Changing hostname breaks X

[Robert Stagner]

Binary package hint: hostname

A while back, I set about to change the name of my computer. In order to accomplish this task, I began by booting up the system
in single-user mode and...

1. changed the contents of the /etc/hostname file to the new name of my computer
2. changed the contents of the /etc/hosts file to have 127.0.0.1 point to both "localhost" and the new name of my computer
127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.1.1 <new name here>

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
ff02::3 ip6-allhosts

All seemed just fine...until I attempted to log into my X session after rebooting the computer. After typing in my username and password via the login screen, the system appeared to begin the process of initializing X and my desktop manager, however, after logging me into to the desktop, the screen I was presented with contained no taskbar, menus, icons, etc., essentially, I was left with a blank desktop. Nor could I do anything with the keyboard or mouse other than CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE to exit my X session.
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Environment
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Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Kubuntu 7.10
Release: 7.10
Codename: gutsy
Linux: Linux 2.6.22-14-generic #1 SMP Tue Dec 18 08:02:57 UTC 2007 i686 GNU/Linux
Video Card: Nvidia, Nvidia Driver = 100.14.23
X Server Information:
 Server Version Number=11.0
 Server Vendor String=The X.Org Foundation
 Server Vendor Version=1.3.0 (10300000)
 NV-Control Version=1.13
 X-screens=1

IMPORTANT: In Kubuntu, I'm running CompizFusion

[Cody A.W. Somerville (cody-somerville)]

Can you post a copy of ~/.xsession-errors when this occurs? Please also upload your /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts file.

Is it possible you simply made a typo in your /etc/hosts file?

[Robert Stagner (restagner)]

I've attached copies of the "bad" /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts file -- these contain the changes I made to both the files. I've also attached a copy of the "good" /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts file -- the ones that actually allow me to run Kubuntu without errors. And finally, I've attached a copy of the ~/.xsession-errors file.

Regards,
Robert