I had the same problem. I fixed this in xorg.conf, with composite enabled. Now I have a new ATI driver, where the composite has to be disabled, thus - depends on driver you have ... just check xorg.conf, it should be written something like this: Section "Extensions" Option "Composite" "enabled" #or disabled, sometimes just 0 EndSection if you have a proprietary driver look here - <a href="http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=569654">http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=569654 </a> further you may look here (for some settings) <a href="http://forlong.blogage.de/article/2007/8/29/How-to-set-up-Compiz-Fusion">http://forlong.blogage.de/article/2007/8/29/How-to-set-up-Compiz-Fusion</a> I hope this will help. Cheers, Angels <div>2008/1/13, Rick Barry <<a href="mailto:existentialsailor@yahoo.com">existentialsailor@yahoo.com</a>>:<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> When I go to: System --> Preferences --> Appearance --> Visual Effects and choose "Normal" (default setting is none), I get the dialog stated in the subject line of this post. Then the Appearance Dialog Box is frozen and I have to use "force quit" or a restart to get rid of it. I'm using an ATI card with restricted drivers if that is of any significance. What am I missing? Thank you. Linux user level: very new ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. <a href="http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs">http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs</a> -- ubuntu-users mailing list <a href="mailto:ubuntu-users@lists.ubuntu.com">ubuntu-users@lists.ubuntu.com</a> Modify settings or unsubscribe at: <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users"> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users</a> </blockquote></div> -- Cheers, Angels WE never know how high we are Till we are called to rise; And then, if we are true to plan, Our statures touch the skies.(E.Dickinson)