Ubuntu

Can't log in

Asked by art

I was playing where I shouldn't and now have an interesting situation. This is what led me to where I am:
http://www.linuxlove.org/2007/12/16/comprehensive-linux-system-services-list-explanation-and-recommendation/

When I boot I get the orange splash screen (where that strange audio occurs) that normally changes to my desktop (being the only user I have auto login enabled) I get a terminal window appear with several lines of "/dev/null insufficient permissions" (or permission denied, something along those lines).

I can ctl-c to a prompt in the terminal window and exit out. That takes me to the log in screen where I can type in my uid and password but then it hangs. I can still move the mouse and get to the menu in the corner (session type, shutdown, restatrt, all that stuff). I can select session options but that doesn't change anything. I can can select restart or shutdown but then I have to hit the reset button to start over.

I can use the cli in the terminal to investigate and run commands. I have looked at dmesg, udev, and an Xorg.0 file (I forget the exact name) in /var/log but nine have any indication of an error.

I am running Gutsy AMD 64.

My questions are:
1, Are there other log files I can check for an error message?

2, From the article above are there any recommendations made that are incorrect?

I used sysv-rc-conf to manage the services (now called daemons in this ever changing world). I suspect a file permission change occurred when one was tiurned off and did not revert back when it was turned on again. I can still use sysv-rc-conf from the terminal that appears at log in but nothing has fixed the problem.

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Solved by:
marcobra (Marco Braida)
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Best marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

I have same issue on a upgraded from 7.04 to Ubuntu 7.10 pc, and i have fill a bug about this
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+bug/122062

As a workaround i have put this row into the /etc/rc.local file

chmod 0666 /dev/null

Please open a Terminal from the menu Applications->Accessories->Terminal and type:

sudo gedit /etc/rc.local
give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Add the row "chmod..." before the "exit 0" row (don't touch the "exit 0" it must be the last row in the file)

1) Your log file are all under /var/log/ but i think you will not find any error related to this issue

2) I usually use sysv-rc-conf to enable and disable services and the related article isn't incorrect (some services are related to Fedora)

Hope this Help

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art (art-erickson) said : 		#2

HUGE help, thank you very much.

I searched the forums but for anything with /dev/null but I missed your bug report somehow.

Thanks again.

Art

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art (art-erickson) said : 		#3

I still get a terminal window when I boot that I have to exit manually and then I have to log in manually even tho I am configured for auto login.

This is a mere annoyance compared to the previous problem but if a solution is known I would appreciate knowing it.

I don't know how to find what is starting the window. It happens before the sound is played on the orange screen.

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art (art-erickson) said : 		#4

Sorry, I meant to add that I will be out of town for a couple of days - I'm not ignoring a response, I'm just not able to get to the internet.