Login fails

Login (GDM/KDM) Fails after Update

This week (10/9/2009) many people found themselves unable to logon on Fedora 11 after installing an update.

The symptoms where:

    1. Entering the password.

    2. Screen changed as if login succeeded.

    3. Screen blacked out.

    4. Logon prompt shown again.

Also, after a few attempts, logon was successful but would start failing again after logging out.

A few solutions (workarounds) are possible:

    • Downgrade the update for Xorg.

    • Disabling Desktop Effects.

    • Disabling Tiling on xorg.conf

!!! Take Notice !!!

I tried disabling Tiling first, as I wanted to keep the Desktop Effects on.

It didn't work for me (although I felt it make it more bearable).

So, I tried to disable Desktop Effects also. It seems that it solved the problem.

Therefore, I advise you to try to disable Desktop Effects first.

Besides, on another F11 system that I have, the same update was made, and the problem didn't occur. I don't have Desktop Effects on that system. So, I truly believe that Desktop Effects is the cause.

If you do want to keep Desktop Effects on, then I advise you to downgrade Xorg.

AGAIN, BEWARE:

    • There were several updates regarding Xorg.

    • I did NOT test the Xorg downgrade.

    • I believe it's Desktop Effects related.

    • I DO NOT guarantee that downgrading the Xorg server will solve the problem.

    • It's possible that it's another package that needs downgrading.

    • Again, I did NOT test this solution.

Disabling Desktop Effects

To disable Desktop Effects keep trying to login on graphic mode, and when you do manage to login:

  1. Go to menu System -> Preferences -> Desktop Effects.

  2. Clear all Check Boxes.

  3. Hit the Close Button.

  4. Again, go to menu System -> Preferences -> Desktop Effects.

  5. Hit the Desktop Effects button.

  6. Hit the Close button.

  7. Restart your system.

  8. Check if this worked for you (try login/logout a few times).

Disabling Tiling

To disable Tiling on xorg.conf follow these instructions:

    1. Log on text mode:

      1. Press <CTRL><ALT><F2> keys (or <F3> instead of <F2> if it doesn't take you to text login)

      2. Enter username (root) and confirm pressing the <ENTER> key.

      3. Enter password (password for root) ending again with the <ENTER> key.

    2. Check if you have xorg.conf on your system:

      1. List files by typing and confirming with <ENTER>:

      • ls /etc/X11

      1. Check if xorg.conf shows at listing.

    1. If AND ONLY IF the file xorg.conf doesn't exist:

      1. Type (at the prompt and end each command line with <ENTER> - I won't be saying this again, also mind blank spaces and case):

      • Xorg -configure :1

      • cp /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf

    1. Edit the file by typing:

      • vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf

      1. You're now in edit mode: Be VERY careful on what keys you press!!! DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES!!!

        1. If you do make a mistake:

          1. Hit the <ESC> key.

          2. Type:

          • :q!

          1. This should bring you back to the prompt. Edit the file again, and start over from that point (4.).

        1. Type:

        • /Section "Device"

        1. Press the "o" key.

        2. Hit the <TAB> key.

        3. Type the following, ending with the <ESC> key:

        • Option "Tiling" "False"

        1. Hold the <SHIFT> key, and press the "z" key twice (same as typing ZZ, that's two uppercase letter Z).

        2. Should bring you back to the prompt, if not, you made a mistake, and you know what that means (read back).

    1. Restart your system by typing at the prompt:

      • telinit 6

      1. Or, if that didn't work:

      • init 6

    1. Check if it worked for you.

Downgrading Xorg (UNTESTED!!! - Read above)

To downgrade Xorg, first make sure that you have a wired connection to the Internet, then:

    1. Log on text mode:

      1. Press <CTRL><ALT><F2> keys (or <F3> instead of <F2> if it doesn't take you to text login)

      2. Enter username (root) and confirm pressing the <ENTER> key.

      3. Enter password (password for root) ending again with the <ENTER> key.

    2. Enable downgrades, and downgrade Xorg on your system:

      1. Enable downgrades by typing and confirming with <ENTER>:

      • yum install yum-plugin-allowdowngrade

      1. Downgrade Xorg by typing (end with <ENTER>):

      • yum downgrade xorg-x11-server-Xorg

  1. Restart your system by typing at the prompt:

        • telinit 6

        1. Or, if that didn't work:

        • init 6

    1. Check if it worked for you.