I'm locked out!

[Aykay]

On my other computer, I seem to be locked out of kubuntu (which is the only OS on the computer). I get to the login screen upon bootup - which is in itslef weird because I had it configured to boot straight into the desktop - and when I input my password it leaves the bootsplash for a split second (leading me to think it's accepting the password) and then returns to the login screen.

I really, really don't want to reinstall in this case (I have been able to run my 10.04 live disc, but not a bootable USB for some reason). I just happened to luck out and get a free $70 kindle book and was able to read it on the kindle app on tht computer. I haven't been able to repeat the feat on any other computer, and every remove-kindle-drm process I can find involves opening the book in kindle and running a python script. (I can't open the file, which luckily I *do* have backed up, in a new install of kindleforpc).

OH - this is probably relevant. Prior to this problem, I think that I ended up getting low on memory. In my last few successful boots, I was doing lots of apt-removing of software I didn't use like gimp and audacity. Somewhere in there though, I may have ran a simplebackup. Is there any way to recover the program/settings? Can I boot into a live disc session, delete large groups of files (ie music collection, which is backup up externally) and try again?

[GreyGeek]

Re: I'm locked out!

getting low on memory

Do you mean low on disk space? Removing apps won't increase RAM.

I think what you have is a failure of your xserver ... the classic login loop. Probably caused by an upgrade failure.

Reboot your computer and just as it turns back on hold the left Shift key down and keep it down until the Grub menu appears. Arrow down to the option of a root console with Internet connection, then press the Tab key to get to the "OK" button and press enter.

This will bring you up in a console with root access.

First, clean up your updates:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

If you get any errors or aborts do
sudo apt-get -f install
or
sudo dpkg --configure -a

Repeat until the dist-upgrade completes with n errors or returns having done nothing.

At this point you can reboot.

If the login loop remains after the reboot you can use the root console with Internet recovery mode and do either
services kdm restart
or
startkde

Let us know what happens.

[dibl]

Re: I'm locked out!

Actually, a full filesystem will indeed cause "login loop". If your /home folder is part of the root filesystem, then YES, boot a Live CD, go in and delete non-needed data files. Once you've nuked what doesn't need to be there, try to boot normally and long in.

[GreyGeek]

Re: I'm locked out!

Beside what Dibl said, you may have deleted some necessary KDE desktop files. You can replace them by doing
sudo apt-get --reinstall install kubuntu-desktop
(after you've cleaned out some disk space!)

[Aykay]

Re: I'm locked out!

how do I clear out the space though? All I have to work with is a 10.04 livecd, and when I open up the normal home folder in dolphin it doesn't allow me to do delete anything.

[rfakhrai]

Re: I'm locked out!

From within dolphin in the liveCD you should be able to see your /home hard drive probably on the left side of the window. Look around a bit and you'll find it.

And, a correction to GreyGeek's command:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall kubuntu-desktop

[Aykay]

Re: I'm locked out!

@frakhrai Right, but I don't seem to have permission to delete those files, that's the problem.

[vinnywright]

Re: I'm locked out!

running from a cd you will prob. knead a root dolphin.

kdesudo dolphin

then you should be able to delete what you want.

VINNY

[rfakhrai]

Re: I'm locked out!

good call vinny.

sorry OP, I missed that.