Gnome3 behaves like Gnome2

someshpr · 02-10-2015, 03:16 PM

Hello,

I recently installed Debian wheezy from a DVD (that was written almost a year and half ago) to my desktop.
The DVD install was a minimal one, so after installation I updated the system and installed gnome

Code:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install gnome

But after reboot, my gnome looks and behaves like old gnome2! If I go to https://extensions.gnome.org, all the extensions are grayed-out. However, if I check shell version, it says 3.4.2

Code:

$ gnome-shell --version
GNOME Shell 3.4.2
$ cat /etc/issue
Debian GNU/Linux 7 \n \l

Can anyone please point to me what is going on or where should I look for possible errors?

I have used this DVD to install Debian on couple of laptops before following the same steps I did this time. And every time after installing gnome, I have gnome3. So I know that this works.

TIA,

widget · 02-10-2015, 04:54 PM

You have Gnome 3 installed.

There is something lacking in your hardware that makes Gnome Shell not function correctly. Therefore when you boot you are getting "fallback mode" which is more similar to the Gnome 2 panels DE but if you check it doesn't have full functionality of that DE.

Your laptops don't need augmentation of non free firmware or their hardware is simply up to date enough to handle it.

You, hopefully, will need simply the firmware-linux-nonfree package which is easiest to get and keep the package upgraded by installing the packge firmware-linux. That is a meta package that delivers both firmware-linux-free and firmware-linux-nonfree.

You may want to check to see if firmware-linux-free is installed. If not it may do the trick without the need for the nonfree components.

someshpr · 02-10-2015, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widget

You have Gnome 3 installed.

There is something lacking in your hardware that makes Gnome Shell not function correctly. Therefore when you boot you are getting "fallback mode" which is more similar to the Gnome 2 panels DE but if you check it doesn't have full functionality of that DE.

Your laptops don't need augmentation of non free firmware or their hardware is simply up to date enough to handle it.

You, hopefully, will need simply the firmware-linux-nonfree package which is easiest to get and keep the package upgraded by installing the packge firmware-linux. That is a meta package that delivers both firmware-linux-free and firmware-linux-nonfree.

You may want to check to see if firmware-linux-free is installed. If not it may do the trick without the need for the nonfree components.

Thanks widget!
You were right about the firmware: firmware-linux-free was installed, but firmware-linux-nonfree was not, and I installed firmware-linux after adding wheezy-backports non-free to my apt sources. That gave me errors like "Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/rtl_nic/rtl8168d-1.fw." So I installed firmware-realtek following a Google search. Then while reboot I saw a message flash by something like ar3k and AthrBT missing. So I googled and installed firmware-atheros.

But the problem remains.

Is there a way I can find out which firmware is missing or misbehaving?

TIA

widget · 02-11-2015, 06:22 AM

The firmware you installed is common enough and the packages big enough to be packaged in their own individual packages. I still think it would be good to install the non free package.

However you should probably take a look at what it actually contains before you do it.

I should have mentioned that but wasn't sure how much experience you actually had. Sorry.

I would;

Code:

apt-cache show firmware-linux-nonfree

and check it against your hardware.

Obviously it is not going to help if you don't have the supported hardware. Easiest way to test this for an inexperienced user is to install the bugger and see if it helps.

If you are using a Radeon card I suspect it may help you. nVidia not so much. Intel possibly.

Long list.

someshpr · 02-11-2015, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widget

The firmware you installed is common enough and the packages big enough to be packaged in their own individual packages. I still think it would be good to install the non free package.

However you should probably take a look at what it actually contains before you do it.

I should have mentioned that but wasn't sure how much experience you actually had. Sorry.

I would;

Code:

apt-cache show firmware-linux-nonfree

and check it against your hardware.

Obviously it is not going to help if you don't have the supported hardware. Easiest way to test this for an inexperienced user is to install the bugger and see if it helps.

If you are using a Radeon card I suspect it may help you. nVidia not so much. Intel possibly.

Long list.

Sorry I forgot to mention, I had already installed firmware-linux and firmware-linux-nonfree. AFAIK, this machine has Intel graphics that comes with Core i5-4440, Realtek audio and network.

Is there a way to find out which firmware I am missing?

TIA,

someshpr · 02-11-2015, 10:08 AM

This is the .xsession-errors:

Code:

/etc/gdm3/Xsession: Beginning session setup...
localuser:somesh being added to access control list
openConnection: connect: No such file or directory
cannot connect to brltty at :0
gnome-session-is-accelerated: No hardware 3D support.
gnome-session-check-accelerated: Helper exited with code 256
gnome-session[3513]: WARNING: Session 'gnome' runnable check failed: Exited with code 1
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC/ssh
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC/ssh
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC/ssh
GPG_AGENT_INFO=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-bLS1tC/gpg:0:1

(gnome-settings-daemon:3591): color-plugin-WARNING **: failed to get edid: unable to get EDID for output

(gnome-settings-daemon:3591): color-plugin-WARNING **: unable to get EDID for xrandr-default: unable to get EDID for output

(gnome-settings-daemon:3591): color-plugin-WARNING **: failed to reset xrandr-default gamma tables: gamma size is zero

(gnome-panel:3635): Gtk-CRITICAL **: gtk_accelerator_parse_with_keycode: assertion `accelerator != NULL' failed

** (gnome-panel:3635): WARNING **: Unable to parse mouse modifier '(null)'

** Message: applet now removed from the notification area
Initializing tracker-store...
Tracker-Message: Setting up monitor for changes to config file:'/home/somesh/.config/tracker/tracker-store.cfg'
Initializing tracker-miner-fs...
Tracker-Message: Setting up monitor for changes to config file:'/home/somesh/.config/tracker/tracker-miner-fs.cfg'
Starting log:
  File:'/home/somesh/.local/share/tracker/tracker-miner-fs.log'
Tracker-Message: Setting up monitor for changes to config file:'/home/somesh/.config/tracker/tracker-store.cfg'
Starting log:
  File:'/home/somesh/.local/share/tracker/tracker-store.log'

(gnome-panel:3635): Gtk-CRITICAL **: gtk_accelerator_parse_with_keycode: assertion `accelerator != NULL' failed

** (gnome-panel:3635): WARNING **: Unable to parse mouse modifier '(null)'


(gnome-panel:3635): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: /tmp/buildd/glib2.0-2.33.12+really2.32.4/./gobject/gsignal.c:2459: signal `size_request' is invalid for instance `0x1bacb40'
** Message: applet now embedded in the notification area

Is it something to do with the runable check failure?

TIA,

widget · 02-11-2015, 06:55 PM

I am more concerned with;

Code:

gnome-session-is-accelerated: No hardware 3D support

Don't understand that.

Looks like a new enough cpu to handle the stuff to me.

If it were me I think I would get;
http://live.debian.net/cdimage/relea...op+nonfree.iso

And see if that runs as a Live Session.

I can't seem to find any additional firmware available for it.

I find this strange because although I, frankly, can't stand Gnome Shell I have it on my loaner drive so people can see and try it. Ran fine on my old box that ran the pre iX quad core cpu at least under Magea. That same box would run Unity under Ubuntu (worse DE than GS to me). But I was running he same Radeon card I am now.

If the live session will run then you could check to see what it has you don't.

My wife has a laptop running some i5 cpu, not sure which, older as was purchaced in 2010. She is running Debian 7 but with the Mate DE so I can't check anything there that will help.

From what I was reading your 4440 model came out in 13. Just see no reason that this shouldn't work unless it just doesn't support the acceleration.

someshpr · 02-12-2015, 03:07 PM

I also posted the same problem in debian forum and I got an advise that I may need to upgrade my kernel to 3.8 or higher to get the onboard Intel HD4600 video to work properly.

I installed kernel 3.16 following this, checked xserver-xorg-video-intel is already installed. But no change!
My .xsession-errors now reads:

Code:

/etc/gdm3/Xsession: Beginning session setup...
localuser:somesh being added to access control list
openConnection: connect: No such file or directory
cannot connect to brltty at :0
Unrecognized deviceID 0x412
X Error of failed request:  BadAlloc (insufficient resources for operation)
  Major opcode of failed request:  154 (GLX)
  Minor opcode of failed request:  3 (X_GLXCreateContext)
  Serial number of failed request:  24
  Current serial number in output stream:  27
gnome-session-check-accelerated: Helper exited with code 256
gnome-session[3735]: WARNING: Session 'gnome' runnable check failed: Exited with code 1
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw/ssh
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw/ssh
GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw/ssh
GPG_AGENT_INFO=/home/somesh/.cache/keyring-MTzlKw/gpg:0:1
p11-kit: invalid config filename, will be ignored in the future: /etc/pkcs11/modules/gnome-keyring-module

(gnome-panel:3835): Gtk-CRITICAL **: gtk_accelerator_parse_with_keycode: assertion `accelerator != NULL' failed

** (gnome-panel:3835): WARNING **: Unable to parse mouse modifier '(null)'

p11-kit: invalid config filename, will be ignored in the future: /etc/pkcs11/modules/gnome-keyring-module
** Message: applet now removed from the notification area
Initializing tracker-miner-fs...
Tracker-Message: Setting up monitor for changes to config file:'/home/somesh/.config/tracker/tracker-miner-fs.cfg'
Starting log:
  File:'/home/somesh/.local/share/tracker/tracker-miner-fs.log'
Initializing tracker-store...
Tracker-Message: Setting up monitor for changes to config file:'/home/somesh/.config/tracker/tracker-store.cfg'
Tracker-Message: Setting up monitor for changes to config file:'/home/somesh/.config/tracker/tracker-store.cfg'
Starting log:
  File:'/home/somesh/.local/share/tracker/tracker-store.log'

(gnome-panel:3835): Gtk-CRITICAL **: gtk_accelerator_parse_with_keycode: assertion `accelerator != NULL' failed

** (gnome-panel:3835): WARNING **: Unable to parse mouse modifier '(null)'


(gnome-panel:3835): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: /tmp/buildd/glib2.0-2.33.12+really2.32.4/./gobject/gsignal.c:2459: signal `size_request' is invalid for instance `0x2945b40'
** Message: applet now embedded in the notification area

(gnome-settings-daemon:3789): PackageKit-WARNING **: couldn't parse execption 'GDBus.Error:org.gtk.GDBus.UnmappedGError.Quark._pk_5ftransaction_5ferror.Code4: GetDistroUpgrades not supported by backend', please report

(gnome-settings-daemon:3789): updates-plugin-WARNING **: failed to get upgrades: GDBus.Error:org.gtk.GDBus.UnmappedGError.Quark._pk_5ftransaction_5ferror.Code4: GetDistroUpgrades not supported by backend

My new kernel and xserver info

Code:

$ dpkg --get-selections|grep linux-image
linux-image-3.16.0-0.bpo.4-amd64		install
linux-image-3.2.0-4-amd64			install
linux-image-amd64				install
$ sudo apt-get -t wheezy-backports install xserver-xorg-video-intel
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
xserver-xorg-video-intel is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 60 not upgraded.

Next I'll try your advise to use the live image that you pointed me to. I'll keep you posted.

TIA,

widget · 02-12-2015, 05:09 PM

Well you do have a newer kernel for sure.

3.16.0-4-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 3.16.7-ckt4-3 (2015-02-03) x86_64 GNU/Linux

I am running Sid.

One thing you might want to consider is Debian 8 (Jessie). Runs pretty well and is in freeze.

If you are installed on / and /home partitions I would think about a clean install using the same /home.

If you have room for another / partition you could install Jessie on that and point the installer at your current /home. This is sharing the /home and so you must use a different user name for Jessie so that you get a new /home/<user name> directory for that user so the ~/.foo files don't conflict. This would give you a convenient and safe way to have both versions installed.

I run testing and Sid but I like to have a stable install on just in case.

I have both Squeeze and Wheezy installed. They share a /home partition.

I have testing and Sid installed. They share a /home that is just for them.

I have some other (4) installs of testing or Sid and they are all "throw aways" where I really don't care if I screw them up or not and feel free to experiment. They all share a common /home too.

I am not a big fan of using backports. I can't say I haven't done it though. I like to have my Stable installs using packages for stable.

That said my wife runs Wheezy with Mate. Mate was installed from the Mate projects repo back just before Wheezy became stable. That repo no longer exists due to Debian getting Mate backported from testing to Wheezy so wheezy-backports is now the source for Mate on her box.

This is not the kernel though.

If you want the newer, or need the newer kernel I would run it on a version that is designed around that kernel and that would be Jessie or Sid.

There is no Live media for testing but you could check on live media for Debian respins based on testing.

If you have room for 10 gigs of space though you could just install testing and share the /home.

This is better I think but I am a serial multi booter. I haven't found a 12 step program for it either.

I doubt the live session will work either. It should have the same kernel that you have been running. If you need 3.8 or above that will not likely work either. That was the point of running it for me. On the other hand I thought Gnome Shell ran on Wheezy so it may work.

I switched to Xfce due to not liking GS. I really liked the Gnome 2 panel system. I don't run Mate now because as far as I am concerned the Xfce panel system is what the Gnome panels wanted to grow up to be.

You could try Mate, since you have the backports repo enabled, or Xfce although the version for Wheezy is not as nice as the version for Jessie. Panels have more functionality added but I don't use it. Thunar has tabbed browsing which under Wheezy it does not. Could be that Xfce is available in backports or that Thunar is but I don't know.

One of the things I didn't like about Gnome 3 is Nautilus. It has gone down hill a good bit as far as what I want in a file manager. Caja, the Mate fork of Nautilus is better, I have no problem with it at all. Thunar is fine too.

If you use extra panes in your file manager Thunar is not going to please you in the least as it doesn't support that at all.

I know people talk about Xfce dismisively as good for older boxes that aren't up to a "modern" DE. I think if you check my specs, see sig, you will see this is not a problem for me at all.

Could argue that I use Xfce because I am too old for a modern DE. This could be the case. I don't think so though.

If I had a large touch screen display I think I might like GS. I also think that Xfce would be better on that too however as long as I had decent touch integration and I don't know how well that works with Xfce.

I just don't really like the gui in GS. I ran it, starting in Ubuntu 10.04-testing, really thought it might turn into something pretty neat at that point. Also ran Unity as soon as it was available in Ubuntu-testing. Never thought much of it.

Have never liked KDE but, again, I have to have it on my loaner drive so people can try it out. Have Mageia installed there with both Gnome and KDE installed on it. Frankly I was shocked to find that I prefer, when maintaining Mageia, to log into KDE as opposed to Gnome. Still don't like KDE and am kind of embarrassed about prefering it to Gnome after using Gnome for a long time as my DE of choice.

But all those DEs are out there because people made them to please themselves and I think the selection out there is great. People claim that all this is confusing to new users and I don't buy it a bit. They are adventurous enough to try something new. That is why I have an external that they can plug in to their box and boot from and really try the buggers out. Different distros and different DEs.

Don't care if they screw them up either. Have a free space on the drive where I will, if they want, build an OS for them with the distro and De of their choice that they can try. If they like it I can just copy it to their drive with my usb stick running Wheezy.

I don't try to influence their choice. I switched to Linux to have more control of my system. If they don't want what I like it is probably because they are not me. I don't have to run their box, they do. They ought to be able to enjoy what ever they want.

I don't however configure or show off compiz because I won't support it. I hate it. Nothing it does pleases me in the least. Just makes me irritated. They want that it is fine with me but I am not going to help with it. Grumpy geezer syndrome.

No 12 step program for that either.

Hope something works out on this for you. Will await report on Live Session with bated breath.

someshpr · 02-13-2015, 12:23 AM

Quote:

But all those DEs are out there because people made them to please themselves and I think the selection out there is great. People claim that all this is confusing to new users and I don't buy it a bit. They are adventurous enough to try something new. That is why I have an external that they can plug in to their box and boot from and really try the buggers out. Different distros and different DEs.

Thanks widget for the run down of different DEs.

You are absolutely right, most of the DEs work great, they just need getting used to as a user.

I never liked KDE, I do not know why ... may be merely for aesthetic reasons when I first encountered it. Although it has become aesthetically more pleasing with time, but my first impression prevailed! The second thing I tried was Gnome, which was okay enough to continue and hence have stayed with it.

When Gnome3 came out, I did not like it at all, but now I have gotten used to it. Since my laptop has Gnome3, I wanted the desktop to have Gnome3, too. But if that does not work, I am, actually, okay with Gnome3-classic.

I am not too keen on investing my time in trying out various DEs. I like to stick with something as long as I can.

I prefer to be on the stable release, with backports if absolutely needed. Although I tried the potential solution of new kernel from the Debian forum, but I don't really want to install Jesse yet even if it is frozen, not for just this issue at least.

This was a fresh install of Debian on a previously-windows machine, and I reboot the machine may be once in two months, so I am not particularly keen to try and test various combinations to find out what works.

I am happy as long as I have something that works reliably. I'll try the Live Session over the weekends, and see what happens. If not, Gnome3-classic is fine ... may be if I feel adventurous enough, I can try Xfce.

Just the fact that a regular Dell desktop built in 2013 is not compatible with Debian stable released in 2013 bothers me a bit, but I can live with it.

Thanks,

EDDY1 · 02-14-2015, 09:46 PM

Did you install firmware-realtek?

someshpr · 02-14-2015, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDDY1

Did you install firmware-realtek?

Yes, I did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by widget

Hope something works out on this for you. Will await report on Live Session with bated breath.

Well, as expected, Live Session had the same issues... Gnome3 starts in fallback mode! It says in a warning message that this fallback usually means that there may be problem with graphics driver or graphics card.

I am abandoning Gnome3 for now.

Thanks for all the help,

widget · 02-15-2015, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someshpr

Yes, I did.

Well, as expected, Live Session had the same issues... Gnome3 starts in fallback mode! It says in a warning message that this fallback usually means that there may be problem with graphics driver or graphics card.

I am abandoning Gnome3 for now.

Thanks for all the help,

Well, that is a bummer.

You might want to try Mate.