Common Issues

Issues on Precise (nxl67170ux)

• Issue — Git — Cannot install tileqt (tcl theme) to beautify gitk.
• Issue — TeX Live still old version (2009) — This may be the cause of errors LaTeX Font Warning: Some font shapes were not available, defaults substituted. (see [1])
  • fixed — install TeX Live 2012 from backports repository.
• Issue — Annoying file C:\nppdf32Log\debuglog.txt. Caused by acroread plugin (see [2], [3], [4]). A solution would be to edit nppdf.so with hex editor.
• Issue — Acrobat reader leaves ghost process SynchronizerApp-binary. Disable it!
• Issue — Opera fonts too small, not as good as windows.
  • partial fix — Increase default font size to 16 (Preferences → webpages). See also page Make linux looks like Windows/Mac
• Issue — Touchpad scroll not working, detected as ps/2 mouse.
  • partial fix — Install Kevin Cernekee's DKMS package (see below and bug 606238). See also [5] for more solutions.
    

sudo -s
add-apt-repository ppa:cernekee/ppa
apt-get update
apt-get install psmouse-dkms
reboot

• Issue — Annoying popup failure to download extra data files flashplugin-installer. See bug 977178 and bug 982684.
  Pop-up is from update-notified. Might be related to sudo ignoring some environment variables / profile.
  • tentative fix — sudo apt-get --reinstall install flashplugin-installer
• Issue — Synergy, still heavy keyboard corruption issue (v.1.4.10), in particular ctrl stuck key (must reboot to fix), and custom layout not honored (my custom belgian on us layout).
• Issue — Virtualbox module not recompiling (broken DKMS)
  • tentative fix — See Virtualbox
• Issue — Can't reconnect to Bluetooth Microsoft Sculpt Mouse.
  • Solved — Install Bluetooth manager (package blueman). See [6], bug 1094744.
• Issue — animated gifs do not work.
  • Solved — This is a feature of privoxy, to ban ads using such animation. It can be disabled (via setting deanimate_gifs), or better yet, temporarily disable privoxy, and clear cache/reload the page.
• Issue — Acrobat reader, errant tooltips
  • Solved — Click on the document area. Tooltips appears when the focus is on the document tab.
  • Other solution, see Banishing errant tooltips (using Xlib and Python)

Issues on Trusty (nxl67170ux)

• Issue — Controlling laptop brightness via brightness keys is very slow (small delta, long latency). See bug 847001 (and possibly related kernel bug. See also X page for work-arounds.
  • Solved — Enable vendor acpi in grub and use the 20-intel.conf script as explained on X page.
• Issue — Fonts in Opera look really ugly. Note that Opera did not upgrade (still v12.16). Other applications do not seem affected.
• Issue — xdotool can no longer move (unmaximized) windows to top left corner (see bug 1312412)
• Issue — lots of failure due to pcscd in /var/log/syslog (see below). apt-get remove pcscd as temporary fix.

Apr 29 14:28:22 nxl67170ux pcscd: ifdwrapper.c:348:IFDStatusICC() Card not transacted: 612
Apr 29 14:28:22 nxl67170ux pcscd: eventhandler.c:313:EHStatusHandlerThread() Error communicating to: O2 Micro Oz776 00 00
Apr 29 14:28:22 nxl67170ux kernel: [  754.501492] usb 1-1.3.2: usbfs: process 1883 (pcscd) did not claim interface 0 before use
Apr 29 14:28:22 nxl67170ux kernel: [  754.501546] usb 1-1.3.2: usbfs: process 1883 (pcscd) did not claim interface 0 before use
Apr 29 14:28:22 nxl67170ux pcscd: pcscdaemon.c:684:at_exit() write() failed: Connection refused

• Issue — XBMC Frodo 12.3 cannot read DVD (from disc media or from hdd). Filed as bug 1315873.
  • Work around — Install XBMC Gotham 13.0 from xbmc ppa (see XBMC).
• Issue — GPU hangs stuck on render ring + dmesg error - see bug 76956 and bug 77104
  • Could be related to the recent switch to SNA acceleration (instead of old uxa). See [7], [8]
  • see here for instruction on how to enable / disable sna)
  • Using SNA might require xorg-edges drivers
  • Or try this ppa grphics-drivers (suggested from freedesktop.org)
  • See Phoronix benchmarks
• Issue — keyboard shortcut for Indicator-synapse does not work.
• Issue — auto-completion works badly with command starting with sudo (lots of false positive).
  • Fix — This is due to doing complete -cF sudo in bash profile, which was necessary since u12.04 or so. However in u14.04 is no longer necessary. Removing it fixes the problem.

Issues on Trusty (griffin)

• Issue — v-sync tearing during DVD playback in XBMC 13.0 Gotham (see XBMC

Issues on Precise (griffin)

• Issue — Can't map Super-Space for Gnome-Do
• solved? — open ccsm → Ubuntu Plugin → temporarily change the shortcut for the launcher. Change gnome-do shortcut again, and then restore the launcher shortcut to super.
• solved — Use Synapse instead with Alt-Space as mapping.
• Issue — Current openjdk-6-jdk does not print file full path in error message, but only basename, which breaks vim "goto bug" feature.
• partially solved — This is solved in openjdk-7-sdk, but can't install 32_bit version though. So for 32-bit, we need to refer to openjdk-6 libraries.
• Issue — Super-Space does not work. Also cannot bind to Alt-Space either (get error (Do:6011): libdo-WARNING **: Binding '<Alt>space' failed!). See bug 988699, [9] (Bugs: Do)
  • temporary fix — killing and restarting gnome-do in a shell (gnome-do&) to re-enable Super-Space
  • solved — Use Synapse instead with Alt-Space as mapping.
• Issue — Compiz Ring Switch requires pressing Enter to select a window.
  • solved — Change Key to show the launcher to Shift-Super in Ubuntu Unity Plugin. Also, changed Key to show the HUD to Ctrl-Super
• Issue — Compiz Scale plugin Initiate Window Picker for All Windows does not work (show windows for current workspace only)
  • See bug 933776
  • A patch can be found in this ppa (sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mc3man/fixing-scale)

Issues on Maverick (griffin)

• Issue — No Configuration Editor link in the menu. Must be added by hand?
• Solved — Enable it by editing Gnome menu, right click on menu → Edit Menu → System Tools → Enable icon for Configuration Editor.
• Issue — Known issues documented in Maverick release manifest & Release Notes:
• Connected DisplayPort monitors may prevent booting. (655795)
• 802.11n support for the iwlagn driver has been temporarily disabled. Intel is actively working to get this properly fixed up in the firmware. This workaround should be reverted once updated firmware is available. (630748, 654152). See also Ubuntu Forums thread, Bug 16691 kernel.org, Intel WiFi driver for linux and official Linux Wireless wiki.
cfr file /etc/modprobe.d/intel-5300-iwlagn-disable11n.conf

dmesg | grep -i iwl
sudo modprobe -r iwlagn
sudo modprobe iwlagn 11n_disable=1
iwconfig                                           # Check that 11n is disabled
# ...
# wlan0     IEEE 802.11abg  ESSID:off/any
# 
# ...

• The logo will not display during boot when using the Nvidia proprietary driver. (653274)
• Issue — [arrandale] Integrated intel graphics GMA HD doesn't work (590504). See also [10]
This relates to kernel message at boot:

dmesg | grep i915
# ... intel ips 0000:00:1f.6: failed to get i915 symbols, graphics turbo disabled

• Issue — Suspend does not work; pc goes suspend but then restart immediately it seems in login screen. Related bug: 570604.
• Solved — Problem is linked with xhci_hcd that prevents suspend when loaded (this is because sleep/suspend is not implemented yet in that module). Unloading it will allow suspend (workaround). Bug is fixed in Ubuntu 11.04. Launchpad bug 522998

echo 'SUSPEND_MODULES="xhci_hcd"' >> /etc/pm/config.d/unload_modules   # As root

• Issue — Window Manager does not display window decorators after Macbuntu install. Temporary fix:

compiz --replace&
<li> '''{{red|To Do}}''' — Setup BEH (backend error handler) for CUPS</li>

Hardware issues (nxl67002ux)

• Issue — Heavy HW interrupts related to intel graphic card, power saving (sleep), and use of DVI/HDMI interface (module i915, drm, drm_kms_helper).
• 2.6.32 kernel — udevd eats CPU resource! Launchpad bug 440411, talked on forum 1356215. There was a partial workaround, but it does not work anymore on 2.6.32.28:

sudo service udevd stop
sudo service udevd start     # After this unfortunately there is no battery state icon anymore (unless reboot, or maybe suspend)
udevadm monitor              # Check that there is no events triggered

• 2.6.35 kernel (Maverick) — Install a newer version of the kernel, like 2.6.35. But then we have issues with the processes [kslowd001] ... [kslowd004] that hog the cpu even more, and make mouse movements jerky. Launchpad bug 662946, 661012 (dup). See fix in forum 1594239 (Install latest kernel 2.6.37 with partial fix with module drm_kms_helper / i915..., or install kernel 2.6.34). Other links [11]. Workaround:

echo N > /sys/module/drm_kms_helper/parameters/poll
# OR...
echo "options drm_kms_helper poll=N">/etc/modprobe.d/local.conf   # As root.

• Some issues seem to be fixed in the latest kernel 2.6.33 for Lucid. See [12] (drm/i915: Disable FBC on 915GM and 945GM...)
• Workarounds to investigate
• Install kernel 2.6.34 as suggested at [13]
• Install latest kernel 2.6.33 for Lucid from Ubuntu Kernel ([14])
• Issue — Frequent wireless disconnect.
• Reference HW info on this machine
• My other bugs in launchpad.
• Related to intel 5300 chipset (module iwlagn) and 802.11n networks.
• Done — Installed a linux-backports-modules-wireless package (linux-backports-modules-wireless-2.6.37-lucid-generic-pae).
  • Brought some improvements, in particular with kernel 2.6.32-32. Not disconnection, max ssh connect 1.2s, but still some drop to 1Mb/s. Still old firmware version 8.24.2.12 (file iwlwifi-5000-2.ucode)
• Done — Installed a compat-wireless package from compat-wireless project (linux-backports-modules-wireless-lucid-generic-pae).
  • Not sure it does anything better. Still stuck with the old firmware version 8.24.2.12 (file iwlwifi-5000-2.ucode)
• SOLVED — Force upgrade the iwlagn driver as indicated on this forum (see also bug 794291, and post on tech drive-in where I first learned about this solution):

#Remove any linux backports modules
sudo apt-get autoremove linux-backports-modules-wireless*

#Download and install the compat-wireless iwlagn driver
wget http://www.orbit-lab.org/kernel/compat-wireless-2.6-stable/v2.6.38/compat-wireless-2.6.38.2-2-ns.tar.bz2
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
sudo apt-get remove lsh-server
tar jxvf compat-wireless-2.6.38.2-2-ns.tar.bz2 
cd compat-wireless-2.6.38.2-2-ns/
make
sudo make install

#Now reboot... or you can try reload the module:

sudo make unload
sudo modprobe iwlagn
sudo modprobe bnep
sudo modprobe btusb
sudo modprobe rfcomm
sudo modprobe sco
sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart

#Check driver:
lshw -C network
# ...
# configuration: broadcast=yes driver=iwlagn driverversion=2.6.32-32-generic-pae firmware=8.83.5.1 build 33692 ip=134.27.182.162 latency=0 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11abgn
modinfo iwlagn
# filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.32-32-generic-pae/updates/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwlagn.ko
# ...
# firmware:       iwlwifi-5000-5.ucode

Running my ssh tests over WiFi show a very steady connection, without drop of connection speed (however it's capped at 54 Mb/s)

VirtualBox issues (nxl67002ux)

• Issue — VirtualBox - UE slower gui refresh since update to VirtualBox 3.2.4 (previous version was 3.2.0)
• Issue — VirtualBox - ksoftirqd/0 taking 10-20% CPU. Possible work-around is to add nohz=off to kernel command line, i.e. in /boot/grub/menu.list) (see [15] and [16])
• Issue — VirtualBox - BT dongle not reconnecting after suspend. It used to work correctly in the past. Is it due to an update?
• Issue — VirtualBox - Cygwin very slow in VirtualBox (while (true); do date --utc; done | uniq -c gives me ~4 fork / second. As an alternative, try MSYS (MGWin), UWIN or Interix. Some other causes: [17]
• SOLVED? — The speed issue seems to be solved in the last version (1.7.9). Fork is still slow though, but rxvt is blazing fast. rxvt still much slower.
• Issue — VirtualBox - Can't go to synergy client when VB guest is in fullscreen. See X#Synergy.
• SOLVED? — Press host key (ctrl) before/after going to synergy client.

Other issues (nxl67002ux)

• Issue — ssh disconnects after some time, autossh can't reconnect. Even doing a simple ssh does not work anymore. Might be due to broken ssh-agent
• Disable auto-run of Gnome ssh-agent, enabled back my ssh-agent script
• Issue — synergy unstable. Sometimes CTRL key does not work anymore in the client...
• Look for alternatives: Synergy+ (SynergyPlus), or x2x (see Synergy page on wikipedia).
• Issue — Midnight Commander does not colorize different file types. Check here.
• SOLVED — Use mc official repository instead. See MC page
• Issues — Serious interferences from Privoxy:
• Reject URL like .../advies/... and .../ADV_AUTH.CAB (work-around: disable Privoxy AdBlocking via http://p.p).
• Interference with Altran Timesheet. ActiveX / ASP.NET controls do not work in (Wine) Internet Explorer 6.
• Issue — Opera 11 - v11 does not support my autoproxy .pac file anymore.
• Temporarily downgraded to v10.63.6450.
• It seems that it accepts .pac file on http://localhost/proxy.pac. Temporarily using that.
• Issue — Evince, error in console EggSMClient-WARNING **: Failed to connect to the session manager.... It seems related to apparmor.
• SOLVED — To solve it [18]:

cd /etc/apparmor.d/disable
sudo ln -s /etc/apparmor.d/usr.bin.evince usr.bin.evince
sudo /etc/init.d/apparmor restart

• Issue — ufw user[6].rules files should be stored in /etc/ufw instead of /lib/ufw so that they can be tracked by etckeeper (filed a bug in launchpad, 728128)
• Issue — Kernel panic when updating to kernel 2.6.32-29, due to trailing dots in /boot/initrd file (bug submitted on launchpad 728430)
• SOLVED — No problem with 2.6.32-30, but again same problem with 2.6.32-32. Problem gone after formatting /boot in Ext3.
• 'Issue — Opera 11 → shaky (at best) clipboard support! Copy & paste to/from utility xsel, or to/from virtualbox guest/host is broken. The best is to pass through an intermediate editor, like gedit.