Xfce Another post about a broken XFCE4, perhaps?

freezr · 2025-12-07T19:49:00+0000

I would add proc /proc procfs rw 0 0 to your /etc/fstab/ and try with a fresh user to test if the problem is actually because of XFCE or some old settings.

Majestio · 2025-12-07T19:57:56+0000

freezr said:
I would add proc /proc procfs rw 0 0 to your /etc/fstab/ and try with a fresh user to test if the problem is actually because of XFCE or some old settings.

I have this, I do it all the time.

Code:

[majestio@freebsd-pc ~] $ cat /etc/fstab
# Device                Mountpoint      FStype  Options         Dump    Pass#
/dev/da0p2              none    swap    sw              0       0
proc /proc procfs rw 0 0

freezr · 2025-12-08T05:17:52+0000

Have you tested XFCE with a fresh new user?

Sometimes I had issue with XFCE on both Linux and FreeBSD moving toward a new upgrade.
If with the new user works than you must double check your settings, this is at least can tell you if actually the problem is within XFCE.

Majestio · 2025-12-08T05:24:51+0000

freezr said:
Have you tested XFCE with a fresh new user?

Sometimes I had issue with XFCE on both Linux and FreeBSD moving toward a new upgrade.
If with the new user works than you must double check your settings, this is at least can tell you if actually the problem is within XFCE.

Yeah, I tested it. I created the Test user and still the same problem.

Majestio · 2025-12-08T05:37:45+0000

I don't have the ability to understand the code yet, but I think it's possible. I took screen shots of the process of booting xfce4, invoking desktop settings and shutting down X. This is what I got:

freezr · 2025-12-08T05:38:23+0000

Did you already check into .xsession-errors ?
How do you start XFCE?

Majestio · 2025-12-08T05:40:15+0000

freezr said:
Did you already check into .xsession-errors ?
How do you start XFCE?

I don't have such a file created.

startx

Code:

cat .xinitrc
exec startxfce4

freezr · 2025-12-08T05:50:35+0000

Majestio said:
I don't have such a file created.

startx is not right way to start XFCE...

Do you use one of these method?

Chapter 8. Desktop Environments

This chapter demonstrates how to install numerous desktop environments, including web browsers, productivity software, document viewers, and financial software

docs.freebsd.org

Majestio · 2025-12-08T05:56:24+0000

freezr said:
startx is not right way to start XFCE...

This is where I disagree. I don't always need X, so I run it with startx as needed. Again, this is how things worked great in FreeBSD 13.x with then xfce 4.18.

I just don't need lightdm, moreover, I'm pretty sure it's not the issue.

Majestio · 2025-12-08T06:06:16+0000

Just in case I checked, I did as in the documentation:

A second method to start XFCE is by manually invoking startx(1). For this to work, the following line is needed in ~/.xinitrc

Code:

echo '. /usr/local/etc/xdg/xfce4/xinitrc' > ~/.xinitrc

Then I ran X again - same situation, nothing changed.

freezr · 2025-12-08T06:09:03+0000

You may try with startxfce4

Use startxfce4 to start an Xfce session or choose Xfce Session from the login manager, which includes the session manager, the panel, the window manager and the desktop manager. See auto login from console for more information.

Click to expand...

xfce:getting-started [Xfce Docs]

docs.xfce.org

Majestio · 2025-12-08T06:23:27+0000

freezr said:
You may try with startxfce4

Yeah, I've been doing that for a long time. Since I started using xfce, if I'm not mistaken since FreeBSD 9.0.

Majestio · 2025-12-08T06:44:33+0000

Yes, I also tried uninstalling xf86-video-vmware, and configuring /etc/xorg.conf for vesa. The problem persisted. Put it all back.

T-Daemon · 2025-12-08T07:32:10+0000

Does running xfdesktop-settings in an xterminal show something? Check also ~/.xsession-errors.

Start the xorg session by startx, redirect output into a file, examine file ( startx >& xorg.log ).

Majestio · 2025-12-08T08:47:25+0000

Well I installed lightdm, and now I have the ~/.session-errors file:

Code:

xrdb:  "Xft.hinting" on line 9 overrides entry on line 5
xrdb:  "Xft.hintstyle" on line 12 overrides entry on line 6
libxfce4windowing-Message: 10:53:02.772: Failed to fetch _NET_NUMBER_OF_DESKTOPS; assuming 1
libxfce4windowing-Message: 10:53:02.773: Failed to get _NET_WORKAREA; using full screen dimensions
libxfce4windowing-Message: 10:53:02.773: Failed to fetch _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP; assuming 0
libxfce4windowing-Message: 10:53:02.773: Failed to fetch _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP; assuming 0
/usr/local/bin/iceauth:  creating new authority file /var/run/user/1001/ICEauthority
libxfce4windowing-Message: 10:53:02.966: Failed to fetch _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP; assuming 0
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)

(xfwm4:2628): xfwm4-WARNING **: 10:53:03.158: Unsupported GL renderer (llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7, 256 bits)).

(xfsettingsd:2631): xfsettingsd-WARNING **: 10:53:03.312: Unknown mode '1918x1042 @ 0.00' for output default, aborting.
vmware-user: could not open /var/run/vmblock
Xlib:  extension "DPMS" missing on display ":0.0".

(xfce4-power-manager:2643): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: 10:53:03.917: Display is not DPMS capable

(vmware-user:2644): Gtk-WARNING **: 10:53:04.022: gtk_disable_setlocale() must be called before gtk_init()
Xlib:  extension "DPMS" missing on display ":0".

opt4951 · 2025-12-08T15:03:29+0000

So I googled 'avx512pf' -- that's a reference to a CPU instruction set:

AVX512PF (Advanced Vector Extensions 512 Prefetch) is a specific CPU instruction set extension used for high-performance computing tasks, primarily associated with the first generation of Intel Xeon Phi processors (Knights Landing).

I guess your CPU does not support it.

Just curious, is your screen capable of 1918x1042? That's non-standard -- which is what the warning is saying. Maybe try 800x600 just to get past the warning.

DPMS -- your system does not support it apparently. But you are in VMWare, so maybe that's a correct warning. Can you try turning off this feature, if possible?

I don't think any of this has a bearing on the original error of '...AccountService (null)' -- which is triggered when you try to change your background. And for the record, I am using XFCE 4.20 on bare metal and I don't have this issue. I'm actually using a program called 'Variety' that changes my background every five minutes.

Majestio · 2025-12-08T15:45:00+0000

Briefly about my CPU and screen resolution:

This is the resolution VMWare sets when "Autofit Guest". I turned off DPMS and it didn't get any easier.

Code:

xrdb:  "Xft.hinting" on line 9 overrides entry on line 5
xrdb:  "Xft.hintstyle" on line 12 overrides entry on line 6
libxfce4windowing-Message: 18:43:17.234: Failed to fetch _NET_NUMBER_OF_DESKTOPS; assuming 1
libxfce4windowing-Message: 18:43:17.235: Failed to get _NET_WORKAREA; using full screen dimensions
libxfce4windowing-Message: 18:43:17.235: Failed to fetch _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP; assuming 0
libxfce4windowing-Message: 18:43:17.235: Failed to fetch _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP; assuming 0
/usr/local/bin/iceauth:  creating new authority file /var/run/user/1001/ICEauthority
libxfce4windowing-Message: 18:43:17.554: Failed to fetch _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP; assuming 0
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512er' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)
'-avx512pf' is not a recognized feature for this target (ignoring feature)

(xfwm4:1685): xfwm4-WARNING **: 18:43:17.898: Unsupported GL renderer (llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7, 256 bits)).

(xfsettingsd:1688): xfsettingsd-WARNING **: 18:43:18.130: Unknown mode '1918x1042 @ 0.00' for output default, aborting.
Xlib:  extension "DPMS" missing on display ":0.0".

(xfce4-power-manager:1704): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: 18:43:19.058: Display is not DPMS capable

(vmware-user:1703): Gtk-WARNING **: 18:43:19.237: gtk_disable_setlocale() must be called before gtk_init()
Xlib:  extension "DPMS" missing on display ":0".
Xlib:  extension "DPMS" missing on display ":0".