayonlinux-nvidia.png"
   Option "NoLogo" "true"
   Option "UseEvents" "true"
EndSection
   
#############################
Section "Screen"
   Identifier "Screen 0"
   Device "SabayonVga0"
   Monitor "Generic Monitor"
#!   Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
   Option "TwinView" "0"
   Option "metamodes" "1280x800_60 +0+0"
   DefaultDepth 24

   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      24
      ViewPort   0 0
      Modes      "1280x800"
   EndSubsection
EndSection

#############################
#Section "DRI"
#   mode 0666
#   group "video"
#EndSection

#############################
Section "ServerLayout"
   Identifier "Main Layout"
   Screen 0 "Screen 0"
   Option "AIGLX" "on"
   Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Extensions"
#   Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection


try also to search for error in your Xorg.0.log file:

Code: Select all

$ cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep "(EE)"

[nomad]

Hi, seems you don't have a GLX estension loaded in your Module section of /etc/X11/xorg.conf file... can you post the content of this file? Please insert it use Code tag.

With relative old NVidia hardware I've experienced a very strange problems:
Try also remove vga=xxx in your kernel boot parameter

This is my xorg.conf on a Acer laptop:

Code: Select all

#############################
Section "InputClass"
   Identifier "evdev keyboard catchall"
   MatchIsKeyboard "on"
   MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
   Driver "evdev"
   Option "XkbModel" "acer_laptop"
   Option "XkbLayout" "it"
   Option "XkbOptions" "terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Module"
   SubSection "extmod"
      Option "omit xfree86-dga"
   EndSubSection
   Load "i2c"
   Load "ddc"
   Load "vbe"
#   Load "dri"
   Load "glx"
   Load "synaptics"
   Disable "dri"
   Disable "dri2"
EndSection

#############################
Section "ServerFlags"
   Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Monitor"
   Identifier "Generic Monitor"
   VendorName "Unknown"
   ModelName "AUO"
   HorizSync 30.0 - 75.0
   VertRefresh 60.0
   Option "DPMS"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Device"
   Identifier "SabayonVga0"
   Driver "nvidia"
   VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
   BoardName "GeForce 8600M GT"
#   BusID "PCI:01:00"
#   Option "RenderAccel" "on"
#   Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"
#   Option "BusType" "PCI"
#   Option "ColorTiling" "on"
#   Option "EnablePageFlip" "on"
#   Option "LogoPath" "/usr/share/backgrounds/sabayonlinux-nvidia.png"
   Option "NoLogo" "true"
   Option "UseEvents" "true"
EndSection
   
#############################
Section "Screen"
   Identifier "Screen 0"
   Device "SabayonVga0"
   Monitor "Generic Monitor"
#!   Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
   Option "TwinView" "0"
   Option "metamodes" "1280x800_60 +0+0"
   DefaultDepth 24

   SubSection "Display"
      Depth      24
      ViewPort   0 0
      Modes      "1280x800"
   EndSubsection
EndSection

#############################
#Section "DRI"
#   mode 0666
#   group "video"
#EndSection

#############################
Section "ServerLayout"
   Identifier "Main Layout"
   Screen 0 "Screen 0"
   Option "AIGLX" "on"
   Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

#############################
Section "Extensions"
#   Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection


try also to search for error in your Xorg.0.log file:

Code: Select all

$ cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep "(EE)"

Thnx for your assistance.

The GLX module is loaded and has been so all this time. Your xorg.conf file is essentially the same as my test box's. Anyway, I managed to 'fix' the problem by doing a complete re-install (4th), did the update/upgrade which was an overnight process, and got compiz-fusion running, except now I cannot save any settings in the config manager. I wanted to autoraise any window with zero delay and that adjustment simply would not save. I can remember back in the 3x and 4x days when compiz was installed, started, and ran without any intervention from me. Now it looks like more work is required.

Here is my test box which used to be my main box:

- DB33BUC
- E6550
- 4gb RAM
- ASUS 210 (NVIDIA)
- sda for /
- sdb for /home

The hardware is hardly 'gaming' capable but neither is it so dated. I was so surprised and pleased at how easy SL installed and ran with the above hardware configuration that SL have been the distro that I used the longest and earned my loyalty over the years over the others. At work, I switch between WXP and Fedora by the hour so at home, I just wanted to fire up my Linux box and use it.

Here is a good article that I hope the Linux community will take as constructive criticism...

http://samiam.org/blog/20110529.html

The bottom line is this: I'm a married man today. I really don't have time to struggle with poorly documented programs which don't give out helpful error messages and require source-level hacking to figure out what the !@#$ is going on.

There is a reason why Windows, not Linux, is my primary desktop OS.

Someone a long time ago made a very insightful comment about the PC: That people use the PC for the applications they need, not for the OS itself. The bottom line is this: Not all of us Linux advocates are source-level hackers. As much as there are flaws with Windows regardless of versions, Linux cannot compete against the MS behemoth by having the same or similar issues and then tell people to edit this and that config file after 'RTFM'. My WXP box was in basement storage until my G/F dug it out for her use.

The 4th re-install of SL 5.5 can be said to require several hours because even though the initial installation took only a couple of coffee cups, I had to perform that update/upgrade process afterwards. Else as in experimenting with the other 3 times, if I install just a simple editor like kate, I would be forced to update over 400 packages and when done the installation broke with different issues, from no X server to desktop related problems. So for the 4th attempt, I had to perform that update/upgrade process, which was done overnight, then I was able to install the few programs that I wanted, which was not demanding: evince, kate, gimp, compiz, and vim.

In my experience with the above hardware, SL was the first distro that I used with barely a thought of concerns about installing the OS, the programs I wanted, and ease of use afterwards. That confidence is slipping.