Flying Icons in Knoppix?

[ericbakuladavis]

Hi,

I'm writing to ask about a strange phenomenon I have observed on my computer running Knoppix. I have seen, on occasion, what looks to be a desktop icon appear on my screen, fly across it for some distance and then disappear. The icons have appeared away from my mouse cursor and apparently without any input from me. I have my screen saver disabled so I figure it is not that. Any ideas?

Thanks

Eric

[utu]

Greeting, Eric.
What version of Knoppix are you using?

[ericbakuladavis]

Thanks for your reply, utu.

I am using Knoppix 7.2.0. It boots from a USB drive with a persistent image.

[utu]

Hello again, Eric.

A 'flying icons' complaint like yours showed up on 7.0, but I've not seen it since then.
What do you get from your LliveUSB when you do testcd at boot?
What do you have for video?

[ericbakuladavis]

Hi, utu

testcd boot option yields...

Checking KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX...
All Files OK

As for video, lspci -nnk yields these three entries...

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub [8086:27a0] (rev 03)
    Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:01bd]
    Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a2] (rev 03)
    Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:01bd]
    Kernel driver in use: i915
00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a6] (rev 03)
    Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:01bd]

/var/log/Xorg.0.log shows....

 53.530] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout
[    53.530] (II) LoadModule: "intel"
[    53.530] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/intel_drv.so
[    53.578] (II) Module intel: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[    53.578]     compiled for 1.12.3.902, module version = 2.19.0
[    53.578]     Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[    53.578]     ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 12.1

Did that anwer your question?

I'm interested in seeing any other reports of flying icons. I can't say for sure, but I think I had 7.0 installed on this same USB disk and I saw them then too.

Thanks for your interest

[utu]

Hello again, Eric.

I've got Intel Series 4 Graphics and don't see a similar problem.

Some possibilities are Compiz, and touchpad interference.
To see if Compiz giving a problem, use knoppix no3d cheatcode.
To isolate touchpad, use a USB mouse and turn off the touchpad.

Might also help to know if this only shows up with some apps, not others.

Use 'flying icons' in forum search; about 6th post as I recall:
http://knoppix.net/forum/showthread....t=flying+icons

[ericbakuladavis]

Hi utu. Thanks again for your reply.

I have always used the no3d cheatcode so we can rule out Compiz. I do have a defective touchpad which sometimes gives signals when I'm not anywhere near it. However, I do believe that while the icons are flying, I can maintain control of the mouse pionter with my USB mouse (unlike when the touchpad is firing). I now have the touchpad disabled on startup. If I see them again, I'll pay close attention to what else is happening on the computer.

The post you referrenced was describing flying windows and panels, not icons. These icons are by far the strangest thing I have ever seen on a computer.

[utu]

...flying windows and panels, not icons...

I stand corrected. The description of flying windows sounds more like one of Compiz' more obnoxious effects than a bug.

You've ruled out all my guesses so far. I'm stumped.

Have you pored over system logs like dmesg, .xsession-errors, Xorg.0.log and syslog?
Does your LiveUSB cause these same effects on other machines?
Can you capture a Screenshot of this?
Have we ruled out failing hardware?

[ericbakuladavis]

Have you pored over system logs like dmesg, .xsession-errors, Xorg.0.log and syslog?

I don't have prior experience with system logs. I looked at dmesg and Xorg.0.log, but didn't know what to look for. Any ideas?

Does your LiveUSB cause these same effects on other machines?

I haven't tried that, but I will.

Can you capture a Screenshot of this?

I'll try. They're pretty quick and they only appear about once-a-day. It would be nice to have a program that could continuously record my screen but only save the last 20 seconds of activity (as not to create a huge video file).

Have we ruled out failing hardware?

I haven't but I don't suspect it. It seems to me that failing hardware would create other symtoms beside the flying icons.

I am keeping a log of sightings with date, time, foreground app, background apps, attached devices, icon appearance, and flight path.

[utu]

.
I'm sorry we haven't solved your problem, Eric.
I'm no expert, and I've suggested about all the specifics than
might have helped me in the past.

If I were in your situation, I might do the following,
in addition to all the previous hints:
a. some google searches;
b. make another LiveUSB; and/or
c. audit some similar Linux LiveUSB forums, like Mint & PCLinuxOS,
for example.

I wouldn't give up, because solving these puzzles
is part of the hobby (for me, anyway).