After updates, Ubuntu guest GUI doesn't work

[kenatsun]

I just let my Ubuntu 16.04 guest (running in VBox 5.1.0 on a Windows 7 host) perform an update its system and apps and restart itself. Since the update, the following GUI functions don't work (see numbered screen shots at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-thbo ... sp=sharing):

1. The launcher doesn't show (screen 1).
2. The windows have no frames or title bars, so the close, resize, and other controls are not accessible (screen 1).
3. If I try to close the machine using the "Send shutdown signal" (screen 2), nothing happens. "Power off the machine" and "Save the machine state" do work.

I'm a VBox and Ubuntu newbie, so I'm not sure whether this is a VBox or a Ubuntu issue.

Help?

~ Thanks in advance
~ Ken

[Frumious]

I ran into this and fixed it by moving my compiz config directory out of the way and rebooting.

e.g. cd ~/.config; mv compiz-l compiz-l-old

Then reboot.

[schorn]

I had the same problem after a recent Ubuntu update. In my case I just had to enable 3D acceleration in the Display / Screen settings. The problem immediately went away and the problem shows up again if "Enable 3D Acceleration" is not checked.

[kenatsun]

Thanks, folks.

Alas, the "mv compiz-1" and "enable 3d acceleration" suggestions didn't work for me.

Any other suggestions?

[Perryg]

Post the guests log file ( as an attachment ). Right click on the guest in the Main Manager then click show log. Save and post as an attachment. Compress if it is too large to post.

Also most including myself will not go to external links to see information. Post them here ( as an attachment )

[kenatsun]

Log is attached.

[Perryg]

It seems that VBox is having some issue with the host GPU, but you can test that by disabling 3D and see if the guest works ( albeit slower ).

It may also help to make sure you have the newest drivers for your host GPU and even to try to upgrade VirtualBox to the newest version 5.1.2 as there have been a lot of changes in this area since 5.1.0 came out.

[mtca]

Having the same problem with VirtualBox 5.0. Found that installing just the "Important Security Updates" works OK.

If anyone finds a solution, please post it.

Edit: Hardware is Dell XPS8700 with GTX745 graphics card.
Host is Ubuntu 16.04 with default graphics driver. Host works after complete update.

Thanks,
Frank

[kenatsun]

I've solved the problem , but it took drastic means: I completely uninstalled and reinstalled VirtualBox (version 5.1.2) and created a brand-new Ubuntu guest (version 16.04.1) within it.

For the benefit of others with this problem, let me document the suggestions I tried that didn't work (they didn't break anything, but they didn't change anything):

1. Enabling or disabling 3D graphics acceleration.
2. Checking that my host GPU is up-to-date. (It already was.)
3. Deleting the "compiz-1" directory and letting Ubuntu rebuild it on boot.
4. Upgrading VBox to the latest (5.1.2), then running the old Ubuntu VM in it. Actually, I did get a number of errors in this process. I'll attach my "diary" of this process and the log of a startup attempt today, in case anyone wants to research it further.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I hope the notes in this post will give back something that will be useful to somebody in this community.

~ Ken

[stefan66]

Been having the same problems with log-in and no launcher...with 3d-acceleration on i can now log-in and run programs by clicking in Activities(top left corner) and then the launch bar pops up...but can't make it stay put on the left side of the screen...

[schorn]

I noticed that my suggested fix with turning on 3D Acceleration works for me only consistently for the 64-bit version of Ubuntu. In the 32-bit version, the issue shows up most of the time after starting from VirtualBox even though 3D Acceleration is turned on. What has helped me in this case is a "sudo reboot" from a terminal window. After the reboot from within Ubuntu the GUI shows up.

[wroot]

I noticed that my suggested fix with turning on 3D Acceleration works for me only consistently for the 64-bit version of Ubuntu. In the 32-bit version, the issue shows up most of the time after starting from VirtualBox even though 3D Acceleration is turned on. What has helped me in this case is a "sudo reboot" from a terminal window. After the reboot from within Ubuntu the GUI shows up.

Yep. Rebooting often helps to get the GUI back. I thought my Ubuntu guest got damaged or something and tried to to clean reinstall, but i hit the same problem and now also garbled screen. I think running with 3D enabled is better (no garbled screen, at least after the setup). This started happening after one of the recent Ubuntu updates (i think i saw something like "META display" or similar in the details). Xubuntu guest is running flawlessly for years (upgrading distro 2-3 times now). Unity is causing various problems and working slowly ever since introducing it..

[danohboca]

I've had the same issue after an update to 16.04 . 3D acceleration was off. Turned it on then off. No change. WIndows 10 64 host, Ubuntu 64 Guest. Worked flawlessly until a 16.04 software update.

[wroot]

Yesterday i have rebooted my Ubuntu 16.04 VM like 5 times and Unity never booted up (empty desktop). Then i have launched Unity from terminal. Ran updates check, installed, rebooted and from now on it is booting up perfectly fine.