auto login problem 18.3 xfce
 

I use a Lenovo X201 running Mint xfce for work.
I recently upgraded to 18.3 (using the GUI rather than the command)
All works well but for a couple of glitches. I am the only user and only I have access to the laptop, previously auto login has enabled me to boot up straight to the desktop, now I'm sometimes presented (apparently at random) with a login screen and I have to click on my user name to proceed. It's not a serious fault but I'm puzzled that I can't see any pattern to it.
The more serious glitch is that Synaptic stopped working from the drop down menu. I could launch it using "sudo -synaptic" so I changed the command in the launcher from "synaptic-pkexec" to "synaptic", that worked. However, attempting to use the update manager now results in the message "could not install the security updates"
I'd be grateful to hear if anyone else has experienced similar problems and overcome them.

Which version did you upgrade from?

Concentrating on the update manager first of all, can you please paste the output from the following commands entered in the Terminal:

Thank you for the reply hydrurga.
I'm not 100% certain but I believe it was 18.1.

Repos: Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com sylvia main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ xenial partner


Hit:1 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease
Hit:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Hit:3 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Hit:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease
Hit:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease
Ign:6 http://packages.linuxmint.com sylvia InRelease
Hit:7 http://packages.linuxmint.com sylvia Release
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
6 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.

Thanks starkadder.

The reason I asked about the version is to see if you had upgraded from a 17.x version since the replacement of the upstart init program by systemd may have caused the login problem. But that can be ruled out. However, as it happens, 18.2 replaced the MDM login manager with lightdm - it shouldn't have done this automatically if MDM was previously used, but if you manually replaced MDM with lightdm then that could well explain the auto login problem. We can tackle that later though.

Back to the update issue, can you paste the output from the following:

Also, ensuring that Synaptic is not running, launch the Update Manager through the panel icon and list the updates that it has there.

The reason I have asked for the above is to see that the Update Manager is working correctly and showing the correct packages to be upgraded.

Thanks again,

Listing... Done
apt-xapian-index/xenial-updates,xenial-updates 0.47ubuntu8.4 all [upgradable from: 0.47ubuntu8.3]
libapparmor1/xenial-updates 2.10.95-0ubuntu2.9 amd64 [upgradable from: 2.10.95-0ubuntu2.8]
libgcrypt20/xenial-updates 1.6.5-2ubuntu0.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 1.6.5-2ubuntu0.3]
linux-kernel-generic/sylvia,sylvia 4.10.0-38 all [upgradable from: 4.4.0-53]
ubuntu-drivers-common/sylvia 1:0.4.17.3linuxmint1 amd64 [upgradable from: 1:0.4.17.2linuxmint1]


Update Manager:

apt-xpian-index 0.47ubuntu8.4
libcrypt20 1.6.5-2ubuntu0.4

hydrurga, regarding which version I updated from: it could have been in the 17s. I have a short-term memory problem and unless I record something, it may become blurred, the version I was using falls into this category.
I apologise if this makes your task more difficult, I'm grateful for your input.

That's all good, starkadder. Your Update Manager will also have the "missing" updates, but they will be higher levels and hidden due to your settings. Personally, I install everything, no matter the level, and have had no problems. If you would like to do that, then we can do that later on.

However, for now, run Update Manager again, ensuring that Synaptic is not open. I think your initial problem running Update Manager could have been caused by the fact that you tried running both Update Manager and Synaptic at the same time. When you run a program that deals with package management, it locks the package directory and doesn't allow any other program to access it in order to avoid confusion in that directory.

Again, personally, I never use Synaptic. I don't see the need for it as I use Update Manager, Software Manager, and the command line for my package management. Each to their own and all that.

Anyway, back in Update Manager, select and install those two packages you mentioned in your post.

Hello again,
I still get "unable to install..." using the Update Manager and Synaptic isn't running. In the past if two applications tried to use apt simultaneously I've had a notification. To double check I ran "sudo synaptic" to launch it and then made sure it was shut down. Synaptic looked fine but after I had closed it, this was in the terminal:

(synaptic:3517): Gtk-CRITICAL **: gtk_widget_hide: assertion 'GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget)' failed



Everything is backed up to an external HDD so perhaps the easiest route would be to do a fresh install. Apropos of the login screen; I've enabled timed login so I just have to wait 10 seconds and I'm in - I can't reduce the time to zero though, it insists on 10 or more seconds.
Thanks for your continued support.

Ok, thanks. Go back to the Terminal and issue the following (the first is just in case things have changed since the last time you tried):

If that works fine then we'll go back into Update Manager and have a look at your security settings (but I won't be around for a few hours).

OK hydrurga,
apt update gets:

Hit:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease [102 kB]
Hit:3 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Get:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease [102 kB]
Ign:5 http://packages.linuxmint.com sylvia InRelease
Get:6 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease [102 kB]
Hit:7 http://packages.linuxmint.com sylvia Release
Get:8 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 Packages [740 kB]
Get:10 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main i386 Packages [687 kB]
Get:11 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe amd64 Packages [596 kB]
Get:12 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe i386 Packages [551 kB]
Fetched 2,881 kB in 4s (663 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
13 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.

Cont...
apt upgrade gets

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed
linux-headers-4.10.0-38 linux-headers-4.10.0-38-generic
linux-image-4.10.0-38-generic linux-image-extra-4.10.0-38-generic
The following packages will be upgraded:
apt-xapian-index libapparmor1 libgcrypt20 libgcrypt20:i386 libsmbclient
libwbclient0 linux-kernel-generic python-samba samba-common samba-common-bin
samba-libs smbclient ubuntu-drivers-common
13 to upgrade, 4 to newly install, 0 to remove and 0 not to upgrade.
Need to get 69.2 MB of archives.
After this operation, 308 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

Sorry about this, I was unaware that the "quick" reply had limited space.
Further to the last terminal readout - I have gone for "Yes"
Thanks Hydrurga, I will also be away for some time now (Horses to see to).

So did the installation work ok? And are the horses doing well?

Thank you, horses, donkeys, llamas, goats, sheep, ducks etc. all fine. The update went without a hitch but nothing seemed to change. I'm away from that laptop now (not far away, about 20feet, but I've had enough of the office for today). I'm going to see to the last feed at about 8.30 and then have a glass of wine.
I'm seriously considering a fresh install but you've put your time into my problem so if you're still up for it, I'll catch you tomorrow. I think Pictland and Cymru are on the same time.

Regards Starkadder (Cold Comfort Farm)

I appreciate that you're considering a fresh install. If you want to carry on with this though, it might be educational and also save you the need to do an install. We're learning more with each command you issue. It's completely your shout though.

What I would recommend, as well as backing up your data before reinstallation, is that you set TimeShift in your new installation to make regular snapshots of your system (I have it set up to carry out daily snapshots). That way, if things go awry like they did before, you can easily roll back to a previous snapshot. See https://linuxmint-installation-guide...timeshift.html

Let me know what you want to do (we are indeed on the same time, boyo ;)).

If you decide to carry on with the troubleshooting, please let me know what the preferences are in Update Manager (Edit->Preferences: Options and Levels, and Edit->Update Policy). Also, right click on the Update Manager icon on the panel and have a look at Information to see if there have been any errors associated with your attempts to update using it.