Missing Window decorations, task bar etc. on Linux Mint 21.2

[AdeV73]

Hi,

I’ve got a completely freshly installed Linux Mint machine here (with 21.2, all apt updates applied), although the machine’s a dog-eared old Dell Optiplex 7020 unit.

Mint works fine, as expected.

However, when I log in using NoMachine, I get the initial login screen OK, then a brief view of the desktop background; then a blank black screen with just the two icons from other bits of software I’ve installed (Opera & Lightburn, since you ask).

If I right-click, I get the Nautilus context menu (create folder/document/new launcher/Open in Terminal/Open as Root/Customise). e.g. if I Open in Terminal, I get a terminal window, but without all the usual Cinnamon decorations.

I use NoMachine on a variety of other machines (including another Dell Optiplex), but all are a little older in terms of Linux installs. None of my other machines have this specific issue.

Please find attached a log file, showing me connecting to a new session (I have a separate SSH connection from which I started the debug logging).

Cheers!
Ade.

Attachments:

1. NoMachine-log-2024.01.07-20.37.05.zip

[AdeV73]

I think this is just a flaky computer TBH. Have just done exactly the same steps on a different machine, and it all works just fine.

 

[AdeV73]

Further update…

…it’s the same on the other machine, IF it’s not plugged into a monitor. If it’s connected to a monitor, all works fine: If it’s headless, it behaves as per my first post.

Not sure if it’s just Linux Mint though – I’ll do some tests this week, if I can, with other distros.

[Britgirl]

Hi, logs don’t show anything strange.

Please take a look at the article about headless machines and follow the tips there:

Connecting to Linux headless machines with NoMachine
https://kb.nomachine.com/AR03P00973

If you are using Wayland, take a look here:

Notes for connections to Linux physical desktops running Wayland
https://kb.nomachine.com/AR02P00969

If you continue to have problems, we can take a look at the logs of the server machine with debug enabled. Follow the instructions here for those https://kb.nomachine.com/DT07S00243 and send them to forum[at]nomachine[dot]com using the title of the topic as the subject of your email.

[Britgirl]

By the way, I noticed you are using an earlier version of the NoMachine player (7.13). Although we maintain compatibility, please consider updating your software to keep the versions aligned 😉

[AdeV73]

Hi Britgirl,

Many thanks for your reply – the linked document (and some of the other ones) explain quite a few of the issues I’ve been having on a couple of machines, so thank you for that! I’ve ordered a bunch of fake displays (didn’t even know they existed until today!)

The machine that was running 7.13 – I’d been having problems with it trying to update itself (it got stuck in a loop asking for the admin password, refusing it, rinse & repeat; however, I actually managed to force an update to 8.10 the other day through the UI – so that’s solved as well 🙂 All is, once again, well with the world 🙂

I’m not using Wayland yet, still on various versions of Linux Mint, I believe Wayland is coming to the next release…. but X11 works fine for me.

Cheers!
A fellow Brit

aka Ade.

[Britgirl]

Hi Ade, thanks for letting us know and good to know that everything is working correctly now. If you need help again, let us know here or start a new topic 🙂

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