Distorted desktop graphics after system crash

8 replies [Last post]
RMK
RMK
Offline
Joined: 07/23/2016

I recently experienced a kernel crash due to a segfault(!) when I tried to start a virtual machine inside VirtualBox. Since then, the graphics of the desktop interface have been slightly distorted. As shown in the first attached screenshot, there is a semi-transparent frame around most windows that shouldn't be there, and hovering the mouse cursor over something produces a white rectangle where the mouse-over text should appear. The worst part, though, is that some windows are entirely whited out. See that white rectangle in the second screenshot? That's what the Gnome terminal looks like. The Gnome tweak tool and the Abrowser menu are also completely whited out.

I've tried using Xterm (instead of the Gnome terminal) to change Gnome's settings, but nothing I tried fixed the problem, nor did reinstalling a bunch of packages via Synaptic. Any advice on how to correct this problem would be most appreciated!

FWIW, I'm running Trisquel 7 on one of these: https://shop.libiquity.com/product/taurinus-x200

AttachmentSize
Screenshot from 2016-07-23 16:47:37.png623.12 KB
Screenshot from 2016-07-23 16:47:54.png515.71 KB
SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

Offline
Joined: 10/31/2014

Hmmm, the transparent shadow around the window, I think it has to do with compton compositor.
killall compton

see if it is still there.

Check the config in the compton file in /home -- .compton.conf

RMK
RMK
Offline
Joined: 07/23/2016

killall compton did the trick. Thanks!

Now, if I understand you, I should be expecting to find a .compton.conf file in the home directory, right? I don't see one. Should I disable shadows in /etc/compton.conf instead?

Edit: or perhaps a clean reinstall of compton is in order?

lembas
Offline
Joined: 05/13/2010

You do know that files starting with a dot are hidden by default in the file browser?

RMK
RMK
Offline
Joined: 07/23/2016

> You do know that files starting with a dot are hidden by default in the file browser?
Indeed I do. But ls -a in my home directory doesn't show .compton.conf .

lembas
Offline
Joined: 05/13/2010

Right. In that case copy the system wide file from /etc to ~/.compton.conf and modify it.

RMK
RMK
Offline
Joined: 07/23/2016

Got it. Thanks for your help.

Magic Banana

I am a member!

I am a translator!

Offline
Joined: 07/24/2010

I believe the compositing manager can be enabled/disabled using the "dconf Editor" (or with 'gsettings' from the command line): the key is called "compositing-manager" and it is in org.gnome.metacity.

RMK
RMK
Offline
Joined: 07/23/2016

One of the great things about going to a public web forum for technical help is that the answers to your questions are out there for anyone else encountering a similar problem. Trying to run VirtualBox under Trisquel 7 was the trigger for the problem that is the raison d'être of this thread. For the sake of other users who find this thread when searching for help, I should point out that VirtualBox simply may not work under Trisquel 7; recent versions of VirtualBox are not libre software.

The issue with VirtualBox is the license for one of the requirements to build it from source--the Open Watcom compiler--which is an edge case of a license that is open-source (per OSI) but not free-as-in-libre (per GNU/FSF). I thought it would be remiss if I let this thread die without acknowledging that fact...especially because I wish I had looked up the relevant documentation before I tried to use VirtualBox with Trisquel 7.

It's a shame. VirtualBox has a VERY nice interface. But I've found qemu to be a more-than-adequate replacement.