Question

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no login screen after change from lightdm to xdm

rated 0 times [ 2] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 7648 / 2 Years ago, wed, december 8, 2021, 10:56:14

On 12.04 LTS, I typed "apt-get install xdm" - then a window asked if I wanted
lightdm or xdm, and I selected xdm. Then I rebooted but the display only showed,
for a very long time, the word "ubuntu" and orange dots moving over a purple
background. There was no login prompt. I was not able to use key sequences such
as Ctrl-Alt-F1 to Ctrl-Alt-F7 (or Alt-F1 to Alt-F7) to obtain a text terminal.
All of these key sequences were ignored. I rebooted multiple times and this behavior
always occurs. What is the easiest way to obtain login access to the system?

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fittecanap

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4 Years ago

answered 2 Years ago oraoming · Accepted Answer

Trying to change a 12.04 LTS system from LightDM to xdm by installing the xdm package and then running dpkg-reconfigure lightdm to select xdm apparently does not work.

The failure mode is that a normal boot hangs forever on the "orange dots - purple background" screen, and it is necessary to use recovery mode to access the system. One or both of these other two steps will apparently fix the problem:

delete the /etc/init/lightdm.conf file and/or

edit the /etc/init/plymouth-stop.conf file, locate the line beginning with gdm|kdm and change this line to begin with xdm|gdm|kdm instead.

I most likely will not research this further and most likely will not submit a bug report myself. I do not know whether either of the steps mentioned above is considered a supported or recommended configuration change. Also, I do not know whether use of xdm is considered a supported activity on 12.04 LTS.