I cannot change login theme because I cannot log in as gdm

skykooler · 04-25-2010, 11:25 AM

As far as I know, the only way to change the login screen in Karmic is to do

Code:

sudo gdm

and then open the settings from there. Now I get this error:

Code:

skyler@ubuntu-laptop:~$ sudo gdm

** (gdm-binary:2828): WARNING **: Failed to acquire org.gnome.DisplayManager

** (gdm-binary:2828): WARNING **: Could not acquire name; bailing out
skyler@ubuntu-laptop:~$

Is there any way to fix this - or to change the login screen without logging on as gdm?

smoker · 04-25-2010, 12:06 PM

What do you mean by login screen ?

If you are referring to the background image, then as any user, select a background image and set it as default. That will be the background for the login screen. You can still assign a different background image for the desktop, just don't set it as default.

skykooler · 04-25-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoker

What do you mean by login screen ?

If you are referring to the background image, then as any user, select a background image and set it as default. That will be the background for the login screen. You can still assign a different background image for the desktop, just don't set it as default.

No, I am not just referring to the background image. I have been following the tutorial here and got to the login screen part before finding out that login window is handled differently in Karmic and you have to use sudo gdm. I want to install the .tar.gz for the login window - or do whatever file editing may be necessary to change it to that.

smoker · 04-25-2010, 08:55 PM

So nothing to do with login screens at all then. All you are doing is changing a theme. Nowhere in that how-to or the comments does it tell you to log in as GDM.

skykooler · 04-25-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoker

So nothing to do with login screens at all then. All you are doing is changing a theme.

No, I have changed the desktop theme - but it does have a section on changing the login theme too.

Quote:

Nowhere in that how-to or the comments does it tell you to log in as GDM.

It tells you to change the login theme with the login manager. However, as of Karmic, there is no themes option in the login manager and all of the workarounds I have seen tell you to log in as GDM.

John VV · 04-25-2010, 10:39 PM

that tutorial is a bit on the VERY OLD side

that page is VERY OLD and VERY outdated
posted on : July 23rd, 2008

the Gnome team have been rewriting the Gnome Display Manager ( GDM )
this has been going on for a very LONG time

to edit GDM you will need to hand edit files

look for NEW how to's for this ( ones that are 6 months or less old )

pixellany · 04-25-2010, 10:49 PM

I don't understand "log in as gdm" gdm is not normally a username.

Are we talking about starting gdm from inittab?

John VV · 04-26-2010, 12:28 AM

pixellany
he is tiring to use a VERY old "how to" to change the gdm theme

on the OLD gdm this worked
the half working version that is used currently , well....