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watchpocket
March 2nd, 2015, 12:57 AM
I am running Ubuntu-MATE 14.04.2 with dual monitors. Lately when I boot up I see a blank white screen (on both monitors).

Not long after this started to appear I discovered I could simply click my mouse anywhere on the screen (either screen), and the Username/Password login box would appear in the middle of the screen (both screens).

The login box appears sometimes overlaid on the white screen, and sometimes overlaid on the blue-green "Ubuntu-Mate-Cold-lightdm.jpg" image (the latter is what's supposed to happen).

My question is: How can I get rid of this white screen and make the background image and the login box appear immediately upon login?

This is my /etc/lightdm directory:


--> ls -la /etc/lightdm
total 28
4 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 28 01:57 ./
12 drwxr-xr-x 139 root root 12288 Mar 1 16:59 ../
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1606 Feb 23 09:09 lightdm-gtk-greeter-ubuntu-mate.conf
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2790 Feb 28 01:27 lightdm-gtk-greeter-ubuntu.conf
0 lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 55 Jan 19 00:25 lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf -> /etc/alternatives/lightdm-gtk-greeter-config-derivative
4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 452 Oct 30 14:55 users.conf


The contents of the four files in this directory are pasted below.

This is the lightdm-gtk-greeter-ubuntu-mate.conf file:


1 #
2 # background = Background file to use, either an image path or a color (e.g. #772953)
3 # theme-name = GTK+ theme to use
4 # icon-theme-name = Icon theme to use
5 # font-name = Font to use
6 # xft-antialias = Whether to antialias Xft fonts (true or false)
7 # xft-dpi = Resolution for Xft in dots per inch (e.g. 96)
8 # xft-hintstyle = What degree of hinting to use (none, slight, medium, or hintfull)
9 # xft-rgba = Type of subpixel antialiasing (none, rgb, bgr, vrgb or vbgr)
10 # indicators = semi-colon ";" separated list of allowed indicator modules. Built-in indicators include "~a11y", "~language", "~session", "~power". Unity indicators can be repre ____sented by short name (e.g. "sound", "power"), service file name, or absolute path
11 # show-clock (true or false)
12 # clock-format = strftime-format string, e.g. %H:%M
13 # keyboard = command to launch on-screen keyboard
14 # position = main window position: x y
15 # default-user-image = Image used as default user icon, path or #icon-name
16 # screensaver-timeout = Timeout (in seconds) until the screen blanks when the greeter is called as lockscreen
17 #-
18 [greeter]
19 background=/usr/share/backgrounds/ubuntu-mate-utopic/Ubuntu-Mate-Cold-lightdm.jpg
20 theme-name=Ambiant-MATE
21 icon-theme-name=LoginIcons
22 font-name=Ubuntu 11
23 xft-antialias=true
24 xft-dpi=96
25 xft-hintstyle=hintslight
26 xft-rgba=rgb
27 indicators=~host;~spacer;~clock;~spacer;~session;~ a11y;~language;~power
28 keyboard=onboard
29 reader=orca
30 position = 50%,center 50%,center
31 default-user-image = #avatar-default
32 screensaver-timeout = 60
33 a11y-states=contrast;font;keyboard;reader
34 user-background = false
35 clock-format = %a %d %b, %H:%M


And this is the lightdm-gtk-greeter-ubuntu.conf file:


1 # LightDM GTK+ Configuration
2 # Available configuration options listed below.
3 #
4 # Appearance:
5 # theme-name = GTK+ theme to use
6 # icon-theme-name = Icon theme to use
7 # background = Background file to use, either an image path or a color (e.g. #772953)
8 # user-background = false|true ("true" by default") Display user background (if available)
9 # transition-duration = Length of time (in milliseconds) to transition between background images ("500" by default)
10 # transition-type = ease-in-out|linear|none ("ease-in-out" by default)
11 #
12 # Fonts:
13 # font-name = Font to use
14 # xft-antialias = false|true Whether to antialias Xft fonts
15 # xft-dpi = Resolution for Xft in dots per inch (e.g. 96)
16 # xft-hintstyle = none|slight|medium|hintfull What degree of hinting to use
17 # xft-rgba = none|rgb|bgr|vrgb|vbgr Type of subpixel antialiasing
18 #
19 # Login window:
20 # active-monitor = Monitor to display greeter window (name or number). Use #cursor value to display greeter at monitor with cursor.
21 # position = x y ("50% 50%" by default) Login window position
22 # default-user-image = Image used as default user icon, path or #icon-name
23 # hide-user-image = false|true ("false" by default)
24 #
25 # Panel:
26 # panel-position = top|bottom ("top" by default)
27 # show-clock = false|true ("false" by default)
28 # clock-format = strftime-format string, e.g. %H:%M
29 # show-indicators = semi-colon ";" separated list of allowed indicator modules. Built-in indicators include "~a11y", "~language", "~session", "~power". Unity indicators can be ____ represented by short name (e.g. "sound", "power"), service file name, or absolute path
30 #
31 # Accessibility:
32 # a11y-states = states of accessibility features: "name" - save state on exit, "-name" - disabled at start (default value for unlisted), "+name" - enabled at start. Allowed na ____mes: contrast, font, keyboard, reader.
33 # keyboard = command to launch on-screen keyboard (e.g. "onboard")
34 # keyboard-position = x y[;width height] ("50%,center -0;50% 25%" by default)
35 # reader = command to launch screen reader (e.g. "orca")
36 #
37 # Security:
38 # allow-debugging = false|true ("false" by default)
39 # screensaver-timeout = Timeout (in seconds) until the screen blanks when the greeter is called as lockscreen
40 #
41 # Template for per-monitor configuration:
42 # [monitor: name]
43 # background = overrides default value
44 # user-background = overrides default value
45 # laptop = false|true ("false" by default) Marks monitor as laptop display
46 #-
47 [greeter]
48 background=/usr/share/backgrounds/ubuntu-mate-utopic/Ubuntu-Mate-Cold-lightdm.jpg
49 theme-name=Ambiance
50 icon-theme-name=LoginIcons
51 font-name=Ubuntu 11
52 xft-antialias=true
53 xft-dpi=96
54 xft-hintstyle=slight
55 xft-rgba=rgb
56 show-indicators=~host;~spacer;~session;~language;~a11y; ~clock;~power;
57 show-clock=true
58 clock-format=%d %b, %H:%M


Here is the /etc/alternatives/lightdm-gtk-greeter-config-derivative file


1 #
2 # background = Background file to use, either an image path or a color (e.g. #772953)
3 # theme-name = GTK+ theme to use
4 # icon-theme-name = Icon theme to use
5 # font-name = Font to use
6 # xft-antialias = Whether to antialias Xft fonts (true or false)
7 # xft-dpi = Resolution for Xft in dots per inch (e.g. 96)
8 # xft-hintstyle = What degree of hinting to use (none, slight, medium, or hintfull)
9 # xft-rgba = Type of subpixel antialiasing (none, rgb, bgr, vrgb or vbgr)
10 # indicators = semi-colon ";" separated list of allowed indicator modules. Built-in indicators include "~a11y", "~language", "~session", "~power". Unity indicators can be repre ____sented by short name (e.g. "sound", "power"), service file name, or absolute path
11 # show-clock (true or false)
12 # clock-format = strftime-format string, e.g. %H:%M
13 # keyboard = command to launch on-screen keyboard
14 # position = main window position: x y
15 # default-user-image = Image used as default user icon, path or #icon-name
16 # screensaver-timeout = Timeout (in seconds) until the screen blanks when the greeter is called as lockscreen
17 #-
18 [greeter]
19 background=/usr/share/backgrounds/ubuntu-mate-utopic/Ubuntu-Mate-Cold-lightdm.jpg
20 theme-name=Ambiant-MATE
21 icon-theme-name=LoginIcons
22 font-name=Ubuntu 11
23 xft-antialias=true
24 xft-dpi=96
25 xft-hintstyle=hintslight
26 xft-rgba=rgb
27 indicators=~host;~spacer;~clock;~spacer;~session;~ a11y;~language;~power
28 keyboard=onboard
29 reader=orca
30 position = 50%,center 50%,center
31 default-user-image = #avatar-default
32 screensaver-timeout = 60
33 a11y-states=contrast;font;keyboard;reader
34 user-background = false
35 clock-format = %a %d %b, %H:%M


And, finally, here's the users.conf file:


1 #
2 # User accounts configuration
3 #
4 # NOTE: If you have AccountsService installed on your system, then LightDM will
5 # use this instead and these settings will be ignored
6 #
7 # minimum-uid = Minimum UID required to be shown in greeter
8 # hidden-users = Users that are not shown to the user
9 # hidden-shells = Shells that indicate a user cannot login
10 #
11 [UserList]
12 minimum-uid=500
13 hidden-users=nobody nobody4 noaccess
14 hidden-shells=/bin/false /usr/sbin/nologin


Thank you to anyone who chooses to respond.

Portaro
March 2nd, 2015, 01:01 AM
Take a look on the line

49 theme-name=Ambiance

I think that you need the convergence with the ubuntu mate config -
20 theme-name=Ambiant-MATE

Maybe is the theme with mistake apply on login theme.

You can use LightDM GTK+ Greeter Settings to set lightdm properties (appearance) - http://www.lffl.org/2014/10/lightdm-greeter-settings-personalizzare-display-manager-xubuntu-lubuntu.html

watchpocket
March 2nd, 2015, 02:11 AM
Thanks for your response. That did not fix the problem, but thank you for making me aware of the LightDM GTK+ Greeter Settings program.

ihoe3fze
March 2nd, 2015, 03:34 PM
Try to update greeter from this ppa:
https://code.launchpad.net/~kalgasnik/+archive/ubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter-post-2.0.0
or use this link to get .deb file:
https://code.launchpad.net/~kalgasnik/+archive/ubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter-post-2.0.0/+sourcepub/4809554/+listing-archive-extra

Are you using monitors in mirrored mode (by default)?

watchpocket
March 2nd, 2015, 08:26 PM
YES !!! Upgrading the greeter totally fixed the problem.

Also the greeter no longer mirrors in both monitors (and, no, I am not in mirrored-mode). And the greeter is way better than the old one, very nice the way it comes on. Thanks for your advice, I hadn't known there was an updated version of the greeter. (Of course it's only dated yesterday.) Issue solved!

ihoe3fze
March 2nd, 2015, 08:37 PM
Ok, good to hear it. I don't know when official version will be updated.

Can you provide more info?
1. Add this option to /etc/lightdm/lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf:
allow-debugging=true
(or use settings application - "misc." tab)
2. Go to login screen
3. Post /var/log/lightdm/x-*-greeter.log (the newest one) here

watchpocket
March 2nd, 2015, 08:48 PM
Yes but that more info will have to wait til late tonight or tomorrow, have to leave the house right now, thanks again.

watchpocket
March 3rd, 2015, 12:19 AM
2. Go to login screen


So: Just to be clear, I take it I should go to the login screen and actually log in, of course, yes? And then post the newest log.

ihoe3fze
March 3rd, 2015, 05:30 AM
It doesn't matter, really. All I want to see - section where greeter detects displays configuration.

watchpocket
March 3rd, 2015, 11:29 PM
I will post log info late Thursday night / early Friday morning.

watchpocket
March 6th, 2015, 08:18 AM
(or use settings application - "misc." tab)


"Debugging Mode" is checked in the misc tab (I enabled it in the config file), but there's a small white exclamation mark inside a red circle beside "Debugging Mode" that, when you mouse over it, says:

"GtkInspector is not available on your system
Gtk version: (3, 10, 8) < (3, 14, 0)"

In any event:



3. Post /var/log/lightdm/x-*-greeter.log (the newest one) here

This is the output of /var/log/lightdm/x-0-greeter.log:


Activating service name='org.a11y.atspi.Registry'
Successfully activated service 'org.a11y.atspi.Registry'
[+0.00s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:496: Starting unity-greeter 14.04.11 UID=113 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
[+0.00s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:499: Setting cursor
[+0.03s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:513: Loading command line options
[+0.03s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:541: Setting GTK+ settings
[+0.11s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:564: Creating Unity Greeter
[+0.11s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:57: Creating background surface
[+0.13s] DEBUG: Connecting to display manager...
[+0.13s] DEBUG: Wrote 18 bytes to daemon
[+0.13s] DEBUG: Read 8 bytes from daemon
[+0.13s] DEBUG: Read 150 bytes from daemon
[+0.13s] DEBUG: Connected version=1.10.4 default-session=ubuntu show-manual-login=false hide-users=false has-guest-account=true show-remote-login=true
[+0.45s] DEBUG: menubar.vala:336: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 LANGUAGE=(null)
[+1.17s] DEBUG: menubar.vala:368: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 LANGUAGE=(null)
[+1.17s] DEBUG: Loading users from org.freedesktop.Accounts
[+1.17s] DEBUG: User /org/freedesktop/Accounts/User1000 added
[+1.18s] DEBUG: user-list.vala:1030: Adding/updating user rj (rj)
[+1.18s] DEBUG: Loading sessions from org.freedesktop.DisplayManager
[+1.19s] DEBUG: user-list.vala:1012: Adding guest account entry
[+1.23s] DEBUG: Loaded session /usr/share/xsessions/mate.desktop (MATE, This session logs you into MATE)
[+1.23s] DEBUG: Loaded session /usr/share/xsessions/ubuntu.desktop (Ubuntu, This session logs you into Ubuntu)
[+1.23s] DEBUG: Starting authentication for user rj...
[+1.23s] DEBUG: Wrote 18 bytes to daemon
[+1.23s] DEBUG: main-window.vala:185: Screen is 1920x1200 pixels
[+1.23s] DEBUG: main-window.vala:193: Monitor 0 is 1920x1200 pixels at 0,0
[+1.23s] DEBUG: main-window.vala:193: Monitor 1 is 1920x1200 pixels at 0,0
[+1.23s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:567: Showing greeter
[+1.23s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:252: Showing main window
[+1.24s] DEBUG: background.vala:483: Regenerating backgrounds
[+1.24s] DEBUG: background.vala:68: Making background /usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png at 1920x1200
[+1.24s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:610: Starting main loop
[+1.24s] DEBUG: Read 8 bytes from daemon
[+1.24s] DEBUG: Read 32 bytes from daemon
[+1.24s] DEBUG: Prompt user with 1 message(s)
[+1.25s] DEBUG: background.vala:159: Error loading background: Failed to open file '/usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png': No such file or directory
[+1.48s] DEBUG: background.vala:68: Making background /home/rj/Pictures/Dark-brown-fine-wood-texture.jpg at 1920x1200
[+1.48s] DEBUG: settings-daemon.vala:75: Acquired org.gnome.SessionManager
[+1.48s] DEBUG: settings-daemon.vala:102: Acquired org.gnome.ScreenSaver
[+1.48s] DEBUG: settings-daemon.vala:159: All bus names acquired, starting unity-settings-daemon
[+1.69s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:235: starting system-ready sound
nm-applet-Message: using fallback from indicator to GtkStatusIcon
[+2.98s] DEBUG: background.vala:121: Render of background /usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png complete
[+2.98s] DEBUG: background.vala:138: images[0] was null for /usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png
[+3.00s] DEBUG: Connected to Application Indicator Service.
[+3.06s] DEBUG: main-window.vala:185: Screen is 3840x1200 pixels
[+3.06s] DEBUG: main-window.vala:193: Monitor 0 is 1920x1200 pixels at 0,0
[+3.06s] DEBUG: main-window.vala:193: Monitor 1 is 1920x1200 pixels at 1920,0
nm-applet-Message: moving back from GtkStatusIcon to indicator
[+3.06s] DEBUG: menubar.vala:538: Adding indicator object 0x22f7940 at position 0

** (unity-settings-daemon:1421): WARNING **: Unable to register client: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownMeth od: No such method 'RegisterClient'
[+3.15s] DEBUG: menubar.vala:538: Adding indicator object 0x22f7680 at position 0
[+3.24s] DEBUG: menubar.vala:538: Adding indicator object 0x22f73c0 at position 2
[+3.33s] DEBUG: menubar.vala:538: Adding indicator object 0x22f7ec0 at position 2
[+3.39s] DEBUG: Request current apps
[+3.40s] DEBUG: Building new application entry: :1.6 with icon: nm-no-connection at position 0
[+3.47s] DEBUG: menubar.vala:538: Adding indicator object 0x2465b00 at position 4
[+3.50s] DEBUG: background.vala:121: Render of background /home/rj/Pictures/Dark-brown-fine-wood-texture.jpg complete
[+3.52s] DEBUG: background.vala:483: Regenerating backgrounds
[+3.52s] DEBUG: background.vala:68: Making background /usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png at 1920x1200
[+3.52s] DEBUG: background.vala:68: Making background /home/rj/Pictures/Dark-brown-fine-wood-texture.jpg at 1920x1200
[+3.52s] DEBUG: background.vala:159: Error loading background: Failed to open file '/usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png': No such file or directory
[+3.53s] DEBUG: background.vala:121: Render of background /usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png complete
[+3.53s] DEBUG: background.vala:138: images[0] was null for /usr/share/backgrounds/warty-final-ubuntu.png
[+3.64s] DEBUG: background.vala:121: Render of background /home/rj/Pictures/Dark-brown-fine-wood-texture.jpg complete
[+21.81s] DEBUG: Providing response to display manager
[+21.81s] DEBUG: Wrote 25 bytes to daemon
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Read 8 bytes from daemon
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Read 14 bytes from daemon
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Authentication complete for user rj with return code 7
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Starting authentication for user rj...
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Wrote 18 bytes to daemon
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Read 8 bytes from daemon
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Read 32 bytes from daemon
[+24.09s] DEBUG: Prompt user with 1 message(s)
[+27.58s] DEBUG: Providing response to display manager
[+27.58s] DEBUG: Wrote 26 bytes to daemon
[+27.60s] DEBUG: Read 8 bytes from daemon
[+27.60s] DEBUG: Read 14 bytes from daemon
[+27.60s] DEBUG: Authentication complete for user rj with return code 0
[+27.60s] DEBUG: Starting session mate
[+27.60s] DEBUG: Wrote 16 bytes to daemon
[+27.60s] DEBUG: Read 8 bytes from daemon
[+27.60s] DEBUG: Read 4 bytes from daemon
[+27.60s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:605: Got a SIGTERM
g_dbus_connection_real_closed: Remote peer vanished with error: Underlying GIOStream returned 0 bytes on an async read (g-io-error-quark, 0). Exiting.

** (unity-settings-daemon:1421): WARNING **: Name taken or bus went away - shutting down
g_dbus_connection_real_closed: Remote peer vanished with error: Underlying GIOStream returned 0 bytes on an async read (g-io-error-quark, 0). Exiting.
[+27.62s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:613: Cleaning up
[+27.62s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:621: Upstart exited with return value 0
[+27.62s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:633: AT-SPI exited with return value 0
[+27.62s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:639: Exiting

(unity-settings-daemon:1421): dconf-WARNING **: failed to commit changes to dconf: The connection is closed
g_dbus_connection_real_closed: Remote peer vanished with error: Underlying GIOStream returned 0 bytes on an async read (g-io-error-quark, 0). Exiting.
init: indicator-bluetooth main process (1441) killed by TERM signal
init: indicator-power main process (1442) killed by TERM signal
init: indicator-datetime main process (1444) killed by TERM signal
init: indicator-session main process (1460) killed by TERM signal
init: indicator-application main process (1528) terminated with status 1


Many thanks.

ihoe3fze
March 6th, 2015, 10:01 AM
This is the output of /var/log/lightdm/x-0-greeter.log


[+0.11s] DEBUG: unity-greeter.vala:564: Creating Unity Greeter

It's not a gtk greeter log :).
Anyway, everything works as expected so log file is not really needed.

watchpocket
March 7th, 2015, 09:57 PM
It's not a gtk greeter log :).
Anyway, everything works as expected so log file is not really needed.

I'd prefer to have the gtk greeter active, since, being on Ubuntu-MATE, I don't use unity at all. I'll be looking for how to make that happen.

Also, should GtkInspector be on my system? I couldn't find it in Synaptic.

I'm a bit curious as to why I've got that warning in the Greeter-settings Misc tab.

ihoe3fze
March 8th, 2015, 09:17 AM
I'd prefer to have the gtk greter active, since, being on Ubuntu-MATE, I don't use unity at all. I'll be looking for how to make that happen.
Also, should GtkInspector be on my system? I couldn't find it in Synaptic.
I'm a bit curious as to why I've got that warning in the Greeter-settings Misc tab.
GtkInspector is the built-in debugging tool for gtk applications - it's a part of gtk toolkit since 3.14 (https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GTK%2B/Inspector). Version of gtk in 14.04 - 3.10. So, it's ok for your system.
This warning is confusing a bit, maybe it will be removed in next version.

zika
March 8th, 2015, 10:45 AM
Try to update greeter from this ppa:
https://code.launchpad.net/~kalgasnik/+archive/ubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter-post-2.0.0
or use this link to get .deb file:
https://code.launchpad.net/~kalgasnik/+archive/ubuntu/lightdm-gtk-greeter-post-2.0.0/+sourcepub/4809554/+listing-archive-extra

Are you using monitors in mirrored mode (by default)?Can You elaborate where does automatic build of LightDM available from that PPA come from?

ihoe3fze
March 9th, 2015, 08:57 AM
Can You elaborate where does automatic build of LightDM available from that PPA come from?

Please, rephrase the question. Probably, my english is not so well to correctly understand the question.

watchpocket
March 10th, 2015, 03:47 AM
Can You elaborate where does automatic build of LightDM available from that PPA come from?

You should ask the person who created the PPA ("Andrew P."). It apparently was uploaded to the PPA by Andrew P. on 2015-03-01.

Sign into launchpad and then go to https://launchpad.net/~kalgasnik
(https://launchpad.net/~kalgasnik)
Then get the e-mail address there of the maintainer of that PPA, and ask him.

divirtual
March 12th, 2015, 12:58 PM
Thanks for reporting and solving this problem. I had the same white screen on a laptop plus second monitor with Ubuntu 14.04, plus the Mate Desktop installed. I am installing the updated LightDM greeter.

watchpocket
March 13th, 2015, 02:25 AM
Do you get the same warning in the Greeter-settings Misc tab?