Ubuntu

Frozen Login Screen

Asked by Patrick-Warwick

When I boot up it goes directly to the text screen with a final line that says:
kinit: No resume image, doing normal boot...

After logging in on this screen I then enter sudo kdm and get the login screen where the cursor will not move. The problem started when I upgraded to Hardy last year with the login screen having a fuzzy line across at times. Since updating to Intrepid the login screen froze or went completely blank with a fuzzy background but I managed to get it back by repeatedly rebooting. Now even that has failed. I feel it is something simple with the xserver maybe but I have tried everything suggested in various forums without luck. I have removed compiz with apt-get autoremove thinking that might be a problem but it is not.
I have Mythbuntu and Kubuntu/Ubuntu that was pre-installed. As I upgraded with Synaptic both times I do not have a live cd to re-install.

Really would appreciate some help as I have become extremely keen on Linux and only use Windows on this laptop for fortunately allows me to find help as I have no GUI on my Linux machine

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Andy Ruddock (andy-ruddock) said : 		#1

The xserver log files are in /var/log/Xorg.0.log - there may be something in there.

What if you create a new user and try logging in using a new and "pristine" profile.

This has a feel of hardware failure about it :(

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Patrick-Warwick (axcar) said : 		#2

The message I get when try to get into ' /var/log/Xorg.o.log' is Fatal server error: Cannot move old log file ("/var/log/Xorg.0.log" to "/var/log/Xorg.0.log.old"
Regarding creating a new user, would this solve the problem of the login screen and cursor/arrow freezing? As I only have a text screen where I am only a basic user of the command line that might be beyond me.

I think the problem still maybe that somewhere there is an old module that is causing a problem. When I close down a Mythbuntu black and white logo is on the screen briefly. If I log in at the same logo appears. If I boot from from Ubuntu 8.10 kernel 2.6.22-generic a Mythbuntu coloured logo comes up in what I imagine is the latest style.

Don't know if this info might help your diagnostics for which I am grateful. If you think it maybe hardware if so would that be the graphics card or what. sorry to sound a little obscure on that one but at my age (nearly 70) you would be would'nt you

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Wim (launchpad-xs4all) said : 		#3

Do not enter the command " sudo kdm " but at that point, type in these commands:

   sudo dpkg --configure -a
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get upgrade
   sudo dpkg --configure -a

The first line will check whether there are programs that are not yet completely configured.
The second line will download the program-dependencies and new descriptions.
The third line will look what is installed, and will download newer versions, and install them.
The last line checks again.

Now end up with the command that wille reboor your PC:
   sudo init 6

Does this help you?

Revision history for this message
Patrick-Warwick (axcar) said : 		#4

Thanks for taking time on this.

The only portion of that list that worked was the update which downloaded
quite a bit but the upgrade that followed showed that everything was up to
date in Intrepid.

Is it possible I have an hardware problem such as a bad graphics card?

-------Original Message-------

From: Menting
Date: 17/01/2009 16:29:55
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #57708]: Frozen Login Screen

Your question #57708 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/57708

    Status: Open => Needs information

Menting requested for more information:

Do not enter the command " sudo kdm " but at that point, type in these
commands:

   sudo dpkg --configure -a
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get upgrade
   sudo dpkg --configure -a

The first line will check whether there are programs that are not yet
completely configured.
The second line will download the program-dependencies and new descriptions.
The third line will look what is installed, and will download newer versions
 and install them.
The last line checks again.

Now end up with the command that wille reboor your PC:
   sudo init 6

Does this help you?

--
To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
this email or enter your reply at the following page:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/57708

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Revision history for this message
Patrick-Warwick (axcar) said : 		#5

It seems no one has any idea what is the problem here with the frozen GUI at login. I have made the decision rightly or wrongly to scrap the lot and start fresh with the Kubuntu Hardy Heron disk I had. I think my problem as a newbie some months ago was to put too much into my system such as Mythbuntu which without broadband is a non starter. I am fortunate that my new computer was a dedicated Linux machine (which it will stay) and it did not have much that I wanted to save on it anyway as this last year was really all about getting my feet wet with Linux. I am glad, very glad I did because it seems Linux has superior OS's in whatever distro one has.

I would recommend to all Newbies like me. Keep it light don't get mixed up with third party stuff and stay with one distro, at least until you you know where you are going.

Off we go again with Kubuntu ONLY.

Revision history for this message
Andy Ruddock (andy-ruddock) said : 		#6

Good comment - thanks for letting us know of your decision.

Good luck with the new install.