Looking at the gnome-session.log file it appears there were problems with OpenGL support in X at some point. That seems to have disabled the OpenGL compiz plugin.
I'd suggest running the Compiz Configuration Settings Manager (ccsm) and unselecting the Unity plugin (if it's checked) and the re-selecting it. That should (hopefully) reset the basic configuration required to run Unity. (As for the ssh-related problem, I've run into that with recent builds where remote X clients (wrongly) create a ~/.Xauthority file that the local session cannot overwrite: try removing all ~/.Xauthority files). -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of DX Packages, which is subscribed to unity in Ubuntu. Matching subscriptions: dx-packages https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1212821 Title: Unity fails to load on old hardware on Saucy Status in “unity” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: On logging in I see just the wallpaper with no top panel and no launcher. Note that this is not bug #1066764 (Unity fails to load on old hardware (compiz enabling LLVMpipe has no effect and Mesa tries to use hardware still)) as compiz is at 1:0.9.9~daily13.04.18.1~13.04-0ubuntu4 and the errors for that bug are not seen in .xsessionerrors. .xsessionerrors only contains Script for cjkv started at run_im. Script for default started at run_im. The graphics is an intel 865 chipset. Xorg.0.log attached ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10 Package: unity 7.1.0+13.10.20130813.1-0ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-2.5-generic 3.11.0-rc5 Uname: Linux 3.11.0-2-generic i686 ApportVersion: 2.12-0ubuntu3 Architecture: i386 CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins' Date: Thu Aug 15 20:41:24 2013 InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-08-15 (0 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Alpha i386 (20130815) MarkForUpload: True SourcePackage: unity UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/1212821/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dx-packages Post to : dx-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dx-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
