GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 707542
Applications windows move between lock and unlock
Last modified: 2014-11-10 10:01:01 UTC
When locking the screen on a multi-monitor setup, the application windows will move and resize on or before unlock. Environment: A laptop with an external monitor. The displays are not configured as mirrors. Application windows are open on the external monitor. Steps to Replicate: 1. Lock (user menu; lock) 2. Wait 10 seconds. More or less 10 seconds; enough for power management to put the external monitor to sleep. 3. Move mouse / touch keyboard 4. Type password. Results: 1. All windows are on the laptop screen. 2. Windows are resized smaller if necessary. Expected results: 1. Windows remain where they were before lock. Same location and same size. Specific hardware: 1. Samsung Series 9, 1600x900 resolution 2. LG Flatron W2261VP, 1920x1080 resolution 3. HDMI cable 4. External monitor is "above" the built-in monitor 5. Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller (rev 09) History: This used to work in Gnome-Shell 3.4 or 3.6. I believe it used to work because the power settings weren't that aggressive, so the external monitor wasn't sleeping. Workaround: Use xlock so the power saving doesn't kick in. (corporate environment; lock screen 10 times a day)
I can confirm this bug on GNOME Shell 3.4.1 and 3.6.3.1. Desktop runs v3.4.1 with 2 monitors at 1680x1050. Laptop runs v3.6.3.1 at 1366x768 and a 1080p external screen (primary, where the activity overview lives). Oddly, the screens will all be on the (then secondary) laptop screen. Results are equal to the ones reported by the original poster.
I also use a laptop with an external HDMI-connected screen, and I cannot see those problems. Part of the problem is likely a hardware or driver one, as the screen shouldn't be "turned off" completely when in power saving mode. You might want to check in your monitor's settings what it's doing. On top of that, gnome-shell tries to remember where application windows were, so that unplugging and replugging a monitor should have the expected result (windows not moving). This was fixed in bug 731760. Do you still see problems with gnome-shell 3.14 (despite the possible hardware/driver bugs)?
I think this doesn't occur for me any more. Tested across three systems: Debian Jessie testing (gnome-shell 3.14) Radeon R9 280 with the radeon open source driver And two Ivy Bridge laptops with Ubuntu 14.04 (GNOME 3.10) and Ubuntu 14.10 (GNOME 3.12).
I don't have this problem anymore (3.14)
Thanks!