No User Menu in Ubuntu 12.04

If you upgraded through Update Manager (and not fresh installation) then maybe something went wrong during upgrade.

Try to reset unity with the command below

unity --reset

then logout - login
OR
reboot
and see if problem solved.

Thanks

NikTh:

I ran unit --reset, with the following results. The process never completed, and I canceled the terminal session after the last message. I rebooted, but see no change in the Unity desktop.

WARNING: Unity currently default profile, so switching to metacity while resetting the values
Checking if settings need to be migrated ...no
Checking if internal files need to be migrated ...no
Backend : gconf
Integration : true
Profile : unity
Adding plugins
Initializing core options...done
compiz (core) - Warn: failed to receive ConfigureNotify event on 0x1e00004

compiz (core) - Warn: failed to receive ConfigureNotify event on 0x34000b1

compiz (core) - Warn: failed to receive ConfigureNotify event on 0x340049a

compiz (core) - Warn: failed to receive ConfigureNotify event on 0x4200084

Initializing composite options...done
Initializing opengl options...done
Initializing decor options...done
Initializing vpswitch options...done
Initializing snap options...done
Initializing mousepoll options...done
Initializing resize options...done
Initializing place options...done
Initializing move options...done
Initializing wall options...done
Initializing grid options...done
Initializing session options...done
Initializing gnomecompat options...done
Initializing animation options...done
Initializing fade options...done
Initializing unitymtgrabhandles options...done
Initializing workarounds options...done
Initializing scale options...done
compiz (expo) - Warn: failed to bind image to texture
Initializing expo options...done
Initializing ezoom options...done

(compiz:14092): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_client_add_dir: assertion `gconf_valid_key (dirname, NULL)' failed
Initializing unityshell options...done
compiz (core) - Warn: unhandled ConfigureNotify on 0xc000a0!
compiz (core) - Warn: this should never happen. you should probably file a bug about this.
compiz (core) - Warn: unhandled ConfigureNotify on 0xc000a3!
compiz (core) - Warn: this should never happen. you should probably file a bug about this.
compiz (core) - Warn: unhandled ConfigureNotify on 0xc000a6!
compiz (core) - Warn: this should never happen. you should probably file a bug about this.
compiz (core) - Warn: unhandled ConfigureNotify on 0xc000a9!
compiz (core) - Warn: this should never happen. you should probably file a bug about this.
WARN 2013-01-30 14:00:24 unity.libindicator <unknown>:0 Desktop file '/usr/share/applications/libreoffice-writer.desktop' is using a deprecated format for its actions that will be dropped soon.
WARN 2013-01-30 14:00:24 unity.libindicator <unknown>:0 Desktop file '/usr/share/applications/libreoffice-calc.desktop' is using a deprecated format for its actions that will be dropped soon.
WARN 2013-01-30 14:00:24 unity.libindicator <unknown>:0 Desktop file '/usr/share/applications/libreoffice-impress.desktop' is using a deprecated format for its actions that will be dropped soon.
Initializing annotate options...done
Initializing blur options...done
Initializing clone options...done
Initializing colorfilter options...done
Initializing commands options...done
Initializing cube options...done
Initializing imgjpeg options...done
Initializing kdecompat options...done
Initializing mag options...done
Initializing neg options...done
Initializing obs options...done
Initializing opacify options...done
Initializing put options...done
Initializing resizeinfo options...done
Initializing ring options...done
Initializing rotate options...done
Initializing scaleaddon options...done
Initializing screenshot options...done
Initializing shift options...done
Initializing staticswitcher options...done
Initializing switcher options...done
Initializing thumbnail options...done
Initializing water options...done
Initializing winrules options...done
Initializing wobbly options...done
ERROR 2013-01-30 14:00:25 unity.glib-gobject <unknown>:0 g_object_unref: assertion `G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
Setting Update "main_menu_key"
Setting Update "run_key"
WARN 2013-01-30 14:01:33 unity <unknown>:0 Unable to fetch children: No such interface `org.ayatana.bamf.view' on object at path /org/ayatana/bamf/application72241720

ERROR 2013-01-30 14:01:36 unity.glib-gobject <unknown>:0 g_object_set_qdata: assertion `G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed

Lou

If you upgraded from 10.04 to 12.04 you will now have the unity desktop which has no top menu but a set of icons down the side it should look something like this

http://www.geekgumbo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/switchdesk8.png

Assuming it does then this is normal. If not something is wrong

Some people like it and many don't. Have a play with it to decide if you like it or not.

The manual is here
http://ubuntu-manual.org/downloads

If you really don't like it and want to get back to a desktop similar to that in 10.04 open a terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) and enter the following commands

-----------------------------------------------
sudo apt-get install -y gnome-panel
------------------------------------------------
Enter password when requested there is no feedback but it is being accepted: just type and press enter.

Log out then when you log back in there is a circular icon next to your user name and the password entry box click on it and you will be given a choice of desktops select "Gnome Classic" or "Gnome Classic (no effects)" and log back in. Its not identical to the old desktop but very similar.

You can change back to the new desktop any time just click the circular icon on the login screen and select "Unity"

Warren:

Yes, I'm using the Unity desktop. The problem is that it isn't working properly: it doesn't display my username at the top right side of the Unity bar. Or is the book "Ubuntu Made Easy" by Grant and Bull wrong?

Lou

We can try to delete all the configurations of the desktop and revert back to an original state (as Ubuntu just installed) and see if this fix the problem.

No personal files will be deleted .. but the desktop configuration.. (and wallpaper too).

rm -rf .compiz* .gconf* .config/dconf/ .config/compiz*

then reboot the system and if the problem persists , try again ..

unity --reset

Thanks

NikTh:

That didn't work either. The unity --reset never successfully completed. The result still looks like the earlier listing that I posted.

Now I've lost all my custom keyboard shortcuts!

Lou

Yes , I told you that ALL the desktop configurations will be lost , but I expected the problem to be solved.

So this is not a problem with the environment .. maybe. What else ?

I'm stuck now.. sorry.

Will be back if some new idea occurs.

Thanks

If your backups are good or you can easily create some a fresh install may be easiest fix. Then copy your data back from the backups

That's what I would do. Like NikTh I can't think of anything else at the moment but if I do I'll get back to you.

Warren:

I prefer not to begin all over; I've spent a lot of time adding applications to Ubuntu for my work. If the only problem is that the top bar doesn't show my account name, then I can live with that. Hopefully it isn't a symptom of other problems.

But thanks for your suggestions.

Lou

Thankfully I haven't had the problems that Louis has had, though I am glad I saw that bit so I can have a proper desktop interface. I tend to run multiple windows/instances of some programs (most notably Mozilla Firefox, which at present I never have fewer than 2 instances going of) and the Unity interface is shit for quickly and efficiently changing between them. Not to mention the roundabout method I have to use for accessing the other partitions of my HDD and the seeming near total loss of all customization/personalization options (what is left is a very sad little joke). I've actually been considering using the install disc for 9.04 that I have to partition and format that last 80GB, backup my user information to there, and then fight with reverting back to 10.4, that had a proper interface for a non-fad user like myself, not to mention having access to a screen saver again.