So I have a Debian distro at home (considering getting ubuntu), and I can't login. When I use the correct password is does this thing where it makes it look like it's going to login, and then it redirects to the login screen, but when I use an incorrect password it says "authentication failure". Does anyone know what could be causing this?
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4 Answers
Perhaps your .profile, .bash_profile, /etc/profile, or .bashrc contains an error, and makes the shell exit?
If thats the case, use ctr-alt-F1 to enter the shell. use the command su - root to enter a root session, and then use nano or vi to edit the file that is broken.
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Very possible, I was just editing it, but how can I fix that from the login? Is there a way to access the CLI? Feb 1, 2013 at 16:44
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I can't find my bash profile. I even tried to use the
locatecommand. What directories would they be in? Feb 2, 2013 at 17:18 -
Had exactly the issue as described. After switching to a console (Ctrl+Alt+F1 through Ctrl+Alt+F6), it appeared that the root folder was completely full (use df ). A simple sudo apt-get clean did the trick. After confirmation that the drive has space available, go back to login screen using Ctrl+Alt+F7).
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This what happen to me after downloading the blockchain data 100+GB in the Debian machine in VM. Had to get new SSD in the case– ArefeDec 27, 2017 at 8:19
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While going from Ctrl+Alt+F1 through Ctrl+Alt+F6 follow this link as well askubuntu.com/questions/266825/… Aug 19, 2019 at 16:01
I also have this problem from time to time, but the solutions here don't work. I found the following somewhere, but can't find it again, so here it is:
- Switch to a console with
Ctrl+Alt+F3; - Log in using the console (you are asked for your username and password right away);
- Type
sudo chmod 1777 /tmpand the password forsudo; - Go back with
Ctrl+Alt+F7and proceed normally.
Those are the standard permissions of /tmp and I have absolutely no clue why they should be wrong at log in. The only pattern I think I found is that I need to have tired to log in with a wrong password before using the correct one stops working.
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While this might be a solution to something, how would the OP accomplish step 2, log in, when they can’t log in?– Jeff Schaller ♦Nov 2, 2017 at 15:34
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1Ah, I meant log in using the terminal. The OP can't log in using the graphical interface, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they can't log in at all. When you press
Ctrl+Alt+F3, you are asked for your username and password before you can do anything else. At least in my case, which can be described exactly as OP described their problem, this works. Nov 2, 2017 at 16:46 -
I did see any reference from the OP about a graphical login (it’s not mentioned one way or the other).– Jeff Schaller ♦Nov 2, 2017 at 16:53
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@pochinha you are right, GUI login is not working through its possible to log via the shell– ArefeDec 26, 2017 at 14:18
Alternative cause and solution:
In my case, there was a syntax error in /etc/X11/xorg.conf. Judging by google results, this is a lot more rare than file permission problems. I found this out through attempting startx from the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+F2), which pointed me to a log file where it noted the syntax error.
~/.xsession_errorsand/var/log/Xorg.0.log. You should be able to still login in via the console (Ctrl+Alt+F1).startkde(If you are using KDE, if not, leave a comment telling what desktop you are using), then post the errors if there are any.