I just switched from v18.1 to v19.1 of Linux Mint Cinnamon and have encountered some different behavior that confuses me.

In v18.1 when I start an application the application window would be the same size as when the application was last closed. Now in v19.1 that behavior doesn't exist except in applications designed to "pick up where they left off". For example, once I set the option in firefox to start up displaying the same content as the previous session (when computer was shut down)... the windows are displayed in the same place and size as they were previously. Before I set that option, the firefox application window was displayed in a random place and tiny size (maybe 300x300 or something on my 3840x2160 display).

Now every time I start up a new file browser it is a tiny little window (like default firefox was) and places in a random location. Many other applications behave this way too now, whereas before in v18.1 most application would be displayed the same location and size as the most recent execution.

Why?

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Also, when I went into the software manager to add libraries my 3D graphics software requires (like X11, cairo, pango, freetype and many more)... they did not exist (were not found) in the software manager. Why?

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Somewhere along the line I figured out how to make applications display up and down arrows at the top and bottom of scrollbars. v19.1 omits those ... again ... and I can't figure out how to enable them. I'd also like to make the scrollbars a bit wider.

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Also, my EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 TI FTW3 GPU card with 3 fans now spins 0 fans. I haven't run any demanding graphics so I guess it isn't overheating. However, I'd prefer all fans run all the time. I don't care about a little extra noise and value greater product lifetime and reliability. Any way to make that happen in v19.1 Linux Mint?

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I'm sure I'll run into more questions, but that's enough to begin. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to answer.

Let me answer the scrollbar question.

Run:

and add/modify the following CSS (adjust the min-width and min-height values to your taste - I like these settings though):

Log out and in again to put the changes into effect.

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Thanks. There are no files in that directory except one file called "bookmarks". Should I create the file you mentioned and insert the text you gave?

Yes. Xed should create the file for you if you run that command and then save the file.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks. Worked like a charm.

Great. Regarding the Software Manager, do you have the actual package names that you installed in 18.1 for some of the libraries that you mentioned that you need for your 3D graphics software? Just so I can do some searching and see what's up.

Also, I suggest that you create a new thread in the hardware section regarding the fans. Mention that you were running Mint 18.1 based on Ubuntu 16.04, and are now running Mint 19.1, based on Ubuntu 18.04.

The following is a section of my "install linux mint" document that helps me set up a new version of Linux Mint and hopefully have a setup somewhat equivalent to what I had before.

Note that when the software manager doesn't find some file (for example "libcairo2"), I will search for "libcairo", "cairo", "libcairo3" and other alternatives that I image might evoke something. However, such attempts are not working. It is as if the new version is not intended for programmers or something. When I search for something general purpose, like "gedit", the software manager seems to generate a reasonable list of applications.

The following is the excerpt from my "install linux mint" file:

- install packages that support codeblocks (C/C++ development of 64-bit applications)
- IMPORTANT ::: do not install the following two items if the “codeblocks daily builds” ppa was added (the steps immediately above)
// - install codeblocks
// - install codeblocks-contrib
- install gcc
- install g++
- install gdb
- install gcc-multilib
- install g++-multilib
- install build-essential
- install libc6-i386
// - install libwxgtk2.8-0 // previous to 3.0v5
// - install libwxgtk2.8-dev // previous to 3.0v5
// - install wx2.8-doc // previous to 3.0v5
- install libwxgtk3.0
- install libwxgtk3.0-dev
- install wx3.0-doc
- install wx-common
- install ia32-libs --- installs files/libraries for 32-bit applications (required to run or test 32-bit implementations of programs)
- install libgtk-3-dev // new 20170315
- install libgtk-3-doc // new 20170315
- install xlib/X11 packages
- required by ice and related libraries and applications
- install libx11-6
- install libx11-dev
- install libx11-doc
- install libxext-dev
- install libxext-doc
- install mesa-utils --- installs these apps: glxinfo, glxgears, glxheads, glxdemo
- install libglm-dev
- install libglm-doc
- install zlib
- install zlib1g
- install zlib1g-dev
- install cairo
- install libcairo2
- install libcairo2-dev
- install libcairo2-doc
- install pango
- install libpango1.0-0
- install libpango1.0-dev
- install libpango1.0-doc
- install libpangocairo-1.0-0
- install freetype
- install libfreetype6
- install libfreetype6-dev

Thanks. Ok, let's try out pango.

Firstly, do a command line search for the packages in question in the repos (using apt search package).

libpango-1.0-0: already installed (on my 19.1 MATE system, not sure if it is installed by default)
libpango1.0-dev: in the repos
libpango1.0-doc: in the repos
libpangocairo-1.0-0: already installed (see above).
pango: not in the repos

So, I have a look for the pango package in the Ubuntu repos using the Ubuntu package web page: https://packages.ubuntu.com/

This tells me that there is not a package named simply pango in any currently supported Ubuntu repos. Where did you install this from on Mint 18.1?

Now, over to the Software Manager and search for the text "pango". You're spot on. The fact that "Pango" itself is missing is explained by the package not being in the repos. As for the others, I suspect that Mint may have decided not to include packages starting with "lib" so as not to inundate the normal user, assuming that anyone looking to install libraries will use the command line or Synaptic. Just a guess. A search for "lib" in Software Manager appears not to produce any packages starting with "lib" that I can see with a quick glance anyway (except LibreOffice). The options don't appear to include one which allows the inclusion of these libraries.

So, you're going to have to use the command line or Synaptic to install libraries.

My advice is to work through your list. Try to install what you can from the command line (but search first - you might find that a certain package has been updated to include a new version in its name). Then come back on here with a list of packages that you have been unable to resolve or find and we'll have a hunt for them.

I'm sorry that this is a bit laborious, but the list of packages you're looking to install is quite long and it's not unusual to spend a little while sorting out the differences in packages when migrating from one major version of a distro to another.

Before v19.1 of Linux Mint, I installed all those packages from the software manager application. I can install them from command line, but it is a bit more effort.

What worries me more is that I won't know when newer versions of libraries appear. For example, if a new series of pango2 or cairo3 are released, I'll never know. I'll just install pango1 or cairo2 from the command line (from my old list) and never know better.

When I would search for the libraries on the software manager it would list newer versions of libraries (and applications). So I could load them instead, and if they work (with no effort or little effort) now my application is based on the latest and greatest libraries. If the new version is a mess for some reason, I can just load the older versions that worked before.

Anyway, that's how I see things. I don't know why the guys removed the packages. Maybe there is a way to say "give me Linux Mint for programmers" or something, but I didn't notice anything like that on the websites or in the installation process.

I adopted Linux Mint quite a few years ago, so the software manager application worked probably 3 or 4 times for me before.

could you test if this still happens with a new user?

Why don't you raise an issue here? https://github.com/linuxmint/mintinstall

I think that it's important that Mint gets feedback on issues like this.

I created a new user and ... the behavior is closer to what I experienced in the past. At least the windows seem to be created the same size, and sometimes in the same or similar location.

But I did notice this insanely annoying propensity for the window manager to try to force-resize windows when I try to move a window to a location where the top touches the top of the display. Why on earth would a window manager want to prohibit me from placing windows where I want?

As a general principle, I don't mind options, but I MASSIVELY hate software (or people) trying to force me to obey. What kind of control-freak psychos write software like this? I guess I answered my own question.

So... how do I get the desired behavior on the user I created when I installed Linux Mint v19.1 originally (username == max)?

What you are describing is the snap to grid facility. You can disable windows tiling and snapping through System Settings->Preferences->Window Tiling.

Can I just kindly point out that when folk develop software, they develop it for everybody. They cannot however make it perfect for all those users so they try to implement features that most people want. It's alays a balancing act. Many people like tiling and snapping, and it is easy to switch off, so it is enabled by default. In future, rather than getting angry, you should just ask yourself "How do I switch this off?" rather than bad-mouth the very same developers who create the software that makes your operating system work. And they didn't create all that software specifically for one user, namely maxreason.

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I just checked, and Window Tiling was turned off. So it must be something else, or somehow the window manager is ignoring the setting.

I have no problem with options. However, I must say that I also believe straightforward action where nothing tries to muck with what the operator is doing should always be default.

I hate to make a somewhat screwy comparison, but the 737 Max airplanes is an example of the opposite. The control system forced those airplanes to crash, and purposely ignored pilot manipulations of the controls. That is not how systems should be designed. Systems should not force themselves upon operators, especially by default. If a pilot wants to set an option to take some action, that's okay, though personally I would never create options that are that dangerous.

Ok, let's go under the hood.

Install dconf-tools and run dconf-editor. This is a very useful tool to have around anyway as it allows GUI access to your desktop and other settings in the gsettings database.

In dconf-editor, navigate to org->gnome->metacity and turn edge-tiling off. You may need to logout and login again for the window manager to pick up the new setting.

If that doesn't work, get back to me. I seem to remember helping out someone else with this and will have a look through my old posts to find out how I resolved the issue.