widget//panel creation and location ignored (SOLVED)

[waferhead]

EDIT:
I eventually scored a new 165hz 1ms gaming monitor.

It came with a Displayport cable. It initially stayed in the bag it came in, used same DP to HDMI adapter cable, same issue on Mageia, no issue running KDE Neon 20.04.2.

Finally swapped in the displayport cable, eliminating the DP to hdmi adapter, and widget/panep location saves on Mageia as well as Neon.
(displayport all the way no adapter)
This was only an issue using an external monitor.


***************************
With either live install or from std install media, the panels and widgets can be moved or created, but are either missing or at default location after logout/login. media checksums validate.

This is before or after updating.

Created new user, same issues.
Analog clock missing or at top left, panel dissappears.

tried chowning eveything back to user, permissions and ownership fine, have reinstalled 3x, once on a new ssd...

KDE neon at least will use the homedir//configs so I can at least work until this is resolved.

Wifi doesnt work in the installer (iwwifi or rtl...) but works as expected after first boot into system.

[jeevanism]

Hello there,

please share some more info about your system also. You said the wifi doesnt work, so provide what is the Wireless Card you use ? you need to check and rfkill status and check if the card is detected or not.
Regarding the panel misplacing issue, try to install another theme, and check if the same situation persists.

In order to go back to your default KDE settings, try to clear the config folder - commands below ( important - handle with care, this will remove all current Plasma settings)

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rm -rf .kde/
rm -f .kderc
rm -rf .config/*plasma*
rm -rf .config/*kde*
rm -rf .config/*kwin*
rm -rf .local/share/kded5
rm -rf .config/session/kwin_*
rm -rf .gtkrc-2.0*
rm -rf .cache/upstart/startkde.log*
rm -f .xsession-errors

[waferhead]

As to the wifi non-issue,(always works after first boot, usually from live media, just not quite with traditional installer, somethings missing)
dmesg says:
[ 8.240963] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Detected Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN, REV=0x54
My backup usb wifi doesnt work with the traditional installer either, dmesg says:
usbcore: registered new interface driver rt2800usb (post install/updates etc)

I have tested on multiple systems--- Its starting to smell like a kernel/driver issue, as it only seems to do it on the x200. (used it as an excuse to buy it a nice new 1TB ssd)

I have done 4 clean installs testing the various media, and it does it with any install media, but you will never notice it unless you add/move/change widget or panel positions.

It does it with default install and theme, reliably.

create a new user: all looks great until you try and change a panel or widget.

System: Thinkpad x200T (yeah, 2009, still works great, so does the wacom pen...with aid of inputattatch, on mageia)
Operating System: Mageia 8
KDE Plasma Version: 5.19.3
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.72.0
Qt Version: 5.15.0
Kernel Version: 5.7.9-desktop-1.mga8
OS Type: 64-bit
Processors: 2 × Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU L9400 @ 1.86GHz
Memory: 7.7 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel® GM45 Express Chipset

Latest neon build (rebased on ubuntu-2004 LTS) is same kde build as current cauldron, no issues with same configs or new users etc. may have older kernel, 5.4 IIRC.

Bizarrely, my X300 (circa 2008) installed from mageia 8-live media does NOT exhibit issue.
It has an 965gm graphics chipset, and a ulv L7100 cpu at a screaming 1.2 GHz.
Still my favorite machine.

This makes it a head scratcher, I have beaten on it for days on and off trying to isolate the issue.

I'll try nuking the config again as you were so kind as to provide an easy button, but next I'll probably reinstall from live 64 bit image. (the fonts after live install look a bit odd, probably just need to reset to defaults)

[waferhead]

Did another clean install using live media, went perfectly... set up a default user... duplicated result.
got it...
it is possibly a driver-related issue, it only does it when I'm using my external monitor via displayport. (have been using that awhile)
Its just a really, really, really weird way to manifest a driver issue...

Didn't do it with mga7 or prior, doesn't do it now with kde neon (current 5.19.3 ubuntu-2004 rebase), Devuan beowulf (debian 10 sans systemd), or any other distro I have used in the last few years...

I'm inclined to call it solved, but it would be nice to know what exactly is causing the new weirdness, as the 40" screen looks a lot better.

[martinw]

Is it maybe dependent to display resolution?

As for wifi in the classic installer, this is because the installer itself does not use any non-free software or firmware, and most wifi interfaces require non-free firmware.

[jeevanism]

Did another clean install using live media, went perfectly... set up a default user... duplicated result.
got it...
it is possibly a driver-related issue, it only does it when I'm using my external monitor via displayport. (have been using that awhile)
Its just a really, really, really weird way to manifest a driver issue...

Didn't do it with mga7 or prior, doesn't do it now with kde neon (current 5.19.3 ubuntu-2004 rebase), Devuan beowulf (debian 10 sans systemd), or any other distro I have used in the last few years...

I'm inclined to call it solved, but it would be nice to know what exactly is causing the new weirdness, as the 40" screen looks a lot better.

I am glad that its solved, I dont know whats went wrong on your side.

[waferhead]

Its not really solved, as I cannot effectively run mageia 8 with the same hardware setup every other distro tried works fine with. Resolution has no effect. Mageia 4/5/6/7 ran just fine with same setup.

I tried running with the laptop screen as primary, the secondary external screen shows the mouse cursor but no wallpaper/icons and rmb clicks dont even bring up menus---also mageia8 only. definite weird.

I'll keep beating on it, maybe different xserver or perhaps future updates will resolve it by accident.

[doktor5000]

What happens if you clone/mirror the laptop screen output to the external screen via systemsettings > display and monitor ?

It might also help if you post the output of

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xrandr -q
kscreen-doctor -io

[doktor5000]

Went back in, backed up the fully updated root/usr partition, (only took ~4 minutes on ssd) did reinstall from live media, did not set up wifi or run any updates, issue is present if secondary monitor was set up as only monitor.
if both monitors are configured, issue only happens on secondary (if independent monitor rather than mirror)
if mirror, no issue seen.

kde-wayland does not have this bug... very, very clunky tho.
(how does it go? "...those who ignore the lessons of X11 are destined to reimplement it, badly...")
I still dont see the point of wayland... esp since xorg forked from X11r6.

Interesting tidbit--- install from live media is done booting and at desktop in 24 seconds. (after install/updates)
from traditional media post install boots take ~3x longer, mostly a long wait for networking to come up. for no apparent reason. This off a new ssd in a 2009 vintage laptop.

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bash-5.0$ xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1360 x 768, maximum 32767 x 32767
LVDS1 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1280x800      60.00 +  59.91 
   1280x720      59.86    59.74 
   1024x768      60.00 
   1024x576      59.90    59.82 
   960x540       59.63    59.82 
   800x600       60.32    56.25 
   864x486       59.92    59.57 
   640x480       59.94 
   720x405       59.51    58.99 
   640x400       60.00 
   640x360       59.84    59.32 
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI2 connected primary 1360x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1920x1080     60.00 +  59.94    24.00    23.98 
   1920x1080i    60.00    59.94 
   1360x768      60.02*
   1280x768      59.99 
   1280x720      60.00    59.94 
   1024x768      60.00 
   800x600       60.32 
   720x480       60.00    59.94 
   720x480i      60.00    59.94 
   640x480       60.00    59.94 
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

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bash-5.0$ kscreen-doctor -io
Environment:
  * KSCREEN_BACKEND           : [not set]
  * KSCREEN_BACKEND_INPROCESS : [not set]
  * KSCREEN_LOGGING           : [not set]
Logging to                : [logging disabled]
Preferred KScreen backend : KSC_XRandR.so
Available KScreen backends:
  * KSC_Fake.so: /usr/lib64/qt5/plugins/kf5/kscreen/KSC_Fake.so
  * KSC_KWayland.so: /usr/lib64/qt5/plugins/kf5/kscreen/KSC_KWayland.so
  * KSC_QScreen.so: /usr/lib64/qt5/plugins/kf5/kscreen/KSC_QScreen.so
  * KSC_XRandR.so: /usr/lib64/qt5/plugins/kf5/kscreen/KSC_XRandR.so
  * KSC_XRandR11.so: /usr/lib64/qt5/plugins/kf5/kscreen/KSC_XRandR11.so

Icon theme "gnome" not found.
Icon theme "Numix-Circle" not found.
Icon theme "Papirus" not found.
Icon theme "Yaru" not found.
Output: 66 LVDS1 disabled connected  Panel Modes: 236:1280x800@60 237:1280x720@60 238:1280x720@60 239:1024x768@60 240:1024x576@60 241:1024x576@60 242:960x540@60 243:960x540@60 244:800x600@60 245:800x600@56 246:864x486@60 247:864x486@60 248:640x480@60 249:720x405@60 250:720x405@59 251:640x400@60 252:640x360@60 253:640x360@59 75:1280x800@60! Geometry: 0,0 1280x800 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1
Output: 67 DP1 disabled disconnected  DisplayPort Modes: Geometry: 0,0 0x0 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1
Output: 68 DP2 disabled disconnected  DisplayPort Modes: Geometry: 0,0 0x0 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1
Output: 69 DP3 disabled disconnected  DisplayPort Modes: Geometry: 0,0 0x0 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1
Output: 70 HDMI1 disabled disconnected  HDMI Modes: Geometry: 0,0 0x0 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1
Output: 71 HDMI2 enabled connected primary HDMI Modes: 239:1024x768@60 244:800x600@60 248:640x480@60 254:1920x1080@60 255:1920x1080@30 256:1920x1080@24 257:1920x1080@30 258:1920x1080@24 259:1360x768@60* 260:1280x768@60 261:1280x720@60 262:1280x720@60 263:720x480@60 264:720x480@60 265:720x480@30 266:720x480@30 267:640x480@60 76:1920x1080@60! Geometry: 0,0 1360x768 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1 primary
Output: 72 VGA1 disabled disconnected  VGA Modes: Geometry: 0,0 0x0 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1
Output: 73 VIRTUAL1 disabled disconnected  Unknown Modes: Geometry: 0,0 0x0 Scale: 1 Rotation: 1