Ubuntu
gdm package

Upon entering my user name and password at the login screen I recieve the following error dialog " The GNOME session manager was unable to lock the file /home/ted/.ICEauthority" and Ubuntu does not start.

Asked by tedpetrisor

Binary package hint: gdm

After entering my user name and password at the login screen of Ubuntu version 7.10 I receive an error dialog that says"The GNOME session manager was unable to lock the file /home/ted/.ICEauthority. Sometimes this error may occur if the files directory is unwritable. You can try logging in via the failsafe session and ensuring that it is." and Ubuntu doesn't start. I have tried this but the same error dialog displays each time and Ubuntu does not start. I have tried logging in all of the sessions but unable to start Ubuntu and error message is still there. Also I have tried logging into the failsafe terminal and run the following command sudo ls -l /home/ted/.ICEauthority The output returned is rw------- 1 ted ted 825 2008-04-20 10:05 /home/ted/.ICEauthority
I have been able to reinstall Ubuntu in another partition but even though I imported all files and settings from my failed Ubuntu installation none of my Evolution saved emails were imported. Is there any way to recover my first Ubuntu installation so I can access my Evolution saved emails?

Question information

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Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu gdm Edit question
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Solved by:
Bhavani Shankar
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This question was originally filed as bug #220415.

Revision history for this message
tedpetrisor (tedpetrisor) said : 		#1

After entering my user name and password at the login screen of Ubuntu version 7.10 I receive an error dialog that says"The GNOME session manager was unable to lock the file /home/ted/.ICEauthority. Sometimes this error may occur if the files directory is unwritable. You can try logging in via the failsafe session and ensuring that it is." and Ubuntu doesn't start. I have tried this but the same error dialog displays each time and Ubuntu does not start. I have tried logging in all of the sessions but unable to start Ubuntu and error message is still there. Also I have tried logging into the failsafe terminal and run the following command sudo ls -l /home/ted/.ICEauthority The output returned is rw------- 1 ted ted 825 2008-04-20 10:05 /home/ted/.ICEauthority
I have been able to reinstall Ubuntu in another partition but even though I imported all files and settings from my failed Ubuntu installation none of my Evolution saved emails were imported. Is there any way to recover my first Ubuntu installation so I can access my Evolution saved emails?

Revision history for this message
Best Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#2

Hello

Please have a look at:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent

Also this link might help you out:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3261023&postcount=10

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

Revision history for this message
tedpetrisor (tedpetrisor) said : 		#3

Thank you for the prompt answer to this problem. I first followed the instructions at http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3261023&postcount=10 however it did not solve the problem. I then read the information at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent and I believe this solution is on the right track as my original Ubuntu installation was indeed onto a Usb flashdrive. I no longer require the flashdrive installation and have since deleted it. I have decided to reformat my HDD and do a clean install of the new version 8.04. I will lose my Evolution emails however the lesson I have learned is to do regular Evolution Backups to removable media in the event someting like this ever happens again. Thank you again for the help and advice. This remarkable support is why I choose to stay with Ubuntu for the long run. Regards, Ted