Why am I getting dumped into an x terminal session?

[jadube]

I created a problem for myself with dropbear openssh server.... I am running Debian etch on an old Sony laptop. I just installed dropbear (ssh server) using Kpackage. During the install I thought I saw a message saying dropbear was started...and I then used putty to ssh into the machine. I did not do any further configuration (or reading.) I later rebooted and got X with a console window but the keyboard did not respond. I used the single user boot option to get into maintenance mode.... but don't know what I should do now.

I'd like to get my boot process back to normal - taking me into the kde desktop.

If anyone can tell me how to get out of this mess I'd apprecaiate it.
I promise to do more reading before installing another package;-/

thanks

[kai12]

hi jadube,

did you try removing the dropbear package? if this package is indeed causing
your problem, then if you're lucky removing it might help. so the first thing
i would try is an "apt-get remove dropbear".

the next thing i would try is to reconfigure the X server package, or maybe
the kde package using "dpkg-reconfigure".

oh, and looking at the logfile might give you a clue: /var/log/Xorg.0.log if
your using the Xorg X server (which is default in etch, afaik).

kai

[jadube]

I ran "apt-get remove dropbear" and it said dropbear was removed. But rebooting leaves me in the same situation (a console window in upper left corner of X + keybd not working)

I see a Xorg log file but not sure what to look for in it.
I'm also not sure how to use dpkg-remove, so I'll search for a tutorial on that and give it a try.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[kai12]

a console window in upper left corner of X + keybd not working

Sounds like you have no window manager running (this would explain the upper
left corner)
Do you get the black-and-white-checkered X background? And are there any
window decorations on the terminal window, or is it blank?

I see a Xorg log file but not sure what to look for in it.

Hm, I'm no expert here, either. Look for messages about starting or failing
to start KDE or another window manager.

I'm also not sure how to use dpkg-remove, so I'll search for a tutorial on that and give it a try.

that's dpkg-reconfigure, not ...-remove.


another wild shot: maybe dropbear conflicted with kde and thus you said "yes"
to removing kde while install dropbear? you could check for kde using
"dpkg -l kde"

[jadube]

Booting into X gives me a black background, a large 'X' cursor that I can move with mouse, and a white/undecorated console window in the upper left corner . The console shows a prompt for the default user (which was set for autologin) "user@ksony:~$"

Logfile 'Xorg.0.log' has 3 noteworthy lines at the end:
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: KDSETMODE failed: I/O error
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: VT_GETMODE failed: I/O error
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: VT_ACTIVATE failed: I/O error

Output from dpkg -l kde: (note I am using lowercase L for '-l')
Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
|Status-Not/Installed/Config-files.... etc
|/ Err?=(none)/Hold/Reinst-Reequired/X=both-problems (Status,Err:uppercase=bad
|| /Name Version Description
+++-=======================
pn kde <none> (no description available)

Does this mean kde is not installed? I don't recall saying Yes to remove kde but maybe that is what happened?

thanks again

[kai12]

Can't find any good information on the package state "pn", I'm guessing
it means "purged" but I don't think it matters: it's not "installed", which
is what you want.

I'd go ahead an run an apt-get install kde

kai

[jadube]

i installed kde but booting still takes me to the same X+console. Output from dpkg -l kde (name/version/description)...
ii kde 47 offical kde modules

I guess I'll try the dpkg reconfigure next... that may take some research first but I will followup with results.

Thanks for the help

[jadube]

I ran dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg. I also confirmed dropbear is uninstalled. I am still getting the X+console window. The Xorg.0.log file still has 3 (last) lines with errors. Any advice re other causes for not booting into KDE? Which log(s) should I be looking at for clues?

the Xorg log errors are the same as before:
Logfile 'Xorg.0.log' has 3 noteworthy lines at the end:
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: KDSETMODE failed: I/O error
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: VT_GETMODE failed: I/O error
(WW) xf86CloseConsole: VT_ACTIVATE failed: I/O error

thanks

[kai12]

Hm. I'm beginning to feel out of my depth here, you might have to take
this to a more expert forum than the newbie one, maybe the one
titled "Linux Desktop / X-Windows".

For what it's worth, here are my thoughts:

(WW) in the Xorg.log are just warnings, are there any errors marked (EE)?

I'm wondering why you're getting a console window. Shouldn't the login
manager (for example gdm) prompt you to log in? Maybe gdm fails to start,
hence you could check the logfiles for such messages.
I'd check /var/log/messages, but also /var/log/daemon.log as I've seen gdm
use that logfile before.

Since the kde package disappeared from your system, it may be worthwhile
to see if the gdm package is even there.

I know you said you can't type, but can you switch to a tty by pressing
CTRL + ALT + F1 ? If so, you could log in as root and killing the defunct
X server, then start gdm manually. Or start X manually ("startx kde" or
something similar).

k

[jadube]

I had a working Debian etch KDE 3.5 desktop. I don't know what I did to change the boot process, but I now boot into a X terminal (white terminal in upper left corner) with user prompt for the autologin account I had setup(and working) in kde. I started troubleshooting this and believed the problem was caused by my installing dropbear (ssh server). Dropbear is now removed and I am still booting into X/console... and the keyboard does not respond in this mode.) So... I have been booting into Single User>Maintenance mode to look for the cause. If anyone can advise me on what to try, or what I should look for (ie certain log entries?) that would be great.

thanks