Gnome/X logs off immediately after login — which logfiles are relevant?

Question

I've been tinkering with fingerprint-gui as well as X/xrandr resolution settings.

When I start my machine, it boots up normally. As soon as X and gnome have finished starting, it logs me off automatically and brings me back to the gdm login prompt with the user list. Then I am, however, able to log in using "Ubuntu Desktop Fail-safe".

I've checked the list of start-up applications, but everything seems fine there.

I can't yet put my finger on what exactly might be responsible for this: X, gnome or some messed up pam.d settings. So far I've checked /var/logs/X11/xorg.0.log, /var/logs/auth.log and ~/.xsession-errors. In addition, I don't quite seem to understand the "interplay" between X, GDM, GNOME, GNOME-policykit, PAM.d and all that.

Are there any other relevant log files that could point me to what's broken?

Specs:

• Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat
• IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad R60, ATI Radeon x1400 Mobility
• all updates installed
• Linux User 1 year+,

Answer 1

Without seeing the log files it's difficult to say where the bug comes(use pastebin.ubuntu.com or report a new bug to Launchpad by running ubuntu-bug xorg-server, but try look gdm's logs at /var/log/gdm/ (that folder may not be accessible without root access).