I hit this bug today, but can't identify what I did that caused it. Indeed, there was a zombie software-center process still running, but it had no associated visible window.
I got the following output when starting software-center, each time I tried, and it resulted in the blank screen: $ software-center 2011-06-02 16:36:16,475 - softwarecenter - INFO - Using data (UI, xapian) from current dir /usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/SimpleGtkbuilderApp.py:32: RuntimeWarning: missing handler 'on_window_main_button_press_event' self.builder.connect_signals(self) Doing the 'killall' software-center' made everything work again. ** Description changed: Binary package hint: software-center - WORKAROUND: + WORKAROUND 1: + Type the following into a terminal: + killall software-center + + -- or -- + + WORKAROUND 2: Reboot your computer. After that, Software Center should launch normally (if it does not, please also report that here, thanks!). --- I just installed ubuntu natty 11.04 on my machine. I tried to install 4 apps with software center (7zip, vlc, flash and restricted-extra), and software center freezed. I closed it, restarted it, and the problems began... Now if I open it it just doesn't show anything (see screenshot). WORKAROUND: Reboot your computer. After that, Software Center should launch normally (if it does not, please also report that here, thanks!). ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04 Package: software-center 4.0 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2 Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic i686 Architecture: i386 Date: Thu Apr 28 20:25:00 2011 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release i386 (20110427.1) PackageArchitecture: all ProcEnviron: LANGUAGE=en_US:en LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash SourcePackage: software-center UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/772549 Title: software-center blank screen on fresh natty 11.04 install -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
