Ubuntu
gdm package

updated and now have no password box?

Asked by Phil harflett

just done the update manager and now I have no password box when I start my laptop? I can see no way of getting past the initial screen? All there is on the screen is a box in the centre with ubuntu 10.10 on it and botton right I have a Universal Access Preferences symbol, day and time and Shut Down options? Please help!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ubuntu gdm Edit question
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Sam_
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Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#1

In addition to there not being a textbox for you to type in your password, is there also no list of usernames (this might be a one-item list)?

What happens when, before doing anything else after that screen comes up, you press the enter key once?

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BabyGeek (babygeek) said : 		#2

Go to: "System" > "Administration" > "Users and Groups" and click "change" at the right of "password".

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Phil harflett (philkatie) said : 		#3

Eliah: If I press enter key once, nothing at all happens?

BabyGeek: I have no way of going to system etc as there is no option to click on?

thanks for all help.

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BabyGeek (babygeek) said : 		#4

Open the terminal (if you can't, press ALT + F2) then enter this: sudo users-admin

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Phil harflett (philkatie) said : 		#5

BabyGeek: I did that but it says that my login is incorrect?

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BabyGeek (babygeek) said : 		#6

Ah... i thought you can access your session but you wanted enable password.
Sorry i can't help you...

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Best Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#7

You sure didn't change the option to autologin without password?

There has been an update for gdm.
http://changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs/pool/main/g/gdm/gdm_2.30.5-0ubuntu4.1/changelog

> Shut Down options

Ok, then reboot please.
Right after boot switch to tty (virtual console, text mode only): ctrl+alt+f1
Type:
dpkg-reconfigure gdm
startx

Please let us know what happens, exact wording of error messages.

Other option.
Right after boot press [Shift] in case your settings don't allow to view boot menu.
Boot into Recovery Mode.
Choose option: repair broken packages
http://unixlab.blogspot.com/2009/08/exploring-ubuntu-recovery-mode.html

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Phil harflett (philkatie) said : 		#8

Sam: excellent! now have the password box - yes!! Oh, slight problem, keyboard now not responsive so have password box but can't type password in - argh!!!!!!!
any thoughts are very welcome?!

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Phil harflett (philkatie) said : 		#9

sorry being really thick!!! Works fine. many thanks for help :-)

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Phil harflett (philkatie) said : 		#10

Thanks Sam_, that solved my question.