Linux flicker after giving into ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates

[Gwenanne]

I am using ubuntu linux and I am also having flickering problems, and have read a few threads here and elsewhere that sound similar. What the flickering seems to be is constantly viewing the graphics "back buffer.''

I bought Expeditions Conquistador a couple of days ago and it ran fine. No video problems whatsoever. However, I was getting annoyed each time I launched Steam that it wanted me to sync to some 3rd party package (ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates). What harm could there be in following Steam's advice? After permitting it to sync with the ppa I have had nothing but problems. As soon as Expeditions Conquistador publisher logo appears there is a rapid flicker back and forth between the game and a black screen at about 20 to 30 Hz. When I try to make a menu selection, such as Load Game, it rapidly alternates between the menu before selection and the next screen after the menu option. It is completely unplayable and frustrating -- all because I gave into Steam's advice.

I have tried [System][Tab] to switch apps during the game, and frozen on the screen I see the Steam launch screen superimposed over my state in the game. Once there it is hopeless to do anything, like the screen I'm viewing is just an artifact of some old draw state. I can [System][Tab] a few times and guess how many keypresses will take me "back" to the game, and return to its failed flickering state. However, when supposedly out of the game all I see is the Steam launch screen, superimposed over my state in the game.

I've tried just Quitting the game right after it starts in this flickering state. About a minute later the screen flashes back to the game screen briefly and Ubuntu reports "The application Compiz has closed unexpectedly."

Like similar postings I've read I have Intel IvyBridge graphics.

  *-display               
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Ivy Bridge Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:42 memory:d0000000-d03fffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff ioport:2000(size=64)

I'm going to continue fiddling with this for an hour or two, but since fixing computer problems is not my idea of fun, I'm more likely to contact Steam for a refund. I had heard people complain about Steam before and thought I would give it a try. I had two good days of fun.

[Farmageddon]

does it do this because of the refreshing rate? (thats the rate is off or something?)

[Gwenanne]

no, the update rate is fine it is just showing the wrong image. So I tried getting around the problem by upgrading from Ubuntu 12.04 to 12.10. After a long install and a reboot all I could get was a black screen. My computer was "BRICKED." (All because Steam recommended that I install something that was dangerous to my system) To remove all the variables I reinstalled 12.04 from the Dell install partition. Then I upgraded to 12.10 -- no problems. Then, I upgraded to 13.04, which I am running now. I have just installed Steam again and am downloading a game now. I noticed that when I launch Steam I don't get prompted to sync to ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates, which is good because I wouldn't do it if asked. Hopefully, momentarily, I will report back that games are again running without flickering.

[Gwenanne]

The problem is resolved. I SPENT 10 HOURS OF MY DAY because Steam asked me to sync to something that was not safe nor appropriate for my system. Now I am running Ubuntu 13.04, and have several hours worth of restoring and reinstalling other software ahead of me. Valve, your apology for wasting my day would be appreciated, I live next door to you and would like to continue to have good feelings about your company. You should probably add a warning for people with Dell XPS Ubuntu Laptops running Intel Graphics that syncing to ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates may be unnecessary and potentially dangerous. 'nuff said.