Just experienced the problem again. The boot after that went well. I attach the syslog, so as to provide you with some fresh evidence. I am a noob, so I do not know what I am looking for (or at) in this log. I do see some things, however, which seem to be not right: several messages like Feb 1 16:40:09 emachine gdm-binary[1099]: WARNING: Unable to load file '/etc/gdm/custom.conf': Bestand of map bestaat niet I also noticed Feb 1 16:40:09 emachine kernel: [ 29.167973] init: lightdm main process (1101) killed by TERM signal (which suprises me because I use GDM, not lightdm...) Also: Feb 1 16:40:09 emachine gdm-simple-slave[1110]: WARNING: Unable to load file '/etc/gdm/custom.conf': Bestand of map bestaat niet And Feb 1 16:40:10 emachine gdm-binary[1099]: WARNING: GdmDisplay: display lasted 0,687378 seconds Feb 1 16:40:10 emachine gdm-simple-slave[1165]: WARNING: Unable to load file '/etc/gdm/custom.conf': Bestand of map bestaat niet Feb 1 16:40:10 emachine gdm-binary[1099]: WARNING: GdmDisplay: display lasted 0,531895 seconds Feb 1 16:40:10 emachine gdm-simple-slave[1214]: WARNING: Unable to load file '/etc/gdm/custom.conf': Bestand of map bestaat niet Feb 1 16:40:12 emachine gdm-binary[1099]: WARNING: GdmDisplay: display lasted 0,472872 seconds Feb 1 16:40:12 emachine gdm-binary[1099]: WARNING: GdmLocalDisplayFactory: maximum number of X display failures reached: check X server log for errors As this last message points to X server, I add the text of Xorg.1.log: [ 26.987] X.Org X Server 1.11.3 Release Date: 2011-12-16 [ 26.987] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0 [ 26.987] Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.42-26-generic i686 Ubuntu [ 26.987] Current Operating System: Linux emachine 3.2.0-36-generic #57-Ubuntu SMP Tue Jan 8 21:41:24 UTC 2013 i686 [ 26.987] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-36-generic root=UUID=52d320b2-0a40-45c6-9e89-07cc28d09d9b ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 [ 26.987] Build Date: 29 August 2012 12:10:05AM [ 26.987] xorg-server 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu10.8 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support) [ 26.987] Current version of pixman: 0.24.4 [ 26.987] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org to make sure that you have the latest version. [ 26.987] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational, (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown. [ 26.989] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.1.log", Time: Sat Feb 2 11:34:38 2013 [ 26.989] (==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" [ 26.989] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d" [ 26.989] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section. [ 26.989] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults. [ 26.989] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0) [ 26.989] (**) | |-->Monitor "" [ 26.990] (==) No device specified for screen "Default Screen Section". Using the first device section listed. [ 26.990] (**) | |-->Device "Default Device" [ 26.990] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen Section". Using a default monitor configuration. [ 26.990] (==) Automatically adding devices [ 26.990] (==) Automatically enabling devices [ 26.990] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist. [ 26.990] Entry deleted from font path. [ 26.990] (==) FontPath set to: /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc, /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled, /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled, /usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1, /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi, /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi, /var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType, built-ins [ 26.990] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules" [ 26.990] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices. If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices. [ 26.990] (II) Loader magic: 0xa965a0 [ 26.990] (II) Module ABI versions: [ 26.990] X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4 [ 26.990] X.Org Video Driver: 11.0 [ 26.990] X.Org XInput driver : 16.0 [ 26.990] X.Org Server Extension : 6.0 [ 26.990] (--) PCI:*(0:0:13:0) 10de:03d0:1025:0394 rev 162, Mem @ 0xfb000000/16777216, 0xe0000000/268435456, 0xfa000000/16777216, BIOS @ 0x????????/131072 [ 26.997] (II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket) [ 26.997] (II) LoadModule: "extmod" [ 26.998] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so [ 26.998] (II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 26.998] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.0.0 [ 26.998] Module class: X.Org Server Extension [ 26.998] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 6.0 [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension DPMS [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension XVideo [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension X-Resource [ 26.998] (II) LoadModule: "dbe" [ 26.998] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so [ 26.998] (II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 26.998] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.0.0 [ 26.998] Module class: X.Org Server Extension [ 26.998] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 6.0 [ 26.998] (II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER [ 26.998] (II) LoadModule: "glx" [ 26.998] (II) Loading /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/libglx.so [ 27.062] (II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation" [ 27.062] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0 [ 27.062] Module class: X.Org Server Extension [ 27.062] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module 304.64 Tue Oct 30 11:31:18 PDT 2012 [ 27.062] (II) Loading extension GLX [ 27.062] (II) LoadModule: "record" [ 27.063] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so [ 27.063] (II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.063] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.13.0 [ 27.063] Module class: X.Org Server Extension [ 27.063] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 6.0 [ 27.063] (II) Loading extension RECORD [ 27.063] (II) LoadModule: "dri" [ 27.063] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so [ 27.063] (II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.063] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.0.0 [ 27.063] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 6.0 [ 27.063] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI [ 27.063] (II) LoadModule: "dri2" [ 27.063] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so [ 27.063] (II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.063] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.2.0 [ 27.063] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 6.0 [ 27.063] (II) Loading extension DRI2 [ 27.063] (==) Matched nvidia as autoconfigured driver 0 [ 27.068] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 1 [ 27.068] (==) Matched nv as autoconfigured driver 2 [ 27.068] (==) Matched vesa as autoconfigured driver 3 [ 27.068] (==) Matched fbdev as autoconfigured driver 4 [ 27.068] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout [ 27.068] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia" [ 27.068] (II) Loading /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so [ 27.068] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation" [ 27.068] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0 [ 27.068] Module class: X.Org Video Driver [ 27.068] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau" [ 27.069] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so [ 27.069] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.069] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.0.2 [ 27.069] Module class: X.Org Video Driver [ 27.069] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0 [ 27.069] (II) LoadModule: "nv" [ 27.069] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module nv [ 27.069] (II) UnloadModule: "nv" [ 27.069] (II) Unloading nv [ 27.069] (EE) Failed to load module "nv" (module does not exist, 0) [ 27.069] (II) LoadModule: "vesa" [ 27.070] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/vesa_drv.so [ 27.070] (II) Module vesa: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.070] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 2.3.0 [ 27.070] Module class: X.Org Video Driver [ 27.070] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0 [ 27.070] (II) LoadModule: "fbdev" [ 27.070] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so [ 27.070] (II) Module fbdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.070] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 0.4.2 [ 27.070] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0 [ 27.070] (==) Matched nvidia as autoconfigured driver 0 [ 27.070] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 1 [ 27.070] (==) Matched nv as autoconfigured driver 2 [ 27.070] (==) Matched vesa as autoconfigured driver 3 [ 27.070] (==) Matched fbdev as autoconfigured driver 4 [ 27.070] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout [ 27.070] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia" [ 27.070] (II) Loading /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so [ 27.070] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation" [ 27.070] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0 [ 27.070] Module class: X.Org Video Driver [ 27.070] (II) UnloadModule: "nvidia" [ 27.070] (II) Unloading nvidia [ 27.070] (II) Failed to load module "nvidia" (already loaded, 10865179) [ 27.070] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau" [ 27.071] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so [ 27.071] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.071] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.0.2 [ 27.071] Module class: X.Org Video Driver [ 27.071] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0 [ 27.071] (II) UnloadModule: "nouveau" [ 27.071] (II) Unloading nouveau [ 27.071] (II) Failed to load module "nouveau" (already loaded, 10865179) [ 27.071] (II) LoadModule: "nv" [ 27.071] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module nv [ 27.071] (II) UnloadModule: "nv" [ 27.071] (II) Unloading nv [ 27.071] (EE) Failed to load module "nv" (module does not exist, 0) [ 27.071] (II) LoadModule: "vesa" [ 27.076] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/vesa_drv.so [ 27.076] (II) Module vesa: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.076] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 2.3.0 [ 27.076] Module class: X.Org Video Driver [ 27.076] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0 [ 27.076] (II) UnloadModule: "vesa" [ 27.076] (II) Unloading vesa [ 27.076] (II) Failed to load module "vesa" (already loaded, 0) [ 27.076] (II) LoadModule: "fbdev" [ 27.076] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so [ 27.076] (II) Module fbdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.076] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 0.4.2 [ 27.076] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0 [ 27.076] (II) UnloadModule: "fbdev" [ 27.076] (II) Unloading fbdev [ 27.076] (II) Failed to load module "fbdev" (already loaded, 0) [ 27.076] (II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 304.64 Tue Oct 30 11:11:05 PDT 2012 [ 27.076] (II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs [ 27.076] (II) NOUVEAU driver Date: Wed Sep 12 13:42:43 2012 +0200 [ 27.076] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families : [ 27.076] RIVA TNT (NV04) [ 27.076] RIVA TNT2 (NV05) [ 27.076] GeForce 256 (NV10) [ 27.076] GeForce 2 (NV11, NV15) [ 27.076] GeForce 4MX (NV17, NV18) [ 27.076] GeForce 3 (NV20) [ 27.077] GeForce 4Ti (NV25, NV28) [ 27.077] GeForce FX (NV3x) [ 27.077] GeForce 6 (NV4x) [ 27.077] GeForce 7 (G7x) [ 27.077] GeForce 8 (G8x) [ 27.077] GeForce GTX 200 (NVA0) [ 27.077] GeForce GTX 400 (NVC0) [ 27.077] (II) VESA: driver for VESA chipsets: vesa [ 27.077] (II) FBDEV: driver for framebuffer: fbdev [ 27.077] (--) using VT number 8 [ 27.080] (II) Loading sub module "fb" [ 27.080] (II) LoadModule: "fb" [ 27.080] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfb.so [ 27.081] (II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.081] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.0.0 [ 27.081] ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4 [ 27.081] (II) Loading sub module "wfb" [ 27.081] (II) LoadModule: "wfb" [ 27.081] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libwfb.so [ 27.081] (II) Module wfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.081] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 1.0.0 [ 27.081] ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4 [ 27.081] (II) Loading sub module "ramdac" [ 27.081] (II) LoadModule: "ramdac" [ 27.081] (II) Module "ramdac" already built-in [ 27.081] (II) Loading /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so [ 27.081] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libwfb.so [ 27.081] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfb.so [ 27.081] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa [ 27.081] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for fbdev [ 27.081] (II) Loading sub module "fbdevhw" [ 27.081] (II) LoadModule: "fbdevhw" [ 27.082] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfbdevhw.so [ 27.082] (II) Module fbdevhw: vendor="X.Org Foundation" [ 27.082] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 0.0.2 [ 27.082] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0 [ 27.082] (II) NVIDIA(0): Creating default Display subsection in Screen section "Default Screen Section" for depth/fbbpp 24/32 [ 27.082] (==) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (==) framebuffer bpp 32 [ 27.082] (==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888 [ 27.082] (==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor [ 27.082] (==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0) [ 27.082] (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "NoLogo" "True" [ 27.082] (**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling 2D acceleration [ 27.338] (EE) NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the NVIDIA kernel module. Please see the [ 27.338] (EE) NVIDIA(0): system's kernel log for additional error messages and [ 27.338] (EE) NVIDIA(0): consult the NVIDIA README for details. [ 27.338] (EE) NVIDIA(0): *** Aborting *** [ 27.338] (EE) NVIDIA(0): Failing initialization of X screen 0 [ 27.338] (II) UnloadModule: "nvidia" [ 27.338] (II) Unloading nvidia [ 27.338] (II) UnloadModule: "wfb" [ 27.338] (II) Unloading wfb [ 27.338] (II) UnloadModule: "fb" [ 27.338] (II) Unloading fb [ 27.338] (EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration. [ 27.338] Fatal server error: [ 27.338] no screens found [ 27.338] Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support at http://wiki.x.org for help. [ 27.338] Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.1.log" for additional information. [ 27.338] [ 27.342] ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log [ 27.342] Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.