Selecting other session in login screen doesn't do anything

[Newfie]

I think this is in lightdm. This is from a live session, and may not be indicative of a real installation.

For the last while I've been unable to change sessions from the login screen. I will select a different desktop environment (gnome-shell, Unity 2d, anything) and log in. It will just log me into a Unity (3d) session.

I notice that if I select a different session, type the username, and press enter, the dot is back on the original "Ubuntu" setting instead of my selected option. It seems like as soon as I press enter that my selection is erased and reverted.

I believe this is a regression because it used to work earlier in this cycle.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: lightdm 1.0.6-0ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-9.16-generic 3.2.1
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-9-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.90-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CasperVersion: 1.298
Date: Wed Jan 18 05:21:39 2012
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Alpha amd64 (20120117)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: lightdm
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug report. What greeter do you use? Where do you "type your name"? Don't you just select it and type your password?

[Newfie (mn-newfie)]

As I said, this is all from a live session and without much modification apart from a few added packages such as gnome-shell, ccsm, etc. The daily build is from January 17th, so it is definitely up to date.

When I log out from the desktop, I am presented with a login screen with a field that says "Username" to the left (it also says "Ubuntu 11.10 on the bottom left). I type the live session's username (simply "ubuntu") and leave the password field blank. Since it's a live session I have not added any user accounts.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

it might be specific to the liveCD or to accounts with a password needed

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Chascon (chascone)]

It's affecting me and I'm not using a live-CD, just an ordinary HD install. In my case, I'm constantly logged back into Openbox, which I like but sometimes want back into Unity, regardless of choosing Ubuntu (Unity) in lightdm.

@Newfie & Sebastien: If it were a problem with the password, it would not log me into any desktop. I still get into Openbox.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

@Chascon: your issue might be a different one

[Saulo Soares de Toledo (saulotoledo)]

I think I know what's happening. I have the same problem in a ASUS EEE-PC 1005HA, with 1024x600 screen resolution.

When Lightdm is opened, the "OK" button, where is possible confirm the selected session, doesn't appear because there are no space at screen. Then, it's impossible select another session because I can't confirm the selection.

Then, I've tryed an workaround:
1) sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
2) open dconf-editor
3) go to "com/canonical/unity-greeter" and change the xft-dpi option to a lower value. The font's now appear smaller
4) To test without need restart lightdm, run "lightdm –test-mode"

Now It's possible change the session, but I can't click at first button yet, and sounds like the button's clickable areas are now wrong. For example, the second button click area is almost at button base.

I think, then, this is a problem at lightdm theme.

[Saulo Soares de Toledo (saulotoledo)]

Some little corrections to my last comment:
- To get test working, is needed "sudo apt-get install xserver-xephyr"
- It's "lightdm --test-mode", with 2 "-"
- The font change only worked at test environment. When restarted lightdm, the fonts still the same
- At selected user, I can't click at change session button, it's another bug! It's needed change to another user and back again to wanted user to click at button to select the sessions.

[Saulo Soares de Toledo (saulotoledo)]

Temporary fix for those who needs lightdm working:

1) Install the package "lightdm-gtk-greeter" (sudo apt-get install lightdm-gtk-greeter )
2) Edit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf (sudo gedit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf), changing

greeter-session=unity-greeter

to

greeter-session=lightdm-gtk-greeter

This will change the greeter theme used by lightdm to another who works correctly, at least while the unity-greeter isn't fixed...

[Robert Ancell (robert-ancell)]

Closing assumed fixed.