xfcs fc17 workspace switcher problems

[sarahslagstedt]

On my Acer Aspire the workspace ****fter stops functioning after some days/weeks/months. I can't change windows. Also I can't change number of workspaces in the preferences. I can change to any number but the screen still showes 4.

When trying to to control applications (when open) by selecting from menu some applications closes the scroll menu.

[ozjd]

Try deleting the cache in ~/.cache/xfce4/

[sarahslagstedt]

There is no such file or library

[ozjd]

~/.cache/ is a hidden directory (that's what the period before the directory name means), you won't see it unless you select the Hidden files option. In Thunar go to View and select it there.

Might be a good idea to remove ~/.cache/sessions too.

[sarahslagstedt]

I still use Nautilus by the way. Still no such file but ~/.cache/sessions now removed. Problem remains

---------- Post added at 03:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 AM ----------

Oh and there are more problems. Not possible to change size of open window and no ending an application by clicking in the right to corner 'x'.
This problem has occured at least 5 times and I have found no way out of it butto reinstall. Not a very professional way. I use the computer for navigation and I hate it when I loose my sea chart.

[nirik]

Sounds like xfwm4 died, so you have no window manager.

If you do a 'xfwm4 --replace &' in a terminal does it come back?

Or as suggested, logout and remove the cache file and login, does it work then?

Does the problem only happen after running Nautilus?
At least in the past it used to take over the desktop when run under Xfce and caused a lot of problems like you are seeing.

[sarahslagstedt]

Yes it came back with 'xfwm4 --replace &'. Guess I will have to use Thunar instead of Nautilus in the future. That's a pity though as I have used Nautilus for so many years and got used to it. Thanks a lot

[ozjd]

You may be able to use Nautilus. I remember seeing a comment on the Xfce forum that it has nodesktop option or something similar. Sorry I don't use it so can't give the exact name.

Update - the command is 'nautilus --no-desktop'. A read through this might interest you - http://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=7077

[jpollard]

There are several bugs in there.

The configuration xfce has the option to replace thunar with whatever you want... but it doesn't work.

If you enable Nautilus it will run... but be covered up by thunar. If you go into settings>session and startup>Session, and abort xfdesktop, that will abort thunar - and allow Nautilus to show.

The next bug is harder to locate - a number of processes get left over when you logout. They continue running even though they no longer have access to the display. I have had these fill up the process table to the point that new processes cannot be started.

Kill them and the problem goes away.

BTW, the problem with xfwm4 is not that a window manager isn't running - it is, but it is stuck on a semaphore somewhere. Just running xfwm4 from a terminal (give it a few seconds) and aborting it will unlock the window manager already running.

[secipolla]

I don't use nautilus but in the past it used to have a --no-desktop option that would make it not manage the desktop (that was before GNOME 3, I think). Maybe you have to use that?

Also you may ask for tips on using nautilus on Xfce at forum.xfce.org or at the xfce mailing list https://mail.xfce.org/mailman/listinfo/xfce
But I read that next nautilus will have some basic functionality removed so you might want to look for alternatives anyway.