Unable to log in

[cjnkns]

I screwed something up and I come to you for assistance!

I was following some instructions on how to get logged into MYSQL when you are having problems. It seems I caused larger problems.

I when to /var/lib/mysql and changed the owner ship of this directory and now I am unable to log in.

If I can get to a command line I can just go change it but I can't seem to figure out how to get to the su command line from boot up or the log in screen?

Any help is appreciated!

[epperson]

You don't say what version you're running, but it sounds like you're not getting to the gdm login screen?
Ctrl-Alt-F2 should get you to a console text login. You can log in as root, or as somebody else and su, then go change the ownership back. You can get back to the graphical screen with Ctrl-Alt-F1 if on latest version, or Ctrl-Alt-F7 if older. But I'd suggest just doing "shutdown -r 0" from the root prompt to reboot. Good luck.

[cjnkns]

Hi and thanks for the help.

I do get the to the gmd screen, but from there can't get logged in.

I used your advice and I am in the text console as my typical user. So I am currently logged in.
But, when I try to su it says command not found?

[epperson]

Same result with "/bin/su"?

If so, you've hosed more than the permissions on the /var/lib folder.

[cjnkns]

That seemed to work.... ughhh...

Is mysql:mysql the correct user and groiup for /var/lib/mysq ????

[epperson]

Originally Posted by cjnkns

That seemed to work.... ughhh...

Is mysql:mysql the correct user and groiup for /var/lib/mysq ????

That's the default, yes. Perms 755.

[cjnkns]

Well - I changed it back to mysql:mysql and still unable to get logged back in. I guess changing that .. UMm not a good idea
Thanks for your help - looks like it is reinstall time.

[cjnkns]

I am again unable to log in to my fedora account.

This time I have done nothing to change anything related to MySql. Which leads me to belive that changing mysql as I posted above may have just been a fluke.

I re-installed Fedora and simple used packagkit to install some simple apps. Bluefish, adobe..etc..
Just recently accepted the new kernel firmware updates and now unable to log in again.

Any suggestions on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.

[epperson]

If you'd tell us a bit more, it could be easier to help you.

Is this Fedora 10? What sort of hardware? What happens when you try to log in? Do you get the gdm screen with your userid displayed, select it and enter a password, then get get an invalid password message? Or is it some other scenario?

[cjnkns]

If you'd tell us a bit more, it could be easier to help you.

My apologies...

I am using Fedora 10 on an Dell Inspiron 9300.
The issue is I get to the user log in screen that shows my name and the Other account option. When I try to log in using my account it "acts" as though it will continue but then returns to the log in screen again.

[epperson]

Originally Posted by cjnkns

My apologies...

I am using Fedora 10 on an Dell Inspiron 9300.
The issue is I get to the user log in screen that shows my name and the Other account option. When I try to log in using my account it "acts" as though it will continue but then returns to the log in screen again.

Do you have the ATI or the Nvidia graphics? I think early 9300s had ATI Mobility Radeon, later ones an Nvidia, but it may have been a selectable option. Dell laptops can be a bit quirky for Linux, and the Radeons add some quirkiness. I'm writing this on a Dell Latitude D600 with the Radeon though, running F10, and have fewer problems now than with earlier Fedoras.

If you can still log in with your userid on a text console (Ctrl-Alt-F2), we can rule out password/authentication problems, probably. Since you're getting to the gdm login screen, your X config is not totally hosed, although X could still be a factor. But I'm thinking you've somehow clobbered your Gnome login setup, if not your whole home directory setup.

You can try adding another user from a text console as root (refer back to how you did a /bin/su previously, but do "/bin/su -" to make sure you get root's full login environment. Then
useradd testuser
passwd testuser
will get another userid set up, named testuser (you can remove this later with userdel if you want) . Try logging in with that, and report back. I'd suggest rebooting (shutdown -r 0) to get back to the login prompt, to make sure there aren't any side effects from your failed regular login.

I'm a long-time Unix/Linux systems engineer, and I'm reasonably certain that you can't do any harm by adding the new account, but if you're not comfortable with it, don't do it. I'll check back here tomorrow to see how you're doing. Good luck.

[cjnkns]

I do not have any of the Nvidia graphics drivers installed yet.

So I tried to add the user you mention in your post.

I was able to add the user, but the passwd command did not work. It says command not found when I try to run it.

[cjnkns]

Ok - I think I figured out how to add the new user.

useradd testuser
Then I had to do /usr/bin/passwd testuser
Had to enter the password twice. (once to confirm)

Once I get to the gdm login screen I see my new user there, but when I enter the password I get the same thing as before. It acts as though it's going to log in. The cursor has the blue swirl and the screen goes black like it is transitioning, but then it goes right back to the gmd screen.

[epperson]

From your remark about the drivers, I infer that you have the Nvidia graphics card on your 9300? You probably do have drivers installed, likely xorg-x11-drv-nv.

Anyway, since the gdm login is also broken for the new user, we should look for problems with X. Do you see errors in /var/log/Xorg.0.log or ~/.xsession-errors?

In case you got a broken or incomplete update that's leading to your problems, it might also be good to get to a root session in a text console and "yum -y update" to make sure everything's straight.

[cjnkns]

Hi epperson -

So I did an yum -y update and the only updates were some gstreamer updates.
I rebooted and started to look at the logs and some messages about firmware (can't recall exactly what it said) started displaying. So - I think you 're right about a corrupted or incomplete update.

I am going to just chalk this up to a re-install this is way above my skill level.

You have no idea how much I appreciate your help. Thank you very much.