Ubuntu
gnome-screensaver package

Can't unlock screen when using a password-less account

Asked by Alessio Bolognino

Binary package hint: gnome-screensaver

I created a password-less account for my Mom, that is, in the Ubuntu Installer (or maybe later, using users-admin, I don't think it really matters) I created an account, inserted no password and checked the "don't ask for a password on login" checkbox. After tweaking the permissions a bit, it works fine for her. The only (quite big) problem is that when the screen is locked, either by locking it manually or after a user-switch, you simply can't unlock it, since it asks for a password that I never set.

 I think that gnome-screensaver simply shouldn't ask for a password for this type of accounts.

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Zus Nelem (zusvonnelem) said : 		#1

 go to screen saver settings and make sure you've unchecked the lock screen box.

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Alessio Bolognino (themolok) said : 		#2

OK, thanks, this fixes it when switching users from the GDM dialog, but it does not when using Ubuntu's fast-user-switch applet, nor when clicking "Lock Screen". It makes little sense to have a button that when accidentally clicked makes a user session completely unusable. The safest setup would be, IMHO, "if no password is set for the user":

1. Automatically uncheck the "lock screen when screensaver is active" box. I guess this should be done by users-admin somehow;
2. Do not lock the screen when switching to that account with fast-user-switch applet;
3. Do not show the lock screen button in the fast-user-switch applet (probably easier) or show a lock-screen dialog that doesn't need a password to be unlocked (probably better).

I filed this bug against gnome-screensaver, but it actually seems to be caused by three different softwares. Should I file 3 or 4 different bug reports?

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Federico Tello Gentile (federicotg) said : 		#3

Try uninstalling gnome-screensaver. I think the screen will never lock. A more elegant way would be to make gnome-screensaver no run for that user.

You may lose the ability to turn off monitor automatically after some minutes of inactivity.

There's a chance that once uninstalled Xscreensaver might take its place. It is ugly, but it may not have that bug on passwordless acconts.

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Alessio Bolognino (themolok) said : 		#4

Thanks for you answer, but honestly, uninstalling gnome-screensaver does not seem to be a great solution to me. There is definitely a bug in a software, either gnome-screensaver, users-admin or fast-user-switch, I'd like to see this acknowledged by someone who might be interested in fixing it.

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Federico Tello Gentile (federicotg) said : 		#5

It is great that you want to get someone to actually fix the bug, but meanwhile a workaround might help you.

It is very likely that the bug is in gnome-screensaver
You can file the bug directly to them:
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=gnome-screensaver

There's also a mailing list, but it has very little activity:
http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/screensaver-list

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Alessio Bolognino (themolok) said : 		#6

I forwarded the bug report upstream:
https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=620555

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Federico Tello Gentile (federicotg) said : 		#7

It seems to be a Ubuntu bug. I reopened the linked bug. I will try to reproduce it.

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Federico Tello Gentile (federicotg) said : 		#8

The workaround I originally suggested works: uninstalling gnome-screensaver. I just tried switching users, one with password one without. All seems ok.

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