UI partially invisible

teleguy · 06-18-2014, 04:52 AM

I recently upgraded from Lubuntu 13.10 to 14.04. Since then parts of the user interface either become invisible or barely visible when I move the mouse. I would post screenshots but none of the methods for taking screenshots in Linux I found on the web seem to work.

I also got a different problem with the trash not working that existed already before the upgrade. I started with this message when I tried to delete something:
Couldn't create folder some path\trash -no authorisation
or something similar.
But now I get a different message about trash not supporting certain underlying filesystems everytime I try to delete something.

Any ideas how I can fix that?

rtmistler · 06-18-2014, 06:55 AM

For the trash problem have you tried to remove the items in trash using the command line:

Code:

cd $HOME/.local/share/Trash/files
# And then any of:
rm -f *
rm -rf *
sudo rm -rf *

If it's not in the .local/share directory, then see if .Trash is just at your $HOME level, it should be at the .local/share level though for Ubuntu.

teleguy · 06-23-2014, 05:59 AM

That folder doesn't exist.

rtmistler · 06-23-2014, 06:37 AM

Best I can recommend is to make sure you grab a copy of your data files and consider performing a full re-install. Or if you have space, try a clean install onto that extra space. Looks like the display manager and it's settings are all messed up.

There are some ways to try to reset unity though, maybe try that once. I'd browse the Ubuntu forums, my first guess is:

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure compiz

But if you view questions on the topic you'll see a variety of fix suggestions like removing all the sub-directories related to gnome. This is why I recommend a clean install first.

teleguy · 06-24-2014, 04:50 AM

Ok, I did a clean reinstall. That fixed the problem with the trash folder. However the issue with the invisible icons and menu items is still there. This interface corruption was already present when I booted from the Lubuntu 14.04 CD. I tried

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure compiz

but it says compiz is not installed.

Also a new problem has appeared. I can no longer get Google Chrome to work. This is the error message I'm getting:

[0624/113908:ERROR:nacl_helper_linux.cc(236)] NaCl helper process running without a sandbox!
Most likely you need to configure your SUID sandbox correctly

rtmistler · 06-24-2014, 06:34 AM

I don't know about that Chrome problem, and the display problem is bad enough. I'd try a different distribution via a live USB or CD/DVD and see if you can get a proper desktop, perhaps MINT Debian and note that regular MINT is Ubuntu based therefore if your system has problems with Ubuntu, just grabbing the default MINT may not be helpful. Not liking the fact that a default distribution has this level of problems, therefore I'm not really a proponent of fixing two or more major problems. One wonders how well it will stand the test of time on your system. None of these problems are small things: no ability to empty trash, display messed up, can't run a major browser; if a clean install didn't make it 99% better then I'd try out other distros and look for ones not similarly based with Ubuntu.

You might also want to post your system specs and if someone has experience with the particular system you're installing on, then they can chime in with some thoughts.

teleguy · 06-24-2014, 11:31 AM

It's a P III/Celeron 1200 MHz with 1 GB Ram and a Geforce 4 mx. The display corruption seems to be a driver issue. I tried installing the proprietory Nvidia driver but the latest stable version doesn't support this gpu so it get's ignored. As far as I can tell the system doesn't load any videodriver at all now. Anyway this fixed the display problems and so far the only downside seems to be a more primitive bootscreen. Before that Lubuntu was using the nouveau driver which apparently caused issues.

I already had the same Chrome error with Lubuntu 13.10 but Chrome started working after I had upgraded to 14.04. Maybe something else is missing that Chrome requires to run?

rtmistler · 06-24-2014, 12:03 PM

I would search for a distribution which has been found to work with your processor; and you may have to grab an older distribution.

Maybe this was your question from another forum, some suggestions Here.

JeremyBoden · 06-24-2014, 04:58 PM

You should have a directory

Code:

$HOME/.local/share/

It will have a sub-directory called Trash or perhaps Trash-1000 or similar.
Delete the Trash (or similar) directory and all its contents.
It will be recreated next time you need to hold some Trash.

If you are doing this from a GUI you can just delete the Trash directory - you will be warned that the contents will be permanently lost.
Accept this.

teleguy · 06-26-2014, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtmistler

I would search for a distribution which has been found to work with your processor; and you may have to grab an older distribution.

Maybe this was your question from another forum, some suggestions Here.

Thing is before I installed Lubuntu I did a web search for Pentium III + Linux and I found a lot of forum posts from people either recommending Lubuntu or saying they're using it with a P III cpu and it's working fine.

@JeremyBoden
Thanks for the reply but the trash problem was already fixed by reinstalling Lubuntu.

Does anyone know how to install the Nvidia 96.xx legacy drivers?