Arch Linux

Atreides

Member

Registered: 2009-11-24

Posts: 60

[solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

I thought I'd try out this compiz thing to add some eye candy to xfce. It seems to have installed fine, I followed the wiki as best I could, but whenever I try to start it "fusion-icon" all I get is a white screen with a cursor. Only way to get out is to restart (that I can find).

What am I missing? Compiz looked like it had some pretty nifty themes...

EDIT: Installing Arch not in a VM fixes this.

Last edited by Atreides (2009-12-23 02:25:14)

theapodan

Member

From: Virginia, USA

Registered: 2008-10-21

Posts: 116

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

How are you trying to load compiz?  You might post ~/.xinitrc
which might contain some clues.

Atreides

Member

Registered: 2009-11-24

Posts: 60

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

Sorry but how do I find this? When I put in "~/.xinitrc" it says the file doesn't exist.

All I've really done is install Compiz, then go into terminal and say "fusion-icon" to start it. I see some text about gtk, and "compiz is starting" then the screen proceeds to go all white. I can still see the cursor and move it around, there's just nothing but a white screen behind it.

I feel as though I missed something fairly obvious.

theapodan

Member

From: Virginia, USA

Registered: 2008-10-21

Posts: 116

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

~/.xinitrc is a hidden file in your home directory that contains the commands that are run when X is started that start your preferred window manager and panel and whatever else you use.

It sounds like you are running fusion-icon manually though, so ignore the question I asked previously.

What graphics driver do you use?  Maybe it doesn't agree with compiz.  Do other 3d applications work?

Atreides

Member

Registered: 2009-11-24

Posts: 60

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

I used the test method as mentioned in the wiki, and it said I had S3 drivers, so I went ahead and installed those. Looking back thought I'm not sure why I did that, as I know I have an Intel graphics chipset. I just went and installed the Intel driver, then tried launching compiz...still no go.

My 2 questions then are...

How do I uninstall the old drivers?

and

How can I test the 3d? (running in vm)

miau

Member

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 202

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

Use

 pacman -Rsn xf86-video-s3

to uninstall the s3 drivers, Why do you want to test 3d in an virtual machine?? The vm will not use you graphics chip for 3d accleration.

Atreides

Member

Registered: 2009-11-24

Posts: 60

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

Use

 pacman -Rsn xf86-video-s3

to uninstall the s3 drivers, Why do you want to test 3d in an virtual machine?? The vm will not use you graphics chip for 3d accleration.

Thanks, theapodan said I should test 3d graphics performance.

I uninstalled the S3 drivers, reconfigured xorg, started xfce4 again, reinstalled compiz-fusion, then proceeded to type "fusion-icon"; still nothing but a black cursor on a white screen.

miau

Member

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 202

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

Do you have KMS enabled?

What is the output of

 glxinfo | grep direct

?

You could also run compiz-check, it's in the AUR:http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=17163

Atreides

Member

Registered: 2009-11-24

Posts: 60

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

Ahhh thank you miau, I believe I have found the problem.

I went through and enabled KMS as the wiki stated.

I then ran the command you said, and it said "direct rendering:yes"

I then went and installed compiz-check, which resulted in an error. I'll just take a screenie.

I'm quit certain I have an Intel chipset, is it possible the virtual machine aspect messes it up? As of right now I do have the intel drivers installed (the basic ones in the wiki).

Any way to remedy this?

Last edited by Atreides (2009-12-03 00:46:05)

miau

Member

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 202

Re: [solved]compiz fails to start in xfce4

Could you post your xorg logfile and your xorg.conf? Seems that the intel driver is not loaded.