Switching users in gnome locks machine when using ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics drivers

[msp3k]

On an iMac (generation iMac7,1), using the proprietary ATI/AMD FGLRX graphics drivers, switching users will cause the machine to lock solid (no response to keyboard, mouse, no alt-F1 console switching, caps-lock light does not activate when pressing caps-lock, and active remote SSH connections are severed).

One solution is to remove the proprietary drivers using the System > Administration > Hardware Drivers tool, which removes the following packages:
fglrx-amdcccle
fglrx-kernel-source

(However, Hardware Drivers tool warns that the proprietary driver may be needed for 2D and 3D support.)

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/yelp
Package: yelp 2.25.1-0ubuntu5
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: yelp
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-16-generic x86_64

[msp3k (peek-nimbios)]

I have verified that the same bug exists in 9.10 as well.

[msp3k (peek-nimbios)]

Michael Peek wrote:
> I have verified that the same bug exists in 9.10 as well.

I have also discovered another potential problem that I believe is a
result of this bug. When the computer locks up, there is a chance that
there will be left behind an /etc/passwd.lock and/or /etc/shadow.lock
file that will prevent future instances of useradd from working.

Michael

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

[This is an automatic notification.]

Hi groovalicious,

This bug was reported against an earlier version of Ubuntu, can you
test if it still occurs on Lucid?

Please note we also provide technical support for older versions of
Ubuntu, but not in the bug tracker. Instead, to raise the issue through
normal support channels, please see:

    http://www.ubuntu.com/support

If you are the original reporter and can still reproduce the issue on
Lucid, please run the following command to refresh the report:

  apport-collect 461183

If you are not the original reporter, please file a new bug report, so
we can work with you as the original reporter instead (you can reference
bug 461183 in your report if you think it may be related):

  ubuntu-bug xorg

If by chance you can no longer reproduce the issue on Lucid or if you
feel it is no longer relevant, please mark the bug report 'Fix Released'
or 'Invalid' as appropriate, at the following URL:

  https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/461183

[msp3k (peek-nimbios)]

I apologise, but apparently I originally reported this bug under a different launchpad login with a password I can no longer remember. I tried the command: apport-collect 461183
But was told: "You are not the reporter or subscriber of this problem report, or the report is a duplicate or already closed." So I reported this bug by submitting information via ubuntu-bug and marked it as "affecting me too" under this login name.

A bug still exits, but the behaviour has changed:
- The machine no longer locks up when selecting "Switch from <user>...". Instead a login window appears.
- When selecting a user to log in as, the screen goes blank, a mouse cursor appears, and then X11 appears to lock up.
- In the original report the machine locked up solid. Virtual terminals were inaccessible and attempts to SSH in were unsuccessful. This is no longer the case. When X11 freezes at the black screen I am still able to use cntrl+alt+F1 to get to a virtual terminal and reboot, so the machine itself is still functional. It appears that only X11 freezes.

This bug is 100% reproducible:
1) Log in.
2) Select "Switch from <user>..."
3) When the login screen appears, click on a user and enter the user's password.
4) The screen will go black, and although a mouse appears a new user session will never start up.

[msp3k (peek-nimbios)]

Oh yeah:

Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Kernel: 2.6.32-21-generic

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

[Resetting to incomplete since we need a response from the original reporter on this].

[msp3k (peek-nimbios)]

Horay, I remembered may password for groovalicious!

Consider msp3k's post my response -- groovalicious and msp3k are the same person. I'd forgotten that I had the groovalicious account when I opened msp3k. Also, I have since moved on to another job with a different email address, so groovalicious's email address will disappear in the near future. You may close the groovalicious account and reassign ownership of all groovalicious postings to msp3k if you'd like, as there is certainly no need for two accounts.

My apologies for any confusion that this has caused.

[msp3k (peek-nimbios)]

I have found the instructions for merging the two accounts.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for fglrx-installer (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]