Why can't Ubuntu Desktop effects be enabled?

Which video card are you using and which driver is X loading?

Oh and I’ve tried searching for xserver-xfg (or however it’s called..can’t remember) in the Synaptic packages.
Can’t even find it.
I’m loving Ubuntu… but when it comes to small problems like these which require prior pc expertise I become less happy with it all.

@mrentropy Uhm, actually..could you show me a way to find that out? I’ve forgotten and don’t know how to find it out here.

Um. /etc/Xorg.conf should have the info for which driver is loading. You would know what video card you have more than I would :)

I typed it in… “no such file or directory”
It mihgt be that I didn’t type the right command… I’m not that good with terminal yet.

I did open up the laptop yesterday to clean the vent.
Since I have a pathetic ACER 3680, which won’t open up completely I had to ‘force’ lift the panel over the vent.
I payed attention to not harm anything, as I’ve disassembled other electronics and pcs before.

Oh, I remember.. VGA

(do I sound stupid?)
(I’m just trying to learn)

This will probably have to wait until I get home then. I don’t actually use Ubuntu (I use Gentoo) so files may be in slightly different places.

But you’re looking to load the Xorg.conf file into a text editor so you can look at it.
And you should have an Intel GMA 950 for your video.

What version of Ubuntu is it?

If it’s 10.10 netbook edition, it comes with mutter and clutter managing the desktop instead of Compiz. This leads to activation problems with desktop effects.

@mrentropy – isn’t xorg.conf deprecated in recent editions of Ubuntu? I thought the xserver was configured on the fly.

@the100thmonkey It might be. There may be one. There may need to be one for compiz, but that was dependent on the video card. But… if it isn’t using compiz anymore then it’s an entirely different… kettle of fish.

… o..k..
gues I’ll have to figure it out on my own, ey?
argh

The place to start is by telling us which version of Ubuntu you are using :)

Yeah, because I don’t know a thing about Mutter or Clutter and never heard of it until @the100thmonkey brought it up.

I think Canonical are basically replacing as much of GNOME as possible in order to push Unity. They’re basically trying to unify the GUI across all platforms for Ubuntu – from powerful desktop machines to cellphones.

Unity takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s pretty good once you’ve used it for a while and I think it’s an interesting strategy for Canonical to take – Linux has a far higher market share in mobile devices than desktops, so it makes sense to unify the UI – it seems much easier to get people used to a new interface on a phone than on a computer.