2009-10-28, 12:43
OK I've just got through re-installing my system as I had a few bugs outside of xbmc that were driving me nuts, so whilst doing the re-build I thought I'd install the RC of Karmic Koala as it's due for full release any day now.
I hit a few problems along the re-build so I thought I'd document my problems in the hope that it'll help anyone else who decides to give Karmic a try.
Screen tearing in xbmc
The Xorg build in Karmic seems to have the composite extension turned on by default which caused horrible tearing on my build. This can be disabled by adding the following to your xorg.conf file:
This fixed the problem with xbmc but caused some ugly problems with gdm which caused the display to not refresh properly when the xsplash animations played. I fixed this by commenting out
from /etc/gdm/Init/Default and /etc/gdm/PreSession/Default
gdm and .xsession
The new gdm used with Karmic ignores .xsession files when you log in. I personnally like to have a xbmc account that loads straight into xbmc and a normal user account that logs into gnome. To get the xbmc account to work as I'd like I created a file /usr/share/xsessions/xbmc.desktop which contains
this adds an option at the bottom of the gdm login screen (you have to click on a user before it's displayed) that allows you to select "xbmc" and will remember that setting for the user.
I hit a few problems along the re-build so I thought I'd document my problems in the hope that it'll help anyone else who decides to give Karmic a try.
Screen tearing in xbmc
The Xorg build in Karmic seems to have the composite extension turned on by default which caused horrible tearing on my build. This can be disabled by adding the following to your xorg.conf file:
Code:
Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Disable"
EndSectionThis fixed the problem with xbmc but caused some ugly problems with gdm which caused the display to not refresh properly when the xsplash animations played. I fixed this by commenting out
Quote:if [ -x '/usr/bin/xsplash' ];
then
/usr/bin/xsplash --gdm-session --daemon
fi
from /etc/gdm/Init/Default and /etc/gdm/PreSession/Default
gdm and .xsession
The new gdm used with Karmic ignores .xsession files when you log in. I personnally like to have a xbmc account that loads straight into xbmc and a normal user account that logs into gnome. To get the xbmc account to work as I'd like I created a file /usr/share/xsessions/xbmc.desktop which contains
Code:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=xbmc
Comment=Launch xbmc media center
Exec=xbmc
Type=Applicationthis adds an option at the bottom of the gdm login screen (you have to click on a user before it's displayed) that allows you to select "xbmc" and will remember that setting for the user.
Just restored my previous ones and all is good.