I’m getting the following message on login:
Compositing has been disabled by another application
As soon as i press “Resume compositing” everything is back to normal.
It happens only on login, and i don’t have a clue where to look.
/home/username/.xsession-errors
would be a good place to start
Power management can sometimes do that.
Look in system settings - advanced - power management - edit profiles
Every profile has a checkbox to disable desktop effects if active.
I’m not sure this is your problem because I’m not using these profiles on my desktop machine.
It’s probably there for laptop users.
I’m not getting anything about compositing in .xsession-errors:
/etc/X11/xim: Checking whether an input method should be started.
/etc/X11/xim: user environment variable LANG=en_US.UTF-8
sourcing /etc/sysconfig/language to get the value of INPUT_METHOD
INPUT_METHOD is not set or empty (no user selected input method).
Trying to start a default input method for the locale en_US.UTF-8 …
There is no default input method for the current locale.
Dummy input method “none” (do not use any fancy input method by default)
migrating “/home/strzol/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/mandriva-linux-free-2009.1-dual.iso.desktop” → “/home/strzol/.kde4/share/apps/RecentDocuments/mandriva-linux-free-2009.1-dual.iso.desktop”
migrating “/home/strzol/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/mandriva-linux-free-2009.1-x86_64.iso.desktop” → “/home/strzol/.kde4/share/apps/RecentDocuments/mandriva-linux-free-2009.1-x86_64.iso.desktop”
migrating “/home/strzol/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/Sabayon_Linux_4.1_amd64_K.iso.desktop” → “/home/strzol/.kde4/share/apps/RecentDocuments/Sabayon_Linux_4.1_amd64_K.iso.desktop”
migrating “/home/strzol/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/ubuntu-8.10-desktop-i386.iso.desktop” → “/home/strzol/.kde4/share/apps/RecentDocuments/ubuntu-8.10-desktop-i386.iso.desktop”
migrating “/home/strzol/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/ΔΕΗ-γείτονες.desktop” → “/home/strzol/.kde4/share/apps/RecentDocuments/ΔΕΗ-γείτονες.desktop”
migrating “/home/strzol/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/Πρίντεζης - Γαμπάς.desktop” → “/home/strzol/.kde4/share/apps/RecentDocuments/Πρίντεζης - Γαμπάς.desktop”
startkde: Starting up…
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_klauncher.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kded4.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kbuildsycoca4.so
kbuildsycoca4 running…
kbuildsycoca4(4329) KBuildSycoca::checkDirTimestamps: timestamp changed: “/home/strzol/.kde4/share/kde4/services/nsplugin.desktop”
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kbuildsycoca4.so
kbuildsycoca4 running…
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kconf_update.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kcminit_startup.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_ksmserver.so
<unknown program name>(4325)/ KStartupInfo::createNewStartupId: creating: “teras;1249111864;50664;4325_TIME0” : “unnamed app”
kephald starting up
XRANDR error base: 167
RRInput mask is set!!
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 147 1680 x 1050
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 148 1440 x 900
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 149 1400 x 1050
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 150 1280 x 1024
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 151 1280 x 1024
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 152 1280 x 1024
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 153 1280 x 1024
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 154 1280 x 1024
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 155 1280 x 960
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 156 1280 x 768
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 157 1280 x 720
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 158 1280 x 720
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 159 1152 x 864
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 160 1152 x 864
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 161 1152 x 864
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 162 1152 x 864
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 163 1152 x 864
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 164 1024 x 768
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 165 1024 x 768
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 166 1024 x 768
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 167 1024 x 768
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 168 1024 x 768
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 169 800 x 600
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 170 800 x 600
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 171 800 x 600
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 172 800 x 600
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 173 800 x 600
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 174 640 x 480
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 175 640 x 480
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 176 640 x 480
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 177 640 x 400
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 178 640 x 400
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 179 512 x 384
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 180 400 x 300
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 181 400 x 300
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 182 320 x 240
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 183 320 x 240
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 184 320 x 200
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding mode: 185 320 x 200
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding crtc: 145
RandRScreen::loadSettings - adding output: 146
Setting CRTC 145 on output “default” (previous 0 )
CRTC outputs: (146)
Output name: “default”
Output refresh rate: 60
Output rect: QRect(0,0 1680x1050)
Output rotation: 1
XRandROutputs::init
added output 146
adding an output 0 with geom: QRect(0,0 1680x1050)
output: “SCREEN-0” QRect(0,0 1680x1050) 0 false false
load xml
connected: 1
looking for current “SCREEN-0”
known “" has score: 0.125
screen: 0 QRect(0,0 1680x1050)
looking for a matching configuration…
connected: 1
looking for current “SCREEN-0”
known "” has score: 0.125
found outputs, known: false
activate external configuration!!
registered the service: true
screens registered on the bus: true
outputs registered on the bus: true
configurations registered on the bus: true
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kglobalaccel.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_plasma-desktop.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/knotify4
QDBusObjectPath: invalid path “”
QLayout: Attempting to add QLayout “” to QWidget “”, which already has a layout
Invalid D-BUS interface name ‘org.kde.plasma-desktop.PlasmaApp’ found while parsing introspection
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_desktop.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_trash.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kaccess.so
<unknown program name>(4352)/ kdemain: Xlib XKB extension major= 1 minor= 0
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kxkb.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_file.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_krunner.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kmixctrl.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_nepomukserver.so
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (Soprano::Redland::BackendPlugin) creating model of type “hashes” with options “hash-type=‘bdb’,contexts=‘yes’,dir=’/home/strzol/.kde4/share/apps/nepomuk/repository/main/data/redland’”
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (ServerCore) new socket connection.
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (ServerCore) new socket connection.
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_trash.so
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (ServerCore) new socket connection.
(ServerCore) new socket connection.
(ServerCore) new socket connection.
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_nepomukserver.so
Nepomuk server already running.
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/nepomukservicestub
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/nepomukservicestub
Unknown service name: 10e7657261000124907593600000043270008_1249079687_100303
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/nepomukservicestub
Unknown service name: 10e7657261000124907593700000043270009_1249079687_100377
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/nepomukservicestub
Unknown service name: 10e7657261000124907593700000043270011_1249079687_100448
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kmix.so
Unknown service name: 10e7657261000124907593700000043270012_1249079687_100518
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/printer-applet
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/hp-systray
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/start-pulseaudio-x11
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/printer-applet
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /opt/kde3/bin/appspreloader.sh
QDBusObjectPath: invalid path “”
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /opt/kde3/bin/runupdater
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/policykit-kde
W: main.c: High-priority scheduling enabled in configuration but not allowed by policy.
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/kupdateapplet
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kmix.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_klipper.so
E: socket-client.c: socket(): Address family not supported by protocol
e[35;01mwarning: No hp: or hpfax: devices found in any installed CUPS queue. Exiting.e[0me[01mHP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.9.6b)e[0m
e[01mSystem Tray Status Service ver. 2.0e[0mCopyright (c) 2001-9 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/systemsettings
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/firefox
*** nss-shared-helper: Shared database disabled (set NSS_USE_SHARED_DB to enable).
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_konsole.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/libexec/kdesu
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/libexec/kdesud
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/dolphin
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (ServerCore) new socket connection.
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (ServerCore) new socket connection.
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] “/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub(4368)” Error in thread 140474405091152 : “query: Graph pattern graph operation is not implemented yet. Ending query execution. (error)” (line: 1, column: -1)
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (Soprano::Redland) “query: Graph pattern graph operation is not implemented yet. Ending query execution. (error)”
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_trash.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_file.so
error: line 871: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 880: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 883: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 892: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 896: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 901: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 906: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 910: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 913: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 917: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 927: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 933: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 939: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 945: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 951: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 956: multiple definitions of an affix flag
error: line 964: multiple definitions of an affix flag
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kconf_update.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kconf_update.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kbuildsycoca4.so
<unknown program name>(4325)/ KStartupInfo::createNewStartupId: creating: “teras;1249112876;309095;4325_TIME0” : “unnamed app”
kbuildsycoca4 running…
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kbuildsycoca4.so
<unknown program name>(4325)/ KStartupInfo::createNewStartupId: creating: “teras;1249112911;346241;4325_TIME0” : “unnamed app”
kbuildsycoca4 running…
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kbuildsycoca4.so
<unknown program name>(4325)/ KStartupInfo::createNewStartupId: creating: “teras;1249112924;37768;4325_TIME0” : “unnamed app”
kbuildsycoca4 running…
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] Removing connection
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] Removing connection
kDebugStream called after destruction (from void KDirWatchPrivate::removeEntry(KDirWatch*, KDirWatchPrivate::Entry*, KDirWatchPrivate::Entry*) file /usr/src/packages/BUILD/kdelibs-4.2.98/kio/kio/kdirwatch.cpp line 903)
Cancelled INotify (fd 10, 1) for “/home/strzol/.local/share”
Xlib: extension “XFree86-Misc” missing on display “:0.0”.
X Error: BadAccess (attempt to access private resource denied) 10
Major opcode: 2 (X_ChangeWindowAttributes)
Resource id: 0x480002a
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/bin/dolphin
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (ServerCore) new socket connection.
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (ServerCore) new socket connection.
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] “/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub(4368)” Error in thread 140474405091152 : “query: Graph pattern graph operation is not implemented yet. Ending query execution. (error)” (line: 1, column: -1)
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (Soprano::Redland) “query: Graph pattern graph operation is not implemented yet. Ending query execution. (error)”
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_trash.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_file.so
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] “/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub(4368)” Error in thread 140474405091152 : “query: Graph pattern graph operation is not implemented yet. Ending query execution. (error)” (line: 1, column: -1)
[/usr/bin/nepomukservicestub] (Soprano::Redland) “query: Graph pattern graph operation is not implemented yet. Ending query execution. (error)”
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/kde4/kio_thumbnail.so
kdeinit4: preparing to launch /usr/lib64/libkdeinit4_kwrite.so
had a similar experience using a ATI graphics chipset and the new Catalyst 9.7 driver, xrender was working well and then tried opengl render in kde4.2rc3. The usual switch and “Do you want to keep this setting” dialog. Subsequently, logging in left composite disabled and would start merely by activating it in Systemsettings.
Since opengl render was not stable enough, I didn’t pursue it anymore. Perhaps disabling the functionality tests (checkbox in Advanced) might have corrected it… by then I’d decided to go back to an older driver.
I have the latest Catalyst (9.7) on two identical (regarding the software) systems. The one has an HD3200 IGP and the second (that disables compositing on login) has an HD4670.
So it is not a universal problem of the latest Catalyst, but maybe is hardware related bug.
You can work around the issue by disabling the compositing self-check in the window options KCM (right click on a window and select window options).
I’m a Kubuntu user but I have the same problem with an ATI graphic card.
First, I have opened a bug report with KDE (https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=202274) and it would be useful if you go there and add a me-too report to make it more likely that a KDE dev looks at it.
Second, a workaround. Edit you kwinrc (~/.kde/share/config/kwinrc) file (you don’t have to be root) and change:
DisableChecks=false to DisableChecks=true
Enabled=false to Enabled=true (it might already be true if you manually enabled compositing this session).
save the file, logout and log in again, and it’s sorted.
Hope this helps and thank you for your hospitality.
I got the same problem I am using OS: 2.6.27.25-0.1-default x86_64
openSUSE 11.1 (x86_64)
4.3.00 (KDE 4.3.0) “release 155”
It occured after update from kde 4.2 to 4.3. tried it with catalyst 9.5 and 9.7 both the same … no change in behavoir.
In the above mentioned xsessions-errors there is the follwing entry.
X Error: BadWindow (invalid Window parameter) 3
Also renamed .kde4 in Runlevel 3 and rebooted … same effect. so it does not seem to be a user data specific issue.
Added the bugreport to the above mentioned thread. All who have the same problem please do so aswell.
This can be a cause too: ‘older’ plasmoids. There have been quite a few changes in Plasma since KDE4 4.0.0. On one of the machines I manage people loaded the desktop with plasmoids in the early days of KDE4. They caused a continuous 100% cpu load and lots of crashes.
Hi together,
in bugreport https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=202274 a workaround was provided.
"
In your ~/.kde/share/config/kwinrc file make sure that the following two lines
under [Compositing] are as such:
DisableChecks=true
Enabled=true
"
In my case the correct kwinrc file was under ~/.kde4/share/config
Once I changed the DisableChecks Value to “true” it worked as it should compositing was enabled from start. 
hope this helps you to 
linux_padawan
No need to do it that way, since the option is there in Systemsettings.
Go to Systemsettings, Desktop, Effects, Advanced. Here it says ‘Disable functionality checks’. This changes the mentioned value.
This isn’t working for me. If I use opengl for compositing type, compositing can’t be activated. If I use Xrender, compositing works but the cube effect doesn’t work. Disabling functionality checks doesn’t change anything.
Correction: If I disable functionality checks, it will only let me choose Xrender. And the cube effect doesn’t work, but other effects do.
I’m still getting the same behavior as what I posted above with Milestone 7. Compositing is enabled, but only works with XRender and the cube effect doesn’t work. I’m using nvidia 190.25 beta drivers.
Anyone else?
I updated to 190.32 and now the cube effect is working.