Can't log in to Linux after folder permissions change

Monkeyma · 04-18-2015, 07:41 PM

Hi everyone...

I'm running a Debian Wheezy 7 installation. I recently changed the ownership of my "/tmp" folder and have not been able to log in since. Everytime I turn on the computer it boots normally up to the log in screen, however when I try to log in the screen turns off and on for about a second and returns me to the log in screen. I cannot log in. I have not made any other changes to the system other than the one I mentioned.

If anyone can help it'd be greatly appreciated! Please help.

allend · 04-18-2015, 10:37 PM

Welcome to LQ!

From your description, I think you are booting to a graphical login screen. When you try to login, your /tmp permissions change is not allowing the GUI setup to write to the /tmp directory.
You could try booting to the login screen, hitting Ctrl-Alt-F6 to get a tty console, logging in as root and restoring permissions with 'chown root:root /tmp; chmod 1777 /tmp'. Hitting Alt-F7 should then return you to your graphical login and allow you to login normally.

Monkeyma · 04-19-2015, 12:30 AM

Thank you very much Allend, problem solved! I did what you said except I used <alt> <ctrl> f2 instead of f6.

allend · 04-19-2015, 01:36 AM

Glad you got it sorted. Please use the Thread Tools button to mark this as solved.