KDE stucked at <<load window manager>>
 

I had to reboot my computer (distro Mandriva free spring 2007) after I forgot the password to unlock the screen (must have chosen a real stupid pwd).

So I do switch user -> end session from the screen saver window prompting for the user name and password.

I restart the computer, and now, after the normal few tens of seconds of loading, the KDE screen appears, the loading pursues but stops at: "loading the window manager".

Then the screen goes dark, with only the mouse pointer remaining (that i can move).

This unfortunate event happened before on my laptop after the batteries ran out and the computer switched of itself without any warning. I ended with reinstalling the whole mandriva package (idem, KDE would not start, ending with the same black screen).

I would like to avoid doing the total re-installation on my desktop.

I tried startx with no success.

I've noticed when I attempt to start normally and use the verbose mode, a message saying:
/bin/resume exited abnormally

Is there anything I can do from the safe mode?

Thanks a lot for any hint or help.

Ludo

If you can boot it up in single user mode, try letting it boot up to the command line, log in as root and issue this command to have it power down normally:
If I remember correctly, with Mandriva you have to strike an (Fx) key for other options at the grub splash, when you see that long kernel line, put a (1) after a space at the end of the line without the brackets to boot in single user mode.

Junior Hacker,

First, thank you for your help attempt.
I have followed what you said.

In Mandriva, you have to type F2 to get the boot options. Indeed, if you type the number 1 at the end of the line (adding a space between the end of the line and the number 1), mandriva will start in single user mode.

It seems it is equivalent to the safe mode.

I have reboot the system with the command reboot.

But the problem remains, KDE loading stops at "loading the window manager".

What I have done (by pure chance) is to type ESC at the graphical grub prompt.
Click ok when asked if you wish to quit the graphical mode.

Then there is a new option compare to the graphical mode: linux-nonfb; which I chose.

This led me to have KDE (my version is 3.5) loading a bit more, but then I get "cannot talk to klauncher".
I have then a desktop with no icons at all, no start menu. But, after right click on the mouse I select create new folder... which does create a folder on the desktop and makes appearing other icons (such as Devices, Home...). But still no start menu. And I can not log out with right click -> log out (it does nothing).
To log out, I have opened a KDE Konqueror then tools -> terminal and then reboot.

So, though the situation has evolved, I am still facing a big problem...

Ludo

try just deleting or renaming the entire ~/.kde directory and letting the wizard start up and write you a new one.

Well that's not nice is it?
I suggested that only because of the message "/bin/resume exited abnormally" and thought if it were to shutdown properly it would fix it. But apparently not as you did not have the graphical desktop which is where the problem is. You can also do the same from a root terminal in that partial desktop environment if you can get a terminal by right clicking on the desktop and either issue command: reboot or halt. Just another shot in the dark, I'd like to say I'll keep my fingers crossed, but we both know that's not possible with the typing and all.
I had similar problems with Mandriva 2007, not the spring edition. Where I had to shutdown and/or reboot this way as it would not install KDM in the 64bit installation, it would install KDM in a 32bit installation though. So I just installed KDM to cure that, but the part about the missing icons is not related to KDM... I would think. I wonder if klauncher is another way of saying KDM (K desktop manager). If the unit is on-line, and it was me, I would urpme kdm to remove it and then urpmi kdm to reinstall, just to try another angle. But that's just me, as you can see by my signature, I have no fear, everything's backed up, including my operating systems in compressed images. Only takes 8 minutes to wipe the partition with zeros and load the last working image, all data is in a shared data partition.

Hi Junior Hacker and studioj

I tried many other things:

swapoff /dev/hda7 (where my swap space is) and write zeros in it.

Boot without the "resume" option.

Then did what you suggested:
urmpe kdm (which will provide the exact name of the package to uninstall, to be copied in a new line after the command urpme)
urpmi kdm

This led me to being able to load the window manager, but I got blocked at "loading the desktop". Then I got the message "cannot talk to KLAUNCHER". Was able to reach an empty desktop, and make appearing icons by creating a new folder (mouse right click).

studioj, removing the directory .kde didn't help neither.

It smells like I'll have to reinistall the whole mandriva package.

Junior Hacker, I would like to try your good practice of backup and restore in 8mn! Do you describe in some details what to do, in another thread or forum? Could you point me to it?

Thanks a lot

Ludovic

How about I do better, in this thread is a quick overview of my method and an open source method. Once you get the hang of the open source method it should go rather smooth as dd and my boot manger make and replace images at about the same speed. The utility I use cost $35.00 for the boot manager, the other tools that come with it can be used without obligation. But owning this software has many more advantages than meets the eye, and is worth allot more than $35.00 in my view after using it for a few years. Advantages like:

1: Not have to fear viruses
2: Using 30 trial software forever for free (install another 30 days in a fresh installation image).
3: Hack as you please, you might learn something.
4: Have as many copies of the same OS anywhere on the drive as you please if needed (one for casual use, on for testing pirated software).
5: And the benefits keep showing up three years later, etc. etc. etc.

I also learned over time to make most of the image files soon after a fresh install with as many updates as possible applied and basic configuration, no extra or third party software to keep the image size smaller and faster to restore. Extra and third party software are stored in the data partition and installed as needed rather than have a bloated system, good for performance, and software is always being upgraded, so it's better to not have to un-install after restoring an image and just install the latest.

Thanks a lot Junior Hacker. Using the dd command seems like a lot of fun, it is detailed in great details here (I'm sure you have read this already):

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=362506

Ludo

From the commandline (boot into text mode) see if you have a hidden file in ~ called .ICEauthority. When this happens to me this file appears red which means corrupt or empty. Simply delete the bad file and it'll be recreated the next time X starts.

Also check /tmp for a directory called .kde-<username> where <username> is your user. This can also happen if you are unable to write to this directory. Same solution - delete so it can be recreated.