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**doctordruidphd** · Sep 03, 2009, 06:21 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

Glad you got your other problem fixed.

NVIDIA provides drivers for video cards, apparently including yours, at:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=122606

check this link for instructions on how to install this driver:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...4892#msg164892

You may also need to do some editing of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

**Pajoe** · Sep 03, 2009, 06:33 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

Mine gave the same 3 desktop effects cannot be enabled.

I gave up on the kde desktop effects and installed the gnome stuff for Compiz, Emerald Theme Manager, CompizConfig setting manager and most important the "Compiz Fusion Icon" which makes it all work. The icon sits in the system tray and when you right click on it you get the option to switch from the kde window manager to the compiz window manager etc, it also has the settings manager selection there as well. Now when I feel like it I turn it on and when I don't feel like it I use the kde window manager, the compiz window manager works with kde and you can still use the kde window decorator. When you switch the screen resets but all your open applications remain the same. The only big difference I saw so far is the desktops, rather than one application on 4 different desktops I put them on the same desktop, just 4 different sides of the cube.

I found out about it on YouTube. I was fooling around with the HDTivo one day and brought up a bunch of desktop effects videos on Youtube and some videos described how to do it with gnome on ubuntu and that method works with kde as well.

**bhamm77** · Sep 03, 2009, 06:41 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

Drdruid,

I have previously installed the nvidia driver you mentioned. dibl recommended it to me in my last quest.

I would like to hear anything else you may recommend trying.

Pajoe,

I may end up installing compiz for this endeavor, I was actually looking to do that at 1st. But I just wanted to make sure my system is functioning properly for now. So I wanted to try kwin before I went to compiz. I was thinking that kwin might be sufficient for me. Lets see if anyone know anything else that might work before I install & try compiz.

**bhamm77** · Sep 03, 2009, 07:20 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

tried to open NVIDIA X server settings....

got the following message:

You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run `nvidia-xconfig` as root), and restart the X server.

***so I want you all to take a look at my xorg.conf.... See below

Code:

ben@ben-desktop:~$ sudo nvidia-xconfig     

Using X configuration file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf".

VALIDATION ERROR: Data incomplete in file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
         Device section "Configured Video Device" must have a Driver line.

Backed up file '/etc/X11/xorg.conf' as '/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup'
New X configuration file written to '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'     

ben@ben-desktop:~$ cd /etc/X11        
ben@ben-desktop:/etc/X11$ cat xorg.conf   
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder62) Thu Jun 25 18:44:11 PDT 2009

Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier   "Layout0"
  Screen   0 "Screen0"
  InputDevice  "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice  "Mouse0" "CorePointer"  
EndSection                  

Section "Files"
EndSection   

Section "InputDevice"
  # generated from default
  Identifier   "Mouse0" 
  Driver     "mouse" 
  Option     "Protocol" "auto"
  Option     "Device" "/dev/psaux"
  Option     "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
  Option     "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  # generated from default
  Identifier   "Keyboard0"
  Driver     "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier   "Monitor0"
  VendorName   "Unknown"
  ModelName   "Unknown"
  HorizSync    30.0 - 110.0
  VertRefresh   50.0 - 150.0
  Option     "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
  Identifier   "Device0"
  Driver     "nvidia"
  VendorName   "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
  Identifier   "Screen0"
  Device     "Device0"
  Monitor    "Monitor0"
  DefaultDepth  24
  SubSection   "Display"
    Depth    24
  EndSubSection
EndSection

ben@ben-desktop:/etc/X11$

I was hoping this may give a clue as to why its not working :P

**Snowhog** · Sep 03, 2009, 07:32 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

So it appears that your xorg.conf was 'modified' by nvidia-xconfig. Have you, in a console, restarted the x server with:

Code:

sudo startx

**claydoh** · Sep 03, 2009, 07:34 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

I am trying to find some info, but I think that for some cards some of these effects are not available. I remember reading this somewhere as my older laptop, though using the open source ati drivers, could do most effects but not the cube or sphere. I remember vaguely the same for one of my older nvidia 5200 or 5500 cards but don't hold me to it as drivers have been updated since then, as has Xorg , kernels, etc :/

**dibl** · Sep 03, 2009, 08:09 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

Originally posted by bhamm77

I was hoping this may give a clue as to why its not working :P

Try editing your xorg.conf file, starting with the screen stanza, so it ends like this:

Code:

Section "Screen"
  Identifier   "Screen0"
  Device     "Device0"
  Monitor    "Monitor0"
  DefaultDepth  24
  Option    "AllowGLXWithComposite" "True"
  Option     "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
  SubSection   "Display"
    Depth    24
    Modes   "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
  Option "Composite" "Enabled"
EndSection

Then restart x and see what you have.

**bhamm77** · Sep 03, 2009, 08:41 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

okay. I edited the xorg.conf just the way you said.

then ran

Code:

sudo startx

here is a problem...(I think)

Code:

ben@ben-desktop:~$ sudo startx

X: warning; process set to priority -1 instead of requested priority 0

Fatal server error:
Server is already active for display 0
    If this server is no longer running, remove /tmp/.X0-lock
    and start again.


Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
     at [url]http://wiki.x.org[/url]
 for help.

 ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log
ben@ben-desktop:~$

Now I will input this information...Though I dont know if it is necessary

Code:

ben@ben-desktop:~$ cd /tmp
ben@ben-desktop:/tmp$ ls
gpg-wQIM6H    kde-ben  ksocket-ben  nv     orbit-root     ssh-WASKr14607
hsperfdata_root kde-root ksocket-root orbit-ben pulse-cXyHZzsRwpC5
ben@ben-desktop:/tmp$ sudo ls -a
.     gpg-wQIM6H    kde-ben   ksocket-root orbit-root     .winbindd  .X11-unix
..     hsperfdata_root kde-root   nv      pulse-cXyHZzsRwpC5 .wine-1000
.esd-1000 .ICE-unix    ksocket-ben orbit-ben   ssh-WASKr14607   .X0-lock
ben@ben-desktop:/tmp$ sudo cat .X0-lock
   14557
ben@ben-desktop:/tmp$

**doctordruidphd** · Sep 03, 2009, 08:56 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

If you have CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE enabled, use that.

Or:
logout
from the menu button choose "restart xserver"

Or:
CTRL-ALT-F2
login to the text console
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm start

**bhamm77** · Sep 03, 2009, 09:08 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

CTRL-ALT-F2
login to the text console
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm start

drdruid,

I did your suggestion. then...

Code:

sudo startx

got the same message

FYI

I installed the NVIDIA driver that was recommended & I accidentally for got to stop kdm 1st. Do you think that could have created an issue. It seemed to install hust fine and the GUI started back up when I did a

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

then

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm start

after installing the driver using

Code:

sudo sh NVIDIAetc....

**doctordruidphd** · Sep 03, 2009, 09:15 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

the kdm start command does the same thing (as far as I know) as startx, so startx will give you an error, which doesn't matter at this point.

As to whether installing with kdm running or not makes a difference, I suspect it does, but try turning your effects on and see if they work; if not, repeat the procedure with kdm stopped.

**bhamm77** · Sep 03, 2009, 09:35 PM

[Resolved] Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

Thank you all! I know have Desktop cube!

Extra thanks to you DRDRUID for seeing me through!

Going to go play with my new toy now!

**doctordruidphd** · Sep 03, 2009, 09:39 PM

Re: Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

One thing you need to be aware of...

Any time there is a kernel update, even if it's just a revision that does not change the version number, you will have to go through the console - kdm stop - sh NVIDIA -- kdm start process again. So don't delete the driver you downloaded; keep it handy. Any time your effects stop working, just reinstall it using that procedure.

And another thing... should you ever attempt to run any games with wine, you will have to turn compositing off, or they won't work. There is a plasma widget that toggles compositing, and I use that all the time.

Edit: oh yeah, I should also mention that when a kernel update occurs, your video may stop working altogether. Instead of the login screen, you will get an error screen that gives you several choices. Choose console login, and go through the installation procedure. The first time you see that screen, it scares the daylights out of you, but that's how to fix the problem.

**bhamm77** · Sep 03, 2009, 09:48 PM

Re: [Resolved] Problems enabling Desktop Cube continued...

Is there any way to stop the kernel updates from happening automatically? You know where, one can get the kernel updates when he feels like it? At least then I can predict when & how often I have to do the install of the NVIDIA driver.

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