Ubuntu 13.04 / Parallels 9: toolbar / dock disappears after Parallels Tools update

G

Gavin Lawrie

Bit poster
Installed vanilla copy of Ubuntu 13.04 within Parallels 9 (Build 9.0.23062) running on OS X 10.9 without problems, but when I installed parallels tools the menu bar and dock disappeared for the logged in account.

Same Parallels installation supports Win8, Debian and Elementary VMs without problems (and with Parallels Tools in each case). So don't think it is the platform at fault, just something borked in how Parallels Tools talks specifically to Ubuntu 13.04... (but of course I may be wrong etc.!).

If I log out, the log-in screen is fully formed (menu bar etc.). But if I log in, just desktop and icons, but no menu bar or dock.

Any ideas how I get them back? All I can do currently is log into the single user account on the machine... and then log out (Ctrl-Alt-Del).

Thanks in advance for any help etc.
 
I have a similar problem after installing today's update (Build 9.0.23062) on 8.5. I see the left-hand dock, but the desktop itself is black and flashes. I can't tell whether Parallels Tools got updated or not. It has trashed my working Ubuntu 13.04.
 
I have this same problem Build 9.0.23140 with Ubuntu 12.04. Just installed this build and after re-installing tools, no desktop. OSX 10.9.
 
todivefor said:
I have this same problem Build 9.0.23140 with Ubuntu 12.04. Just installed this build and after re-installing tools, no desktop. OSX 10.9.
Click to expand...

I tried re-installing tools and now I can't even logon. I type password and enter, there is some flickering and then back to logon screen.
 
I restarted Unity and that worked for me.
Press Ctrl-Alt-T and that will bring the terminal window up.
This will restart it:

dconf reset -f /org/compiz/
unity --reset-icons &disown
 
Metope said:
I restarted Unity and that worked for me.
Press Ctrl-Alt-T and that will bring the terminal window up.
This will restart it:

dconf reset -f /org/compiz/
unity --reset-icons &disown
Click to expand...

This did not work for me. I am an ubuntu noob and only use to play/learn. I have a snapshot before installing tools I am using til this is figured out.


peter@ubuntu:~$ unity --reset-icons &disown
[1] 2989
peter@ubuntu:~$ Killed
unity-panel-service: no process found
Checking if settings need to be migrated ...no
Checking if internal files need to be migrated ...no
Backend : gconf
Integration : true
Profile : unity
Adding plugins
Initializing core options...done
Initializing composite options...done
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libopengl.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'opengl'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libcompiztoolbox.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'compiztoolbox'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libdecor.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'decor'
Initializing vpswitch options...done
Initializing snap options...done
Initializing mousepoll options...done
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libresize.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'resize'
Initializing place options...done
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libmove.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'move'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libwall.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'wall'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libgrid.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'grid'
Initializing session options...done
Initializing gnomecompat options...done
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libanimation.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'animation'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libfade.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'fade'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libunitymtgrabhandles.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'unitymtgrabhandles'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libworkarounds.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'workarounds'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libscale.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'scale'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libexpo.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'expo'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libezoom.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'ezoom'
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin '/usr/lib/compiz/libunityshell.so' : libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
compiz (core) - Error: Couldn't load plugin 'unityshell'
Setting Update "main_menu_key"
Setting Update "run_key"
 
I have the same problem. Ubuntu is useless after Tools update!

Did Parallels not test this before? I can't understand :-(
 
This is apparently the typical level of customer support you can expect from Parallels - i.e. not much. I ran into this problem again when upgrading Parallels 9 to the latest maintenance release and it reinstalled Parallels Tools on my Ubuntu 13.04 VM. Now when I log in I get no dock and none of the usual tricks will bring it back. I'm probably going to dump Parallels and use something else.
 
I tried a second time, and the screen appeared properly, and Parallels Tools is installing itself!
But after a reboot, I no longer see the left-hand tool bar.
dconf reset -f /org/compiz/
unity --reset-icons &disown
indeed fixed the problem

But then I updated the kernel and had to reboot. After the reboot, I get the black desktop area which flashes occasionally, and no apps show it.
 
Last edited:
I too have Parallels build 9.0.23350 and just recently created an Ubuntu 13.04 VM by selecting from the New Virtual Machine Parallels Wizard.
I accepted the Ubuntu updates, which included the kernel update and then updated the Parallels tools. That's when I lost the desktop.

I used CTRL-ALT-F1 to switch to a terminal and then used

pushd /media/parallels/CDROM
sudo mount -t iso9660 -o loop prl-tools-lin.iso /mnt
sudo /mnt/install

I chose to first remove Parallels Tools and then reboot, and then I did this again to install the Parallels Tools.
I rebooted the VM again and now I have a desktop, but no Unity sidebar.

I tried CTRL-ALT-F1 again to execute:
dconf reset -f /org/compiz

but I get the following output:

error: Error spawning command line `dbus-launch --autolaunch=66f3...0106 -binary-syntax --close-stderr': Child process exited with code 1

I went ahead and tried
unity --reset-icons &disown

which completed successfully, but I still do not have a Unity sidebar.

Since this is a new Ubuntu VM, I'm going to replace it with another new one, but not accept the Parallel Tools upgrade once it is up and running.

[UPDATE 2013-12-02 17:32 PST]

I created a new Ubuntu 13.04 VM and initially had everything working. I rejected Parallel's request to update its tools. I then used the Software Updater to update 13.04 and rebooted. I have the problem again. I am now upgrading to version 13.10 from a terminal window I opened with CTRL-ALT-F1 and then I'll reboot and try the unity command again

[UPDATE 2013-12-08 01:15 PST]

I've got 13.10 running consistently now.
I downloaded the Ubuntu ISO and created the VM that way instead of retrieving it from within Parallels. For some reason, Ubuntu 13.04 retrieved by selecting File > New and then choosing "Download Ubuntu Free" leads to a world of hurt. After several reboots, the desktop is fine, with the exception that I have had problems with the screen resolution.

I get this error message displayed after the desktop is running:

Could not switch the monitor configuration
could not set the configuration for CRTC 88

Other than that, I have no problems.

MacBook Pro 17-inch, early 2011, 16GB
Mac OS X 9
Parallels 9.0.923350
Ubuntu 13.10 LTS
 
Last edited:
Same problem exists on Build 9.0.24172. I get this message during tools install:

"This problem report applies to a program which is not installed anymore. (/usr/bin/prlcp)"
 
Same issues here. Running latest Parallels (9.0.24172), created a new Ubuntu 13.04 VM, all seemed OK. Then Ubuntu wanted to do some software updates, and I'm completely hosed after that. The toolbar shows up, but none of the windows. Tried to reinstall Parallels tools, but it's asking me some question in a dialog box and I have no idea what the question is?? I tried pressing return, I tried pressing spacebar, I tried pressing tab and spacebar -- all got me various results (PTools goes away, sits there, whatever), but none got it working.

So much for this working flawlessly, huh? Maybe VMWare works better??
 
Chris Williams said:
Same issues here. Running latest Parallels (9.0.24172), created a new Ubuntu 13.04 VM, all seemed OK. Then Ubuntu wanted to do some software updates, and I'm completely hosed after that. The toolbar shows up, but none of the windows.
Click to expand...

This was exactly my experience after installing Ubuntu 13.04 software updates on a fresh VM, with the same Parallels build. I found that restarting the VM with 3d acceleration disabled caused a different situation to emerge; now the desktop shows up, but not the toolbar / dock. Also, windows appear but without any frame chrome, so they are unmovable etc*. The desktop is now taking up the entire screen; there is no blank space where toolbars should be.

I tried rebooting with 3d acceleration enabled again, it seems that it is now stuck in the latter mode. At least rather than a mostly black screen I have a desktop that is (barely) usable for what I want to do in the short term.

I've tried reinstalling Parallels tools and it made no difference, unsurprisingly.

*As it happens, I'm debugging my own Java (Swing) program in Eclipse, and one bug that I should fix is that while it initialises it resizes it's own window a couple of times. With the current state of my Ubuntu VM though, it simply remains fullscreen, implying that the problems with the VM effect not only the GUI graphics, but also programmatic manipulation of windows.
 
This issue relates to "use 3D acceleration" switch in the 'Video' settings of the virtual machine: when 3D-acceleration is 'on' - those 2 reset unity commands work fine, but shortly after that - the UI may become glitchy or un-responsive (looks like there are some troubles with Parallels Tools when 3D-acceleration turned on).
If the switch is 'off' - reset unity commands don't work any more.
It is somehow related, I'm still trying to make it work...
 
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