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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Reboot the computer and keep the SHIFT key pressed in order to access the boot options. Select "recovery mode". This should allow you to login in your system again.
Alberto
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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.conffile and/or - edit the
/etc/init/plymouth-stop.conffile, 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.
1
Same problem happened to me.
Go to tty1 with Control + Alt + F1. Then I ran
lightdm
from there.The login screen appeared this time.Also I will try to apply the fix listed above
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.
