12.04 doesn't accept shutdown command

Question

When I try to shutdown my machine using the normal shutdown menu it just logs off the current user and brings me back to the lightdm login window.
I have to open a terminal and execute "shutdown -h now" to shutdown my system. Any help?

EDIT: I noticed this behavior only occurs when I was previously switching users on my pc i.e. the 'guest-session' is still running in the background.

Answer 1

The problem is with the multiple logged in users in your system. I used to experience the same problem. Solved it by a policy chane allowing logout even when multiple users are logged in. If you understand the implications(like lose of non-saved data, for other logged in users) of allowing such a thing, you could go ahead and do the same. It can be done as follows:

1. sudo vi /etc/polkit-1/localauthority/50-local.d/usershutdown.pkla

2. As content of that file, enter the following and save it:

   [Allow Shutdown]
Identity=unix-user:*
Action=org.freedesktop.consolekit.system.stop-multiple-users
ResultAny=yes
ResultInactive=yes
ResultActive=yes
[Allow Restart]
Identity=unix-user:*
Action=org.freedesktop.consolekit.system.restart-multiple-users
ResultAny=yes
ResultInactive=yes
ResultActive=yes

Now restart your system and check if things are working as intended.

N.B: You could use any other editor of your choice to create that file.