Disappearing web and email pages from Desktop

makem · 08-30-2022, 12:14 PM

Code:

makem@makem2204:~$ hostnamectl
 Static hostname: makem2204
       Icon name: computer-desktop
         Chassis: desktop
      Machine ID: 3ddaadccd2e04a1182cf638879659f30
         Boot ID: 5d92725f324348b2a30503d787ab5017
Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS              
          Kernel: Linux 5.15.0-46-generic
    Architecture: x86-64
 Hardware Vendor: ASUS
  Hardware Model: System Product Name
makem@makem2204:~$ echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
XFCE
makem@makem2204:~$

At least once or twice at each session I am suddenly faced with a blank screen with only the panel and it's Item icons available. All open windows and their respective panel tabs have gone. This has started in the last few days.

It gives the impression that I have just rebooted the machine. The panel is blank where the Tabs normally are and I have been restarting the machine. At this point I can open a web page for example and back comes the web page with it's open tabs. Thunderbird email windows comes back too. I am using the Brave browser.

I have posted this problem in the past and it was never solved but have since upgraded to 22.04 LTS and the problem has started gain after some 6 months of running without a problem.

I suspect the Brave web browser is causing this to happen. When reopened it always announces it closed unexpectedly.

I am wondering if it is possible to read the error somewhere when it happens, while it is happening and before I log in and out or open the browser.

frankbell · 08-30-2022, 07:57 PM

I'd start by looking in the log files for some hint as to why this is happening.

You might also try starting brave from the command line. When and if it crashes, it might throw some helpful error messages to the terminal.

makem · 08-31-2022, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

I'd start by looking in the log files for some hint as to why this is happening.

You might also try starting brave from the command line. When and if it crashes, it might throw some helpful error messages to the terminal.

Code:

makem@makem2204:~$ cd /var/crash
makem@makem2204:/var/crash$ ls -la
total 24120
drwxrwsrwt  2 root     whoopsie     4096 Aug 30 17:38 .
drwxr-xr-x 14 root     root         4096 Apr 19 11:07 ..
-rw-r-----  1 makem    whoopsie 24312891 Aug 30 17:06 _opt_brave.com_brave_brave.1000.crash
-rw-rw-r--  1 makem    whoopsie        0 Aug 30 17:06 _opt_brave.com_brave_brave.1000.upload
-rw-------  1 whoopsie whoopsie       37 Aug 30 17:06 _opt_brave.com_brave_brave.1000.uploaded
-rw-r-----  1 root     whoopsie   371222 Aug 30 17:38 _usr_sbin_lightdm.0.crash
makem@makem2204:~$

Code:

makem@makem2204:/$ lightdm --show-config
   [Seat:*]
J  allow-guest=false
L  greeter-wrapper=/usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm-greeter-session
M  guest-wrapper=/usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm-guest-session
N  xserver-command=X -core
O  greeter-setup-script=xubuntu-numlockx
P  greeter-session=lightdm-gtk-greeter
Q  user-session=xubuntu
R  type=xlocal
R  display-setup-script=/sbin/prime-offload
R  display-stopped-script=/sbin/prime-switch

   [LightDM]
K  backup-logs=false

Sources:
J  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-disable-guest.conf
K  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-disable-log-backup.conf
L  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-greeter-wrapper.conf
M  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-guest-wrapper.conf
N  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-xserver-command.conf
O  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-xubuntu-numlock.conf
P  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
Q  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-xubuntu.conf
R  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/90-nvidia.conf
J  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-disable-guest.conf
K  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-disable-log-backup.conf
L  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-greeter-wrapper.conf
M  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-guest-wrapper.conf
N  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-xserver-command.conf
O  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/50-xubuntu-numlock.conf
P  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf
Q  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/60-xubuntu.conf
R  /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/90-nvidia.conf
makem@makem2204:/$

I am using NVIDIA Driver metapackage from nvidia-driver-510 (proprietary)

makem · 08-31-2022, 10:41 AM

Looks like I have found the cause.

I have a G903 mouse which has a 'free' moving scroll wheel which can be set to 'stepped'. I always use it in the stepped mode which mean I need to actually push the wheel to move it.

The mouse has a button which gives the choice, free or stepped. I found that the wheel was set to 'free' somehow.

The slightest touch on the wheel moves it. If the mouse is on the desktop background at that time the screen goes black and the panel tabs disappear. Exactly what has been occurring. If the wheel is then moved in the opposite direction everything comes back.

I have never had this happen with any other mouse. Perhaps, not being a gamer and using a gaming mouse it is too sensitive for my use.

It is still strange that I have the light-dm and Brave crashes though.