Screen won't lock in Mate (Also, LXDE)

[dochood]

I am not able to get the screen to lock in Mate in Porteus v2.1. I had the same problem in LXDE v2.1RC. When I try to lock the screen immediately from the Control Center -> Screen Saver section, I get the message:

Code: Select all

Error: xscreensaver-demo: locking not enabled

I was finally able to install a package called "xlock", that prompts for a different password, then locks the screen. However, that is not as seamless as just entering your login password.

I did some Googling when 2.1RC came out, and I thought I saw some stuff on permissions to access the password file, but I don't remember what it was, or where I found it.

[brokenman]

I can't reproduce this on the 2 laptops I have here at the moment. In MATE under Porteus v2.1 clicking on the System menu and then 'Lock Screen' locks the screen and entering the guest password unlocks it.

1) Are you booting into a guest account?
2) Does: ls -l /usr/bin/xscreensaver show this: -rwxr-s--x ?

Please boot into freshmode (with base_only cheatcode) and confirm.

[dochood]

I have followed these instructions, and I can confirm that it is still a problem. I have seen this on two different computers:

1) AMD Phenom IIx6 1090T Desktop with NVidia GTX 460 video card
2) AMD A8-4500M Laptop (from Acer)

[brokenman]

Please confirm:

You are booting into a guest account (not root).
The menu item (at the top of the desktop) System/Lock Screen doesn't work.

I just tried on a third machine and this worked on all machines. I'd like to reproduce it so I can troubleshoot it.

Can anyone else confirm this please?

[sean]

@dochood,

Could you please tell us the exact "mode" and/or "screensaver" you have selected under Screensaver Preferences.

@brokenman,

I can not confirm this either, on my Dell Optiplex desktop. ls -l /usr/bin/xscreensaver shows exactly this: -rwxr-s--x. Using guest user.

Is it possible dochood has selected a screensaver which is not installed or has some permission of it's own which gives his error message?

Sean

[brokenman]

Without an answer from dochood confirming he is not running as root then to be honest I don't know what the problem is. xscreensaver is not designed (and I would always advise against it) to be run in root mode.

[dochood]

Without an answer from dochood confirming he is not running as root then to be honest I don't know what the problem is. xscreensaver is not designed (and I would always advise against it) to be run in root mode.

I was in the guest account. None of the screen savers would lock (although they would go into screensaver mode). I have seen this on three different computers now.

[dochood]

I have also verified that the permissions on the file were correct.

[brokenman]

Thanks dochood.

Please give the output from a guest console of:
xscreensaver-command -exit
xscreensaver &
xscreensaver-command -lock

[dochood]

Code: Select all

guest@porteus:~$ xscreensaver-command -exit
xscreensaver-command: exiting.

guest@porteus:~$ xscreensaver &
[1] 3531
guest@porteus:~$ xscreensaver: 14:48:41: couldn't get password of "guest"
xscreensaver: 14:48:41: couldn't get password of "root"
xscreensaver: 14:48:41: locking is disabled (error getting password).
xscreensaver: 14:48:41: does xscreensaver need to be setuid?  consult the manual.

guest@porteus:~$ xscreensaver-command -lock
xscreensaver-command: locking not enabled.

guest@porteus:~$ 

[dochood]

The above output was booting from the CD, selecting "Copy to RAM".

[brokenman]

So you're booting from a stock standard Porteus with no additions,and nothing in modules folder or rootcopy folder. All permissions should be ok.
Did you download the ISO through the web wizard of download directly from server?

Just to be sure about permissions, please check that /etc/shadow is part of the shadow group and also xscreensaver:

-rwxr-s--x 1 root shadow 235560 Aug 8 10:44 /usr/bin/xscreensaver*

If /usr/bin/xscreensaver is like this then permissions to have access to password should be ok.

[francois]

I am not able to get the screen to lock in Mate in Porteus v2.1. I had the same problem in LXDE v2.1RC. When I try to lock the screen immediately from the Control Center -> Screen Saver section

There is no problem for me here in guest mode.

@dochood:
Did you tried this in guest mode always fresh?

[dochood]

I am not able to get the screen to lock in Mate in Porteus v2.1. I had the same problem in LXDE v2.1RC. When I try to lock the screen immediately from the Control Center -> Screen Saver section

There is no problem for me here in guest mode.

@dochood:
Did you tried this in guest mode always fresh?

Yes... logged in as guest, selected "always fresh" from my USB boot. Same thing. Locking does not work for me.

[brokenman]

Please confirm permissions of xscreensaver and /etc/shadow (as mentioned above). If the error is that the password can't be accessed then I originally saw this when xscreensaver binary was not a part of the shadow group.