Arch Linux

Jphillips

Member

Registered: 2019-08-23

Posts: 68

[solved] Can't log in after system upgrade

I just did a standard upgrade using pacman and restarted afterward. I see the gnome login screen, but when I enter my password (which I'm 100% certain is correct) I get an error that it didn't work. I dropped down to a terminal but likewise get incorrect password.

What the heck happened, and what are my options?

Last edited by Jphillips (2020-08-31 11:15:03)

loqs

Member

Registered: 2014-03-06

Posts: 19,047

Re: [solved] Can't log in after system upgrade

Please read through recent threads related to pam.  Which include possible causes and diagnostics.
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 2#p1922862

Jphillips

Member

Registered: 2019-08-23

Posts: 68

Re: [solved] Can't log in after system upgrade

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. What is the best way to figure out which of those 3 issues might be causing the problem? Just try each, or check log files somewhere?

loqs

Member

Registered: 2014-03-06

Posts: 19,047

Re: [solved] Can't log in after system upgrade

Boot to rescue.target or use live media then chroot in and examine the journal.

Jphillips

Member

Registered: 2019-08-23

Posts: 68

Re: [solved] Can't log in after system upgrade

Thanks. I'm close. It seems to be the issue of the removed tally module reference, as my journal shows that pam_tally2.so can't be found.

This is a real noob question, but the fix says to merge system-auth with system-auth.pacnew. What exactly does this mean?

loqs

Member

Registered: 2014-03-06

Posts: 19,047

Re: [solved] Can't log in after system upgrade

Pacnew_and_Pacsave#Managing_.pac*_files
If you do not know what changes you made to system-auth you can replace it with system-auth.pacnew.

Jphillips

Member

Registered: 2019-08-23

Posts: 68

Re: [solved] Can't log in after system upgrade

Success!! I just moved the system-auth.pacnew and system-login.pacnew to system-auth and system-login (after backing up each), restarted, and it works! Thanks a ton for the quick assistance.