Comment 14 for bug 203825

I am having the same problem. But first I get the notorious xsessions login error message. That goes away after a few seconds, then I get the black screen with the x cursor.

The following seems to occur around the time it happens:

May 30 21:23:14 server1 gdm[9367]: Gtk-WARNING: Ignoring the separator setting

... [some time out messages regarding nfs mounts] . . . <-- could this be why?

Then I think this happens when I hit Ctrl + Alt + Backspace:

May 30 21:25:39 server1 gdm[6456]: WARNING: failsafe dialog failed (inhibitions: 0 0)
May 30 21:25:39 server1 kernel: [ 264.543047] [fglrx] interrupt source 10000000 successfully disabled!

 . . . [some other fglrx lines] . . .

May 30 21:25:39 server1 gdm[9987]: Gtk-WARNING: cannot open display: :0
May 30 21:25:40 server1 gdm[6456]: WARNING: failsafe dialog failed (inhibitions: 0 1)
May 30 21:25:39 server1 gdm[9987]: Gtk-WARNING: cannot open display: :0
May 30 21:25:40 server1 gdm[6456]: WARNING: failsafe dialog failed (inhibitions: 1 1)
May 30 21:25:40 server1 gdm[6459]: WARNING: gdm_slave_xioerror_handler: Fatal X error - Restarting :0
May 30 21:25:42 server1 kernel: [ 266.860543] firegl1.isse.53[10023]: segfault at c rip 4a6dcf39 rsp ff865580 error 4
May 30 21:25:42 server1 kernel: [ 266.861507] firegl1.isse.53[10024]: segfault at c rip 4a6dcf39 rsp ffce7a00 error 4

I do Ctrl + Alt + Backspace to get back to the login. When I login in again, everything is fine.