Ubuntu
screen-resolution-extra package

Attempting to enable mirrored displays on a fresh Ubuntu install fails when not root - missing dependency

Bug #454261 reported by Darren Schreiber
10
This bug affects 2 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
screen-resolution-extra (Ubuntu)
Fix Released
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: gnome-control-center

This is a fresh install of Ubuntu Karmic 9.10. gnome-control-center is at version 2.28.0-0ubuntu2

On a fresh install of Ubuntu on a system with an ATI card and dual-monitors (no proprietary ATI drivers), I tried to turn off mirroring...

I performed these actions:
1. Selected System / Preferences / Display (which appears to execute gnome-display-properties)
2. Unchecked the box for Mirror Displays
3. Dialog box appears asking if I wish to increase my virtual resolution to support this mode, and I click yes.
4. The display properties window freezes. Process is still running but no longer responding.

When running via the CLI, I see:
(gnome-display-properties:5172): Gtk-WARNING **: No object called:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/screen-resolution-extra/policyui.py", line 184, in on_button1_clicked
    self.conf = get_xkit_service()
  File "/usr/share/screen-resolution-extra/policyui.py", line 75, in get_xkit_service
    granted = policy_auth.obtain_authorization(POLICY_KIT_ACTION, widget)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ScreenResolution/policykit.py", line 65, in obtain_authorization
    granted = self.auth_agent.ObtainAuthorization(action_id, xid, pid)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ScreenResolution/policykit.py", line 91, in __get_auth_agent
    'org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.AuthenticationAgent', '/')
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/bus.py", line 244, in get_object
    follow_name_owner_changes=follow_name_owner_changes)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/proxies.py", line 241, in __init__
    self._named_service = conn.activate_name_owner(bus_name)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/bus.py", line 183, in activate_name_owner
    self.start_service_by_name(bus_name)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/bus.py", line 281, in start_service_by_name
    'su', (bus_name, flags)))
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking
    message, timeout)
dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.AuthenticationAgent was not provided by any .service files
Error in sys.excepthook:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/apport_python_hook.py", line 100, in apport_excepthook
    os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREAT|os.O_EXCL), 'w')
OSError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/crash/_usr_share_screen-resolution-extra_policyui.py.1000.crash'

Original exception was:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/screen-resolution-extra/policyui.py", line 184, in on_button1_clicked
    self.conf = get_xkit_service()
  File "/usr/share/screen-resolution-extra/policyui.py", line 75, in get_xkit_service
    granted = policy_auth.obtain_authorization(POLICY_KIT_ACTION, widget)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ScreenResolution/policykit.py", line 65, in obtain_authorization
    granted = self.auth_agent.ObtainAuthorization(action_id, xid, pid)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ScreenResolution/policykit.py", line 91, in __get_auth_agent
    'org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.AuthenticationAgent', '/')
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/bus.py", line 244, in get_object
    follow_name_owner_changes=follow_name_owner_changes)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/proxies.py", line 241, in __init__
    self._named_service = conn.activate_name_owner(bus_name)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/bus.py", line 183, in activate_name_owner
    self.start_service_by_name(bus_name)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/bus.py", line 281, in start_service_by_name
    'su', (bus_name, flags)))
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking
    message, timeout)
dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.AuthenticationAgent was not provided by any .service files
^CTraceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/screen-resolution-extra/policyui.py", line 245, in <module>
    gtk.main()

It appears that the display manager is attempting to increase my virtual resolution, which requires authentication in order to write to those files, but is failing to find the authentication libraries.

To fix this, I did:

sudo apt-get install policykit-gnome

and then followed the same steps above, but this time was prompted for my password at step 4 and, upon successfully entering my password, everything worked.

I would suggest that in dual-monitor situations (or maybe always?) the policykit-gnome libraries are required?

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Oct 17 14:56:31 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/gnome-display-properties
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Beta amd64 (20090929.2)
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
Package: gnome-control-center 1:2.28.0-0ubuntu2
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-11.36-generic
SourcePackage: gnome-control-center
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-11-generic x86_64

Revision history for this message
Darren Schreiber (d-d-man) wrote :
Sebastien Bacher (seb128)
affects: gnome-control-center (Ubuntu) → screen-resolution-extra (Ubuntu)
Revision history for this message
tamalet (tamalet) wrote :

I am having the same problem, but it is when trying to disable mirrored displays (as explained in the description of the bug), not when enabling it (as the title says).

I have a Dell Latitude D420 with an Intel Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller and I am running a fresh install of Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) with updates.
When I boot with an external monitor I get a bad resolution because by default the screens are mirrored, even when the lid of the notebook is closed.
When I untick Mirror screens and increase the resolution, the screens gets black with only the cursor visible, but it doesn't move. I have to do a hard reset.
The error is repeatable, even on the live cd. But it is strange that on my previous instalation of Ubuntu 9.10 on the same computer I did not experience this bug. It could be some update that broke it, but as I said, I get the same error from the live cd (with no updates).

Unfortunately, I was not able to gather much information. Running gnome-display-properties from the console and redirecting the output I only get (from the standard error):
(gnome-display-properties:2149): Gtk-WARNING **: Ignoring the separator setting
(gnome-display-properties:2149): Gtk-WARNING **: No object called:

I have enabled apport, but there is no apport.log in /var/log/ and /var/crash is empty.

As suggested, I installed policykit-gnome and its dependencies, even when policykit-1-gnome was already installed, but it did not fix the problem for me.
Eventually I found a workaround: untick Mirror screens, select the monitor of the notebook and switch the radio buttom to off.

Revision history for this message
Mark (mark-exmachina) wrote :

Hi,

i have the same problem as tamalet when i uncheck the mirror screen option. My screen goes black and only the cursor is visible. The only option left is resetting my computer.

I have had no problem on this laptop with the previous ubuntu releases. I have this problem sins i upgraded to the latest 9.10 version.

I also found out that disabling you laptop screen works as a workaround. But i like to have 2 screens :-)

I have a IBM Thinkpad x60

laptop:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

This bug was fixed in the package screen-resolution-extra - 0.14ubuntu2

---------------
screen-resolution-extra (0.14ubuntu2) precise; urgency=low

  * Finish conversion to dh_python2. Fixes issue where none of
    screen-resolution-extra's files are installed, which prevents nvidia
    config from making changes to xorg.conf.
    (LP: #913690)
  * Add dependency on policykit-gnome since some scripts use gtk policykit,
    which won't work on KDE where gtk2 may not be installed by default.
    (LP: #673733, #454261)
 -- Bryce Harrington <email address hidden> Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:39:12 -0800

Changed in screen-resolution-extra (Ubuntu):
status: New → Fix Released
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