Ad 1: It is not a bug, it is a feature. There is no need to run the view part as root, only the installation part requires root privileges.
Ad 2: Please run update-manager in a Terminal as normal user. Perhaps you will get some more information in the Terminal. Thanks, Sebastian ** Changed in: update-manager (Ubuntu) Status: Unconfirmed => Needs Info -- Launching update-manager from the notification area results in a blank window that is only half of the width of an ordinary update-manager window https://launchpad.net/bugs/77002 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs