KDE 4.1 Desktop Effects stopped working

My Desktop Effects have worked fine up until now. I have an nvidia 9400 gt pcie video card with the 180.29 drivers installed. When i try to enable them again i get the following error

"**Failed to activate desktop effects using the given configuration options. Settings will be reverted to their previous values.

Check your X configuration. You may also consider changing advanced options, especially changing the compositing type**"

I’ve googled and seen similar problems on other disto’s and i have found ones on this forum but none that help me. Does anyone else have this problem and what can i do to fix it. I dont know if this was caused by an update or what but i have reinstalled my drivers multiple times and different driver versions but all resulting in the same error above. Cannot switch to XRender either but prefer opengl as it is faster then xrenderAny help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Dwight

p.s. I am using opensuse 11.1

Nvidia cards have been known to have issues with KDE 4, especially if you use kwin.

jett713 adjusted his/her AFB on Sunday 10 May 2009 21:36 to write:

>
> My Desktop Effects have worked fine up until now. I have an nvidia 9400
> gt pcie video card with the 180.29 drivers installed. When i try to
> enable them again i get the following error
>
> “Failed to activate desktop effects using the given configuration
> options. Settings will be reverted to their previous values.
>
> Check your X configuration. You may also consider changing advanced
> options, especially changing the compositing type

>
> I’ve googled and seen similar problems on other disto’s and i have
> found ones on this forum but none that help me. Does anyone else have
> this problem and what can i do to fix it. I dont know if this was caused
> by an update or what but i have reinstalled my drivers multiple times
> and different driver versions but all resulting in the same error above.
> Cannot switch to XRender either but prefer opengl as it is faster then
> xrenderAny help is appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Dwight
>
>

Have you checked that the composite is set to “on” in your xorg.conf??

you probably have but that is the first step I would do.

HTH


Mark

Nullus in verba
Nil illigitimi carborundum

Please post your xorg.conf located at /etc/X11

Take Care,

Ian

Here is my xorg looks like it is enabled to me

Section "Files"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/local"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/URW"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Speedo"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/PEX"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/kwintv"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/CID"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/xtest"
  FontPath     "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
  InputDevices "/dev/gpmdata"
  InputDevices "/dev/input/mice"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option       "AllowMouseOpenFail" "on"
  Option       "ZapWarning" "on"
EndSection

Section "Module"
  Load         "dri"
  Load         "dbe"
  Load         "freetype"
  Load         "extmod"
  Load         "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "kbd"
  Identifier   "Keyboard[0]"
  Option       "Protocol" "Standard"
  Option       "XkbLayout" "us"
  Option       "XkbModel" "microsoftpro"
  Option       "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection


Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "mouse"
  Identifier   "Mouse[1]"
  Option       "Buttons" "14"
  Option       "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option       "Name" "Logitech USB Receiver"
  Option       "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
  Option       "Vendor" "Sysp"
  Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
  Option       "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
  DisplaySize  408 255
  HorizSync    30-82
  Identifier   "Monitor[0]"
  ModelName    "ACER AL1916W"
  Option       "DPMS"
  VendorName   "ACR"
  VertRefresh  43-76
  UseModes     "Modes[0]"
EndSection


Section "Modes"
  Identifier   "Modes[0]"
  Modeline 	"1440x900" 106.00 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 903 909 934
EndSection


Section "Screen"
  DefaultDepth 24
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      15
    Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" 
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      16
    Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" 
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      24
    Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" 
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      8
    Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" 
  EndSubSection
  Device       "Device[0]"
  Identifier   "Screen[0]"
  Monitor      "Monitor[0]"
EndSection


Section "Device"
  BoardName    "GeForce 9400 GT"
  Driver       "nvidia"
  Identifier   "Device[0]"
  VendorName   "NVIDIA"
  Option       "ModelValidation" "DFP-0:NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck"
EndSection



Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier   "Layout[all]"
  InputDevice  "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice  "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
  Option       "Clone" "off"
  Option       "Xinerama" "off"
  Screen       "Screen[0]"
EndSection


Section "DRI"
    Group      "video"
    Mode       0660
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
  Option       "Composite" "on"
EndSection

need anymore info just let me know

thanks,
Dwight

Have you checked that the composite is set to “on” in your xorg.conf??

It means that you have the section


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

(or “on”)
included in your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.
Anyway, the compositing probably will switch of on high process load. I’m posted it to KDE forums: LID standby disables Desktop Effects - Page 1.
Good luck.

You do not have aiglx enabled and you’ll also need to run some commands.

First hit alt+f2 and type

kdesu kwrite /etc/X11/xorg.conf

then under Section “ServerLayout” add

option "aiglx" "true"

Save and exit that. Then open a terminal and enter these commands one by one:

su

enter root password then type these one by one

nvidia-xconfig --composite
nvidia-xconfig --render-accel
nvidia-xconfig --add-argb-glx-visuals -d 24

Then restart and try your desktop effects.

Good Luck,

Ian

I’m no longer playing KDE4, so I made a link to this post on KDE forums. I hope someone will find it useful.
Thank you.

I did what you said still get the error. This is what xorg looks like now.

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout[all]"
    Screen         "Screen[0]" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
    Option         "aiglx" "true"
    Option         "Clone" "off"
    Option         "Xinerama" "off"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    InputDevices      "/dev/gpmdata"
    InputDevices      "/dev/input/mice"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/local"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/URW"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/Speedo"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/PEX"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/kwintv"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/CID"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/xtest"
    FontPath        "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "AllowMouseOpenFail" "on"
    Option         "ZapWarning" "on"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Keyboard[0]"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "Protocol" "Standard"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "us"
    Option         "XkbModel" "microsoftpro"
    Option         "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Mouse[1]"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Buttons" "14"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Name" "Logitech USB Receiver"
    Option         "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
    Option         "Vendor" "Sysp"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
    Identifier         "Modes[0]"
    ModeLine     "1440x900" 106.00 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 903 909 934
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor[0]"
    VendorName     "ACR"
    ModelName      "ACER AL1916W"
    UseModes       "Modes[0]"
    DisplaySize     408    255
    HorizSync       30.0 - 82.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 76.0
    Option         "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device[0]"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA"
    BoardName      "GeForce 9400 GT"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen[0]"
    Device         "Device[0]"
    Monitor        "Monitor[0]"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "ModelValidation" "DFP-0:NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck"
    Option         "RenderAccel" "True"
    Option         "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       15
        Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1440x900" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
    Option         "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

Hmm…

Your xorg.conf is configured correctly.

The only other thing I can think of is that you have an effect option enabled that’s not supported by your card. Or perhaps you should try the drivers from the openSUSE Nvidia website

I myself use compiz-fusion and have no problems at all with my Geforce 4 MX 4000. But what works for one doesn’t always work for another.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

Take Care,

Ian

If you do decide to try the one-click drivers from the openSUSE site remember to completely uninstall the manually compiled driver first.

Take Care,

Ian

It’s just really weird. Desktop effects have worked since day one when i installed 11.1 and that was back when it first came out. A few days ago desktop effects just stopped working out of the blue. I’ll try the one click install drivers and see if that works but i prefer to compile the drivers myself. I’ll report back.

Thanks,
Dwight

I manually removed my compiled drivers with nvidia-uninstall. Re-installed with the one click method and still get the same error. Does anyone else have any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks,
Dwight

Did you redo all those commands and stuff I told you to do when you had the manually compiled driver? If not I’d try doing that. Then restart and see if anything changes.

Good Luck,

Ian

OK i have made some progress but i cant figure out what to do. If I create a new user the desktop effects will work. But if i use my main user account the desktop effects will not work. Any suggestions on what might cause this problem?

Thanks
Dwight

Anyone?

Thanks
Dwight

Deleting the user’s .kde4 folder should solve it (if you delete it all personal data what you have stored in KDE4 programs (kopete contacts, configured e-mail accounts in kmail, etc. will be deleted).