Launcher and menu bar no longer visible after Mar 2/2018 update

16.04 unity launcher compiz

7,670

Solution 1

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.

Solution 2

Please try removing .cache directory on Home:

rm -rf ~/.cache

7,670

Author by

lengthy_preamble

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

lengthy_preamble over 1 year
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.
- lengthy_preamble about 6 years
  
  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.
- WinEunuuchs2Unix about 6 years
  
  Someone else recently had a problem with Ubuntu Updates. I see you haven't tried this simple solution yet: askubuntu.com/questions/1007026/…
- lengthy_preamble about 6 years
  
  That's actually in point 4, but thank you nonetheless.
- WinEunuuchs2Unix about 6 years
  
  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: askubuntu.com/questions/17381/…
- Erica Hollis about 6 years
  
  I have the exact same problems including lack of alt tab and and notice that guest account is fine. see also ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2386528&page=2 and answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/665349
lengthy_preamble about 6 years

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.
WinEunuuchs2Unix about 6 years

@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.
lengthy_preamble about 6 years

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...
WinEunuuchs2Unix about 6 years

@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...
lengthy_preamble about 6 years

This did indeed work. Thanks Erica! Actually, I had to type in "sudo rm -R ~/.cache" but it nonetheless worked anyways.
Elder Geek about 6 years

@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.
Jesper Bruun Hansen almost 4 years

executing this command and then rebooting fixed the problem for me!