Public bug reported: It appears if enabling the upstart user session ( https://wiki.ubuntu.com/RaringRingtail/ReleaseNotes#Upstart_User_Sessions_.28technology_preview.29 ) there is a race between gnome-session and upstart for who starts gnome-settings-daemon first.
Most of the time on my system, it seems like upstart wins. I'm guessing in that case, gnome-session tries to start it, fails and gives up, which is fine. When gnome-session wins however, upstart continues to respawn gnome- settings-daemon indefinitely, usually causing the wrong icon theme to load, and causing flickering on the desktop (most noticeable in a conky window, but affecting other windows as well). Since it is a race, it is difficult to reproduce, but it can be forced by: 1) enable upstart user sessions 2) mkdir -p ~/.config/upstart/ 3) echo manual > ~/.config/upstart/gnome-settings-daemon.override 4) Log into the ubuntu session 5) initctl start gnome-settings-daemon; Running: initctl stop gnome-settings-daemon; will stop the endless respawn of gnome-settings-daemon when finished testing. My current workaround is to disable /etc/xdg/gnome-settings- daemon.desktop from starting, and let upstart take it. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04 Package: gnome-settings-daemon 3.6.4-0ubuntu8 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-21.32-generic 3.8.8 Uname: Linux 3.8.0-21-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8 Architecture: amd64 Date: Fri May 17 12:34:23 2013 InstallationDate: Installed on 2011-10-11 (583 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111011) MarkForUpload: True SourcePackage: gnome-settings-daemon UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-24 (22 days ago) ** Affects: gnome-settings-daemon (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New ** Tags: amd64 apport-bug raring -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1181312 Title: Race to start gnome-settings-daemon in upstart user session To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-settings-daemon/+bug/1181312/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs