Having trouble getting Compiz Fusion working on Kubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)? So did I and here’s how I fixed it.
I recently upgraded one of my Kubuntu Fiesty Fawn systems to Gutsy Gibbon (version 7.10). However, since it was a distro upgrade, not a new installation, the Compiz Fusion system wasn’t installed by default. Even after installing the compiz packages, things still weren’t quite right.
First, in addition to the compiz package, you have to select the compiz-kde package. For some reason, Adept doesn’t select it automatically with all the other compiz packages (even though this is Kubuntu, which uses KDE). Failure to install compiz-kde results in your windows not having any borders or widgets.
Second, install the compizconfig-settings-manager package. This is the configuration panel to access all the options for Compiz Fusion. Without this, some things just don’t behave quite right. For example, in the normal KDE desktop, I have focus follow the mouse. This doesn’t translate automatically to Compiz so you have to use the settings manager to adjust it. The tool also gives you access to all the Compiz plugins.
After all that’s done, restart X (Ctrl+Alt+Backspace) and log back in. Run the Compiz Settings Manager by going to the KMenu, Settings, Advanced Desktop Effects Settings. Adjust to your heart’s content.
There are still some quirks running Compiz on Kubuntu (such as the update manager icon sometimes appearing as a separate window rather than an icon in the notification area). But at least this gets it to be operational.
Have more tips? Post them in the comments.
i ran the settings but i don’t see the effects kicking in, still this are nice instructions…
Most of the default effects aren’t obvious. Try turning on the cube desktop and cube spin plugins in the settings. Then, press Ctrl+Alt+LeftArrow or Ctrl+Alt+RightArrow. If you have two desktops, you’ll see a simple flip but if you have three or more desktops, you’ll see a nice cube rotate effect to go to the next desktop.
Turn on other plugins to see their effects.
I did : “sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-kde compizconfig-settings-manager” and enabled the wobbly windows, cube and thumbnail options. When I restarted X server … I didn’t see any difference. No effects seem to be occurring … I have only done the above command, am I missing something?
@Peter: Do you have OpenGL-compatible 3D drivers installed for your video card? Compiz Fusion uses OpenGL to do the effects so your video card has to be set up in Linux to support that.
I’m having the same problem as peter. It *looks* like all the appropriate compiz-fusion packages are installed, but desktop effects don’t work. I’m using the stock ATI driver, which works fine in ubuntu with compiz-fusion (dual boot on the laptop while I decide what I want to run).
This is on a new install of kubutu 7.10
ah ha…google to the rescue
http://forum.compiz-fusion.org/archive/index.php/t-3157.html
Interesting. So what fixed it? Running compiz –replace or did you have Beryl installed and taking it out got Compiz working?
I wasn’t starting “compiz” so it didn’t work. Once I got it started I found that if I set “emerald –replace” as the window decorator inside of compiz’s configuration everything works fins most of the time (sometimes the window borders vanish)
Ah, OK. I’ve had Emerald disappear once so far. Just ran emerald –replace to bring it back. Such is life on the bleeding edge, eh? But it’s still pretty cool. Glad you got it working.
I found that by adding “emerald –replace” as the “Command” in the “Window Decoration” plugin section of CompizConfig meant that emerald stopped disappearing most of the time.
Will give that a shot. Thanks!
After all the steps suggested done, guess what, the same problem: no title bars!
Compiz-fusion worked out-of-the-box with Mandriva 2008, but there´s no way of making things run ok with Kubuntu Gutsy. 🙁
i did all these steps and i do ctrl alt and grab to see the hole cube but im stuck inside of it i need help