Impossible to login in vc/1

cFirefox · 2009-03-12 08:21:51

Hey all,

first of all, great great great distro. I am using a Aspire One netbook and installed Arch a few weeks ago. A few kinks here and there, but I am getting to it and I REALLY like it!

I edited the /etc/inittab so it boots directly into XFCE with a preferred user. Intention was that I use mostly the DM but can kill the xserver by "strg+alt+backspace" to get back to the command line for serious work. Booting into XFCE works flawless.

Unfortunately I somehow blew the login. Now if I kill X I am stuck at the login (vc/1). Whatever I type in password, login always fails. It accepts the users my perferred user "prefusr" and the root account "root". I tried to change the passwd (is works when I use the "su" command in the terminal, so I suppose it is saved) and to edit /etc/passwd to erase the password.
All to no avail. Login always fails.

I also tried to restore the /etc/inittab back to its former glory but that only gets me stuck at the login like when I killed X

Where shall I start? Any suggestions what I messed up?

Thanks for your help!
cFirefox

Gruntz · 2009-03-12 09:42:42

I had the exact same problem half year ago. I do not remember exactly what was the problem then. I remember that I was able to log in via vc2..3..4.., but not with vc1. Can you post the /etc/inittab.

Last edited by Gruntz (2009-03-12 10:52:27)

cFirefox · 2009-03-12 17:43:06

This is the newbie corner, so:
How do I change to vc2..3 and 4?

Here is my /etc/inittab:
#
# /etc/inittab
#

# Runlevels:
# 0 Halt
# 1(S) Single-user
# 2 Not used
# 3 Multi-user
# 4 Not used
# 5 X11
# 6 Reboot

## Only one of the following two lines can be uncommented!
# Boot to console
#id:3:initdefault:
# Boot to X11
id:5:initdefault:

rc::sysinit:/etc/rc.sysinit
rs:S1:wait:/etc/rc.single
rm:2345:wait:/etc/rc.multi
rh:06:wait:/etc/rc.shutdown
su:S:wait:/sbin/sulogin -p

# -8 options fixes umlauts problem on login
c1:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/1 linux
c2:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/2 linux
c3:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/3 linux
c4:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/4 linux
c5:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/5 linux
c6:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/6 linux

ca::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -t3 -r now

# Example lines for starting a login manager
#x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/xdm -nodaemon
x:5:once:/bin/su chris -l -c "/bin/bash --login -c startx >/dev/null 2>&1"
#x:5:respawn:/usr/sbin/gdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/kdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/slim >& /dev/null

# End of file

mike_93 · 2009-03-12 17:58:02

you press ctrl-alt-F2, F3 etc.

Daenyth · 2009-03-12 18:32:57

It might be worth noting that your keymap for vc and your keymap for X are NOT the same, so that could be the cause of failed logins...

cFirefox · 2009-03-12 19:20:37

Other login instances do not help (vc2, vc3 and so on). It is still "login failed)

So where can I check which keymap I use for vc?

edit: Thinking again, I don't think the cause is the wrong keymap, because if I don't have a password, it doesn't work either. And entering the username is flawless.

cFirefox

Last edited by cFirefox (2009-03-12 19:24:52)

göteborg-johan · 2009-03-12 20:35:54

wouldn't changing

## Only one of the following two lines can be uncommented!
# Boot to console
#id:3:initdefault:
# Boot to X11
id:5:initdefault:

to

## Only one of the following two lines can be uncommented!
# Boot to console
id:3:initdefault:
# Boot to X11
#id:5:initdefault:

be a good start?

cFirefox · 2009-03-12 20:44:20

Been there, done that
No use. The problem is somewhere in that vc. unfortunately I don't know how to check/ modify config files

Any ideas?

Killa B · 2009-03-12 22:26:14

That does this line do?

x:5:once:/bin/su chris -l -c "/bin/bash --login -c startx >/dev/null 2>&1"

It makes no sense to me. Maybe it's causing the problem? What Login Manager do you use?

Mogger · 2009-03-12 23:33:20

Killa B wrote:

That does this line do?
x:5:once:/bin/su chris -l -c "/bin/bash --login -c startx >/dev/null 2>&1"
It makes no sense to me. Maybe it's causing the problem? What Login Manager do you use?

It starts X as preferred user - wiki article.

cFirefox, can you login with

su - username

(where username is the name of your user)? Can you login with a graphical login manager?

eldragon · 2009-03-13 01:35:41

ive got a similar problem in vc/1 keypresses are not being interpreted as such, ive got the gdm daemon set up to log into x. never touched the inittab, i even started a thread here that got 0 posts

inittab as follows

#
# /etc/inittab
#

#  Runlevels:
#    0    Halt
#    1(S)    Single-user
#    2    Not used
#    3    Multi-user
#    4    Not used
#    5    X11
#    6    Reboot

## Only one of the following two lines can be uncommented!
# Boot to console
id:3:initdefault:
# Boot to X11
#id:5:initdefault:

rc::sysinit:/etc/rc.sysinit
rs:S1:wait:/etc/rc.single
rm:2345:wait:/etc/rc.multi
rh:06:wait:/etc/rc.shutdown
su:S:wait:/sbin/sulogin -p

# -8 options fixes umlauts problem on login
c1:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/1 linux
c2:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/2 linux
c3:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/3 linux
c4:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/4 linux
c5:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/5 linux
c6:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/6 linux

ca::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -t3 -r now

# Example lines for starting a login manager
x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/xdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/usr/sbin/gdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/kdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/slim >& /dev/null

# End of file

unfortunately, i do not know how to debug this.

my post is located here: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=65708

Last edited by eldragon (2009-03-13 01:38:28)

Ranguvar · 2009-03-13 02:37:32

Debug!

Try another keyboard, try another port (USB vs PS/2)... does the keyboard work fine in Grub (try editing a boot option)? etc.

eldragon · 2009-03-13 03:13:40

Ranguvar wrote:

Debug!
Try another keyboard, try another port (USB vs PS/2)... does the keyboard work fine in Grub (try editing a boot option)? etc.

you certainly havent read the provided information..

anyway, ive tested both usb / onboard laptop keyboard.
only place the problem occurs is on vc/1

Last edited by eldragon (2009-03-13 03:15:03)

Ranguvar · 2009-03-13 03:26:57

I was talking to the OP. If I had any idea what your error is, I would post in your thread

cFirefox · 2009-03-13 07:05:37

Hey all,

@Mogger
I already tried that. Absolutely no problem, either as my preferred user or as root. Both take their respective password without a problem.

@Ranguvar
The keyboard is working, I can enter m username alright. Keymap is German (sry about that ) I assured that and at least the "enter" key is working when I enter the password. Is there any possibility to show "*" or "X" when entering the password?

I have no problem to enter the usernames but as soon as I confirm the password it takes some seconds (about 5 sec) and then it says: Login failed.

Am I realy the only one with this fault?

Gruntz · 2009-03-13 19:30:33

cFirefox, you can try to replace your last section of your /etc/inittab to this. My inittab is exactly as yours, but that section is different. You can try, it will not hurt

...
# Example lines for starting a login manager
x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/xdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/usr/sbin/gdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/opt/kde/bin/kdm -nodaemon
#x:5:respawn:/usr/bin/slim >& /dev/null
...

cFirefox · 2009-03-15 23:05:04

Hi, I tried it.

No use.
My vc/1... is broken. How can I fix it??

cFirefox · 2009-03-17 06:35:23

Push,

nobody has any ideas??
Might it be a PAM or Policykit error?

Last edited by cFirefox (2009-03-17 06:57:19)

kgas · 2009-03-17 08:16:18

If you can log in as root , create another user and give a try. If you can not log in even as root you may have to recover your root password. http://www.linuxforums.org/security/how … sword.html.

cFirefox · 2009-03-17 10:25:23

Hello Kgas,

the link is not working so I can't take a look at it.
But my root account is working when I try to log in in su. IT IS JUST NOT WORKING IN THAT GODFORSAKEN VC/1.

Dear all,
please refrain from telling me to check if my password is valid. At least in "su" it is. Its just like vc/1 doesn't read either the correct password or the users. I cannot identify which one.

I there anybody here who can tell me how to config vc/1? Point me to a wiki, tell me to look at a specific man page, "rtfm" me or whatever?

eldragon · 2009-03-17 10:33:29

someone gave me in my own thread some advice as of why it would not work in my case.

it turned out to be gdm running as a daemon.

check my thread (posted a few posts back) and follow what was said there.

cFirefox · 2009-03-17 10:46:28

Thank you,

I will try that as soon as I get back from work.

cFirefox · 2009-03-18 06:29:02

No use. I seems to be no keyboard problem and not to be connected to gdm.

I am looking at a reinstall. it seems to be the only possibility.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-03-12 08:21:51

Impossible to login in vc/1

#2 2009-03-12 09:42:42

Re: Impossible to login in vc/1

#3 2009-03-12 17:43:06

Re: Impossible to login in vc/1

#4 2009-03-12 17:58:02

Re: Impossible to login in vc/1

#5 2009-03-12 18:32:57

Re: Impossible to login in vc/1

#6 2009-03-12 19:20:37

Re: Impossible to login in vc/1

#7 2009-03-12 20:35:54

Re: Impossible to login in vc/1

#8 2009-03-12 20:44:20

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#9 2009-03-12 22:26:14

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#10 2009-03-12 23:33:20

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#11 2009-03-13 01:35:41

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#12 2009-03-13 02:37:32

Re: Impossible to login in vc/1

#13 2009-03-13 03:13:40

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#14 2009-03-13 03:26:57

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#15 2009-03-13 07:05:37

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#16 2009-03-13 19:30:33

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#17 2009-03-15 23:05:04

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#18 2009-03-17 06:35:23

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#19 2009-03-17 08:16:18

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#20 2009-03-17 10:25:23

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#21 2009-03-17 10:33:29

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#22 2009-03-17 10:46:28

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#23 2009-03-18 06:29:02

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