Please describe the problem:
Originally logged through Ubuntu's LaunchPad, they insisted that someone affected log it here.  The full thread can be found here:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/rhythmbox/+bug/236201

The bug seems to only affect users with a Via Chrome driver.  If you have their driver and launch Rythmbox, it locks up (but doesn't crash) when you attempt tp playback MP3s.  Here are some details from the LaunchPad bug:

System: HP Mini-Note 2133

No music plays, but album art appears in bottom left corner as expected.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Fri May 30 18:48:13 2008
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/rhythmbox
Package: rhythmbox 0.11.5-0ubuntu6
PackageArchitecture: i386
SourcePackage: rhythmbox
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-16-generic i686



Steps to reproduce:
1. Have a Via Chrome driver (used in the HP 2133 mini note, say)
2. Open Rythmbox
3. Try to play an MP3


Actual results:
You see the following error looping:
Rhythmbox failed to create output image buffer 60x60

The program becomes unresponsive but doesn't crash

Expected results:
Play MP3s.

Does this happen every time?
Yes, until you disable the visualization plugin (not that it was invoked - it's mere pressence triggers this behaviour.)

Other information:
My workaround from the experience (Found in the Ubuntu Launchpad bug)


I, too, had this problem on my HP 2133 with a Via Chrome driver. I can confirm that fiddling with the visualizations did indeed allow me to play MP3s.

Since I don't like visualizations anyway, I found that just disabling them with the gconf editor worked. Here's what I changed:

1) Open terminal
2) Run gconf-editor
3) Go to /apps/rhythmbox/plugins/visualizer/
4) Unchecked Active, checked hidden
5) Close gconf-editor

Now Rhythmbox plays MP3s, no errors.

Very odd bug, very odd workaround. Who'd have thought that enabling visualizations (not even using them) would affect MP3 playback.

There is more information in the LaunchPad bug including debug files:

http://launchpadlibrarian.net/15149148/rhythmbox-log.txt