Unable to shutdown and restart, logs out instead

[cmat]

On some occasions when I boot the computer, the restart and shutdown options do not work. When selecting them in the indicator applet, it just logs out. When I delete the indicator applet, there is no shutdown or restart option in the System menu. I need to shutdown using the terminal. Other symptoms are also present, such as the audio not working and being unable to "unlock" any of the configuration applets notably "login screen".

As far as I know the problem is seemingly random and Ubuntu 10.04 most of the times boots up flawlessly (none of these problems present). This problem was not present in previous version of Ubuntu on this hardware configuration. This is a clean install of 10.04.

[Tsjoecha (driesfeys)]

the sound problem can be solved by adding your login to the audio group :

sudo adduser your_login audio

I didn't havfe the issue by installing ubuntu from the install DVD, but as soon as I install some updates, I'm affected as well (I reinstalled my computer several times to clarify the symptons)

I think it has something to do with permissions, both the audio & the shutdown problem. Another symptom I see, is that all options are grayed out in "System - Administration - Login Screen".

[cmat (cmat555)]

That does solve the sound problem, however the shutdown issues still remains.

[Raül (rgarrigasait)]

I solved this problem by removing the Nvdia driver.

Some more information here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1472269

[Sepero (cowpie2000)]

Someone on this thread is having the same problem, and they use ATI gfx card:
http://wwww.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9345081

So I do not think we can assume this is a problem with the Nvidia driver. It does appear to be a problem with user permissions though. Why are user permissions getting screwed up?

Compaq Presario CQ60-215DX
Microprocessor 2.00 GHz AMD Athlon X2 QL-62 Dual-Core Processor
Microprocessor Cache 1MB L2 Cache
Memory 2048MB
Video Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8200M

[[e-mail] (hongy19-gmail)]

http://www.ecalpemos.org/2010/05/ubuntu-1004-lucid-will-not-shut-down.html
seems this guy has the same question.

I use the HP nw8440 and ATI opensource driver and has the same question.
After restart, everything works well.

[cmat (cmat555)]

Another issue I've noticed is that you cannot set the CPU Freq. Scaling Monitor to a desired frequency when the shutdown issue is present.

[Duke (monchiron)]

this is also happening to me. To add to it, when this happens, I also cannot have access to external drive. whether USB or PC card. it say something like "No Authorization..." . no sound, no external drive, no shut down/restart always happen at the same time.

[Jaap Zandhuis (jm-zandhuis)]

Similar for me: no sound, cups not loaded, shutdown results in log-out (work around = "sudo poweroff" in terminal).

[chetobi (tobistrolch)]

this is also happening to me. i use sudo halt to shut down.
Acer Aspire 5520-5163
Microprocessor 1.9 GHz AMD Turion 64x2 tl-68
Microprocessor Cache 512KB L2 Cache
Memory 2048MB
Video Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 7000M

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.