Jtdcftul

Yesterday, I updated my Ubuntu instance using the Software Updater. Here's the relevant entry from /var/log/apt/history.log:

Start-Date: 2019-01-16  08:05:11

Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-commit-packages' sender=':1.265'

Upgrade: libkrb5-3:amd64 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), libkrb5-3:i386 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), libgssapi-krb5-2:amd64 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), libgssapi-krb5-2:i386 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), python-samba:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), libwbclient0:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), libgjs0g:amd64 (1.52.1-1ubuntu1, 1.52.5-0ubuntu18.04.1), samba:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), samba-dsdb-modules:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), libarchive13:amd64 (3.2.2-3.1ubuntu0.1, 3.2.2-3.1ubuntu0.2), libgnome-bluetooth13:amd64 (3.28.0-2, 3.28.0-2ubuntu0.1), gjs:amd64 (1.52.1-1ubuntu1, 1.52.5-0ubuntu18.04.1), libk5crypto3:amd64 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), libk5crypto3:i386 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), gnome-bluetooth:amd64 (3.28.0-2, 3.28.0-2ubuntu0.1), php-pear:amd64 (1:1.10.5+submodules+notgz-1ubuntu1, 1:1.10.5+submodules+notgz-1ubuntu1.18.04.1), krb5-locales:amd64 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), samba-libs:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), libpam-winbind:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), winbind:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), libcaca0:amd64 (0.99.beta19-2build2~gcc5.3, 0.99.beta19-2ubuntu0.18.04.1), libkrb5support0:amd64 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), libkrb5support0:i386 (1.16-2build1, 1.16-2ubuntu0.1), gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-1.0:amd64 (3.28.0-2, 3.28.0-2ubuntu0.1), samba-common:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), libnss-winbind:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), samba-vfs-modules:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), libsmbclient:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), smbclient:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), samba-common-bin:amd64 (2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.5, 2:4.7.6+dfsg~ubuntu-0ubuntu2.6), linux-firmware:amd64 (1.173.2, 1.173.3)

End-Date: 2019-01-16  08:17:09

After the update, I find myself unable to login after shutting down my system and rebooting. The system boots into the GUI login screen. After entering the password, it attempts to load the desktop manager. Unfortunately, it fails. After showing nothing more than a blank screen with the mouse pointer in it, it returns to the GUI login screen. This happens for just a single user account (unfortunately the primary user account). I am able to login and logout without any problem from other user accounts.

I have attempted the following (most of the suggestions from here):

1. I have verified that .Xauthority and .ICEAuthority have the right permissions.


2. I have verified that /tmp has the right permissions.


3. I removed the propriety Nvidia driver (downloaded from the website; it had to be reinstalled after every kernel upgrade but as evident from the log entry above, the recent upgrade did not upgrade the kernel) and replaced with nvidia-driver-390, the package suggested by sudo ubuntu-drivers devices.

$ lspci -nnk | grep -i vga -A3 | grep 'in use'

    Kernel driver in use: nvidia

4. I switched from lightdm to gdm3 using sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
   


5. I checked .xsession-errors and most of the entries are of the form:dbus-update-activation-environment: setting. Nothing there seems out of place.


6. The .bashrc file contain the following additions:

    # Aliases #

    alias pcat="pygmentize -f terminal256 -O style=native -g"

    mkdircd(){

            # create a director and change to it

            echo "creating directory $1"

            mkdir $1

            cd $1

            }

    alias mcd=mkdircd

    export PATH="$PATH:/home/wneo/path_to_a_web_framework"



    #THIS MUST BE AT THE END OF THE FILE FOR SDKMAN TO WORK!!!

    export SDKMAN_DIR="/home/wneo/.sdkman"

    [[ -s "/home/wneo/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh" ]] && source "/home/wneo/.sdkm    an/bin/sdkman-init.sh"



    #The following is to get go tools to work

    export PATH="$PATH:$GOPATH/bin"

None of these edits were made immediately before or after the update.

Please help.

After 24 hours of tinkering, I gave up and upgraded to 18.10.

sudo do-release-upgrade

After upgrade, the login screen wouldn't still show up. However, I was able to startX after booting into recovery mode, choosing failsafeX, dropping to console and then starting X. After a couple of reboots, I was able to see my desktop albeit in an incorrect resolution. Downloading and installing the latest drivers from Nvidia fixed the problem of resolution. The display is also crispier than it has ever been. However, I am still not able to get a login screen. I still have to follow the procedure mentioned above i.e boot into recovery mode, etc., I'll update this answer once I find a fix.