[SOLVED] Unable to login to Ubuntu 16.04

Jjanel · 03-08-2017, 02:43 AM

Hi; I'm a bit lost here; sorry about #3, where I was thinking boot/grub!
#2 Ctrl+Alt+F1 probably 'got you to' tty1
You can check with: tty (CLI/shell/terminal command). Does it say: /dev/tty1?
Alt+F7 'should' get back the 'pretty' screen in #5 picture!
(or doubtfully F8; Alt+F2 should get a tty2 login: )

In #5, did you get a "console" via #2, and -who- did you login as?
(I assume it needed a password, --or-- did it NOT?)
Back at the #5 GUI, did any USERname work? Yours? Try:
id; w; who; whoami; tail /etc/passwd | grep -v /bin/false

#5 picture shows X/GUI/desktop/windows/... running. Check for 5 via cmd:
runlevel

You can 'look under the hood' at what ALL is running with like: ps afx|grep -v ]
(the |grep -v ] excludes the [irrelevant] 'kernel threads'; f adds formatting)
You should see a bunch of GUI-related stuff, but I won't try to detail the 100pieces!
Sidenote: for a one# summary, you can get a line-count by appending: |wc -l

Btw, I would NOT 'jump' from #5pic to #15gone conclusion!

A couple things I'm wondering about:

What -exactly- was the output/result from: startx
? (see `ps` above) Optionally, try: echo $PATH
You can list all installed pkgs with: dpkg --list
but I'm not sure what to |grep for, to find DesktopEnv=GUI stuff.

Before the upgrade, you must have had a username (tho -formerly- it auto-logged-into DE)
In the -original install- long ago, you probably gave that username a password but forgot.
(Ubu user 'root'/UID 0 doesn't have a password! sudo is used; head -1 /etc/shadow shows root:!: or *)
The #11 (# meaning root shell prompt) command would be:
passwd yourORthatORIGuserNAMEwhatEVERitWAS
(IF you are root, # passwd <ENTER> would set a root password, -irrelevant- to all this!)

When/why were you in "Recovery Mode"? What did you mean by: "failed" ?

Anyway, more 'status' info will bring clarity. Best wishes! Let us know (for future readers!)

fellow2w · 03-08-2017, 04:08 AM

Please see attached photo for outputs of commands

fellow2w · 03-08-2017, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjanel

Hi; I'm a bit lost here; sorry about #3, where I was thinking boot/grub!
#2 Ctrl+Alt+F1 probably 'got you to' tty1
You can check with: tty (CLI/shell/terminal command). Does it say: /dev/tty1?
Alt+F7 'should' get back the 'pretty' screen in #5 picture!
(or doubtfully F8; Alt+F2 should get a tty2 login: )

In #5, did you get a "console" via #2, and -who- did you login as?
(I assume it needed a password, or did it NOT?)
Back at the #5 GUI, did any USERname work? Yours? Try:
id; w; who; whoami; tail /etc/passwd

#5 picture shows X/GUI/desktop/windows/... running. Check for 5 via cmd:
runlevel

You can 'look under the hood' at what ALL is running with like: ps afx|grep -v ]
(the |grep -v ] excludes the [irrelevant] 'kernel threads'; f adds formatting)
You should see a bunch of GUI-related stuff, but I won't try to detail the 100pieces!
Sidenote: for a one# summary, you can get a line-count by appending: |wc -l

Btw, I would NOT 'jump' from #5pic to #15gone conclusion!

A couple things I'm wondering about:

What -exactly- was the output/result from: startx
? (see `ps` above) Optionally, try: echo $PATH
You can list all installed pkgs with: dpkg --list
but I'm not sure what to |grep for, to find DesktopEnv=GUI stuff.

Before the upgrade, you must have had a username (tho -formerly- it auto-logged-into DE)
In the -original install- long ago, you probably gave that username a password but forgot.
(Ubu user 'root'/UID 0 doesn't have a password! sudo is used; head -1 /etc/shadow shows root:!: or *)
The #11 (# meaning root shell prompt) command would be:
passwd yourORthatORIGuserNAMEwhatEVERitWAS
(IF you are root, # passwd <ENTER> would set a root password, -irrelevant- to all this!)

When/why were you in "Recovery Mode"? What did you mean by: "failed" ?

Anyway, more 'status' info will bring clarity. Best wishes! Let us know (for future readers!)

Please see attached photo for output of commands

Jjanel · 03-08-2017, 04:24 AM

Ah! That was FAST! THANKS! +2

All [of 'my'] CLIworld looks FINE!
#17 says gnome (but I know very little about GUI/X, sorry)

Does Alt+F7 get #5GUI back? (probably not -right- now: X exited[I guess])
Does a [sudo] reboot get #5GUIpicture back (when it finishes booting)?
THEN, Is it 'frozen dead'? Or ...? MAYBE `cat`/examine that X .log

To clarify, can you get back to the screenshot you posted in #5?
IF so, what exactly happens when you try things on that GUI login screen?

Ztcoracat · 03-08-2017, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fellow2w

Please see attached photo for outputs of commands

Looking at the screenshot it appears that Gnome is the DE.

At the prompt try typing:
starx and see if it takes you to the DE gui?
IF not try the cmd below.

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-gnome-desktop

I'm suspicious that something may have hosed the DE.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/76607...n-ubuntu-16-04

fellow2w · 03-08-2017, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Looking at the screenshot it appears that Gnome is the DE.

At the prompt try typing:
starx and see if it takes you to the DE gui?
IF not try the cmd below.

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-gnome-desktop

I'm suspicious that something may have hosed the DE.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/76607...n-ubuntu-16-04

Startx doesnt bring me to desktop, it just says a few lines and brings me back to the command line.

I've installed gnome and rebooted and it's asks me for my credentials.

But it won't allow me to enter my credentials when I enter my username it doesn't come up on the screen

fellow2w · 03-08-2017, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjanel

Ah! That was FAST! THANKS! +2

All [of 'my'] CLIworld looks FINE!
#17 says gnome (but I know very little about GUI/X, sorry)

Does Alt+F7 get #5GUI back? (probably not -right- now: X exited[I guess])
Does a [sudo] reboot get #5GUIpicture back (when it finishes booting)?
THEN, Is it 'frozen dead'? Or ...? MAYBE `cat`/examine that X .log

To clarify, can you get back to the screenshot you posted in #5?
IF so, what exactly happens when you try things on that GUI login screen?

When I enter alt f7 it says a few lines and then just stalls. See attachment

Ztcoracat · 03-08-2017, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fellow2w

Startx doesnt bring me to desktop, it just says a few lines and brings me back to the command line.

I've installed gnome and rebooted and it's asks me for my credentials.

But it won't allow me to enter my credentials when I enter my username it doesn't come up on the screen

If you can't enter your credentials or username and password it sounds like something is badly broken or misconfigured.

-::-It looks like your best bet is to perform a fresh installation and make sure this time; you write down your username and password.-::-

http://releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/

Jjanel · 03-09-2017, 05:33 AM

Hi again fellow2w. I'm so very sorry that I don't 'do' "GUI" (only OLD netbook for CLI).
That Alt+F7 post looks like a 'log' screen... Try Alt+F8 (unlikely but... Also, +F2-F9!)

Because I don't have the resources to run a Linux GUI, I'm not sure what you mean by:
"rebooted and it asks me for my credentials. But it won't allow me to enter my credentials; when I enter my username [HOW/WHERE?] it doesn't come up on the screen"
Do you mean that you get the 'picture' you posted in #5? IF so, Then [I feel] there's 'hope'!
(maybe you can write/explain in more detail about what happens on that #5 GUIlogin)

Maybe your ?upgrade? got confused by your auto-login/no-password GUI settings[??]
Here's a LONG article about 'fixing/cleaning' Ubu broken pkgs, to MAYBE TRY (or...)

In your later pictures, I'm guessing after the Ctrl+Alt+F1, you seem to CLIlogin OK (max/<pwd>), yes?

Will you 'loose a lot' by reinstalling? IF you want to 'keep trying to fix it', maybe a UbuntuGUI LQ'er will 'visit' this Thread

Here's some 'stuff' from my Mint18.1 .iso (as ideas to -TRY-)

Code:

mint@mint ~ $ pstree -acuSslg `pgrep -t tty7`
systemd,1 xforcevesa noacpi nosplash
  └─mdm,1464 --nodaemon
      └─mdm,1757 --nodaemon
          └─Xorg,1794 :0 -audit 0 -auth /var/lib/mdm/:0.Xauth -nolisten tcp vt7
mint@mint ~ $  egrep -w 'EE|\?\?' /var/log/Xorg.0.log
        (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[   367.618] (EE) AIGLX: reverting to software rendering 

mint@mint ~ $ ps afx|grep tty
 1794 tty7     Ss+   37:58      \_ /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg :0 -audit 0 -auth /var/lib/mdm/:0.Xauth -nolisten tcp vt7
 1497 tty1     Ss     0:02 /bin/login --
 6082 tty1     S+     0:35  \_ -bash

mint@mint ~ $ ls /usr/bin/*session
/usr/bin/ck-launch-session  /usr/bin/dbus-run-session  /usr/bin/gnome-session  /usr/bin/mate-session
mint@mint ~ $ ls -l /usr/share/xsessions
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6780 Nov  8 23:00 mate.desktop
#WHERE are gnome auto-login/no-password GUI settings?
mint@mint ~ $ tty; env|egrep -i 'desk|ses' #tty1 DESKTOP_SESSION? Naw :(
/dev/tty1
XDG_SESSION_ID=48
XDG_SESSION_COOKIE=23e7429435e943319b749149eed39e68-1489059749.511578-54616255

TRY just the first 2 (there's tons of ps/pgrep/pstree option switches!)

Code:

pstree -acuSslg `pgrep -t tty7` 
NOTE: those are backticks, key to LEFT of 1, UNshifted ~, NOT quotes! 

egrep -w 'EE|\?\?' /var/log/Xorg.0.log 
NOTE: I think your log file (in #18 startx .local/...) is elsewhere per your pic!
AND be precise with the uppercase, single-quoting, two backslash questionmarks!

-My- 'idea' is to: find the X process(es) and their tty# (&check log!)

&Again, SORRY! I'm just -learning- X (withOUT the 'resources' to run it

)

p.s. Oh! Here's THE_ANSWER!: https://journalxtra.com/linux/deskto...-desktop-back/

fellow2w · 03-09-2017, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

If you can't enter your credentials or username and password it sounds like something is badly broken or misconfigured.

-::-It looks like your best bet is to perform a fresh installation and make sure this time; you write down your username and password.-::-

http://releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/

If I do a fresh install will I lose all my data?

Ztcoracat · 03-09-2017, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fellow2w

If I do a fresh install will I lose all my data?

Yes:-

Unless you have a backup.

BW-userx · 03-09-2017, 02:38 PM

if you can login cli - can you bring up your network/wifi? if yes.
have you tired removing whatever desktop you think you have installed on it, purge it get rid of everything - then reinstall it and cross your fingers hoping that the system will take care of setting it up properly so you can get a gui back, and or install xinit as well to get startx installed on it, then edit your .xinit file to start whatever you need ie. nm-applet & and a wm/de at the very lest to at least hopefully get something going?

try: if you have sudo as Ubuntututu (mo sucks for taking away root) but if you have sudo rights make a new user give him a password and try getting in by that user instead and see if that new users GUI works.

if you can then all you got a do is login root do some dir name changing moving files and such, if I had it here I'd just show you. but a new user might get you in at least. then go from there.

BW-userx · 03-09-2017, 02:54 PM

for this

Quote:

View Post
If I do a fresh install will I lose all my data?

if you do not have you system split then yep, if you have it split

Code:

/
/home

then you are good to go. just reinstall - set /home mount point and DO NOT format and bada bing you're in like flint. Else start backing up your stuff onto a different medium as you can log in cli all you got a do is get a external hdd USB blkid to see what to mount. then back it up first.

Code:

cp -vr /home/userName /mountpoint

fellow2w · 03-09-2017, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BW-userx

for this if you do not have you system split then yep, if you have it split

Code:

/
/home

then you are good to go. just reinstall - set /home mount point and DO NOT format and bada bing you're in like flint. Else start backing up your stuff onto a different medium as you can log in cli all you got a do is get a external hdd USB blkid to see what to mount. then back it up first.

Code:

cp -vr /home/userName /mountpoint

I might try recovery mode again. How exactly do I run in recovery mode?

BW-userx · 03-09-2017, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fellow2w

I might try recovery mode again. How exactly do I run in recovery mode?

I have Luckily have never had to deal with that mode. So I have no idea. did you try that other stuff first in regular multiuser mode yet? if you can login cli on multiuser mode then you can just copy your home onto a external hdd. if all else fails. Or wait and see what someone else says on recovery mode --