[SOLVED] Laptop Doesn't Recognize Password

Yuhan · 07-05-2016, 03:43 PM

I have a Lenovo T400 on which I run Xubuntu. Today when I turned on my computer and logged in my password I received the message "Incorrect password, please try again." I did try again...and again...but the same thing kept coming up. This has never happened to me before. How do I regain access to my computer? Thanks in advance.

Yuhan · 07-05-2016, 04:15 PM

Ah...okay! Did manage to login after multiple attempts. So something is clearly sticking, even though I can eventually open the system. Any suggestions? Thank you.

camorri · 07-05-2016, 04:42 PM

Check things like Caps Lock, Num Lock. All linux flavours are case sensitive. These keys change the shift, and modify what you send to the system.

If you can get logged in, open any application you can type into. Go through all the keys on the keyboard and make sure they are entering the correct and expected data. It is possible to have a stuck key.

Yuhan · 07-05-2016, 06:01 PM

Yes, tried those things and everything checks out fine. No CapsLock and no stuck keys. It couldn't be numbers or caps because I was able to login. It must be something quirkier. But thanks!

designator · 07-05-2016, 06:32 PM

Try external keyboard too. Also make sure keyboard layout is set correctly. That messed me up a bunch of times.

Yuhan · 07-05-2016, 07:29 PM

How do you mean by the keyboard layout being set correctly?

designator · 07-05-2016, 07:31 PM

I meant keyboard language.

dijetlo · 07-05-2016, 08:22 PM

Are you logging in over a network with ldap(esque) credentials or a local account?

sgosnell · 07-05-2016, 08:50 PM

Nut just the caps lock, check the num lock settings. Mine seems to get turned on now and then for some reason.

Yuhan · 07-05-2016, 11:07 PM

This is just a local account on a home laptop.

jefro · 07-06-2016, 03:34 PM

Look at /var logs maybe for clues.

Yuhan · 07-07-2016, 04:20 PM

It seems the problem has self-corrected--which leads me to wonder what caused it? This may be something sporadic that occurs under certain conditions, but I've no idea what those would be. Could irregular electrical conditions in the house account for this kind of thing?

camorri · 07-07-2016, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Could irregular electrical conditions in the house account for this kind of thing?

Was it plugged in when failing? What condition is the battery in?

I would think the keyboard is far more probable to be the cause. Do you know if anything has ever been spilled on the keyboard?

When you have the battery charged, see if it fails disconnect from the house power.

Yuhan · 07-07-2016, 10:39 PM

Never spilled anything on it. Yes, the computer was plugged in when failing. The battery seems to be working okay. It will hold a charge for two or three hours, although I seldom
use it on battery power for that long.