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I realize this gets reported a fair amount but I've searched as much as I can and nothing appears to be helping. After doing an update last night, I logged in today and cannot see the launcher or menu bar. When I open a terminal window, the title bar at the top is cut off, so I suspect that there might be something scaling-related. It could be:

  1. that the launcher and menu bar are no longer there
  2. the launcher and menu bar are there, but beyond the borders of the laptop screen.

When I get to the login screen, I can see the menu bar with the time, battery display, wifi, etc.

When I log in to a guest account, the launcher and menu bar appear.

Here are the things that I've tried so far:

  1. sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install unity
sudo shutdown -r now

  2. sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
dconf reset -f /org/compiz/
setsid unity

    (when I run these steps, I get a brief resize of the desktop, then it seems stuck on "unity7 start/running, process 8299")

  3. mv ~/.config ~/.config_backup

  4. rm -rf .compiz-1

  5. sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
dconf reset -f /org/compiz/
setsid unity

  6. dconf reset /com/ubuntu/user-interface/scale-factor

  7. sudo apt-get install dconf-editor
dconf-editor

    open path com -> ubuntu -> user-interface cannot change the scale factor, it doesn't allow me to enter a numeric value

  8. unity --reset (screen briefly resizes, then goes back to "normal")

  9. initctl restart unity-panel-service
  10. The steps given here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeCs_gIey6c although I don't get the dialog boxes about "resolving conflicts"

Everything has been followed with a reboot.

WinEunuuchs2Unix
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lengthy_preamble
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  • I can try those steps, but it's from 2016 and I don't know what version of compiz to install. I did attempt the steps to reinstall unity, to no avail. – lengthy_preamble Mar 03 '18 at 17:41
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    Someone else recently had a problem with Ubuntu Updates. I see you haven't tried this simple solution yet: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1007026/ubuntu-menu-and-launcher-not-showing-after-2-16-2018-update/1007213#1007213 – WinEunuuchs2Unix Mar 03 '18 at 17:47
  • That's actually in point 4, but thank you nonetheless. – lengthy_preamble Mar 03 '18 at 17:52
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    I should have noticed earlier but you didn't try: sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager from the Q&A with 1,000 upvotes: https://askubuntu.com/questions/17381/unity-doesnt-load-no-launcher-no-dash-appears – WinEunuuchs2Unix Mar 03 '18 at 19:14
  • I have the exact same problems including lack of alt tab and and notice that guest account is fine. see also https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2386528&page=2 and https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/665349 – Erica Hollis Mar 07 '18 at 15:04

3 Answers3

3

Please try removing .cache directory on Home:

rm -rf ~/.cache
cesaramirezfr
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3

OK Guys, I have found the solution posted in another forum and it works for me and at least two others - very simple. Open a terminal by right clicking on the background then type in this command: sudo -r ~/.cache then reboot.

Erica Hollis
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  • This did indeed work. Thanks Erica! Actually, I had to type in "sudo rm -R ~/.cache" but it nonetheless worked anyways. – lengthy_preamble Mar 10 '18 at 15:26
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    @lengthy_preamble since the command provided isn't the command you used and you accepted it I think it would be wise to edit this answer with the command that you actually used. Although to be honest I'm baffled that this worked for you. – Elder Geek Mar 13 '18 at 17:39
0

As per this accepted answer, try:

rm -rf ~/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/*
sudo reboot

Your step #4 isn't exactly the same thing. For example:

rick@alien:~$ locate ~/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/*
/home/rick/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/config
/home/rick/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/done_upgrades
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
rick@alien:~$ rm -rf .compiz-1 # Your step 4)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
rick@alien:~$ locate ~/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/*
/home/rick/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/config
/home/rick/.config/compiz-1/compizconfig/done_upgrades

The compiz files in question are still there.

WinEunuuchs2Unix
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  • Hello WinEunuuchs2Unix, I tried the above step exactly as written and unfortunately there has been no change, even with a reboot. Oddly enough, I've noticed that I can't resize the borders of any windows or even alt-tab. Very strange. – lengthy_preamble Mar 03 '18 at 18:55
  • @lengthy_preamble That user's update was dated Feb 16/2018 so it could be your update is a different problem altogether. The lack of Alt+Tab support and window resizing was not mentioned in other posts that I can recall. – WinEunuuchs2Unix Mar 03 '18 at 18:57
  • Thank you for trying. For the time being, I have created a new user and hopefully I can get enough work done that way. Hopefully someone will have some other suggestions, though... – lengthy_preamble Mar 03 '18 at 19:01
  • @lengthy_preamble The new user account (or a guest session) is the one thing in common I've seen working in other posts. So there are certainly similarities. I'll keep looking... – WinEunuuchs2Unix Mar 03 '18 at 19:02