Fixing Login Issue: Correct Password, but Unable to Proceed on Alma Linux OS

Fixing Login Issue: Correct Password, Unable to Proceed in AlmaLinux OS

In this article, we will cover the steps to fix a common login issue in AlmaLinux OS where the user is able to enter the correct password, but is unable to proceed to the desktop environment. This issue can be caused by various reasons such as incorrect graphics configuration or home directory permissions.

Checking Graphics Configuration

The first step to fix this issue is to check the graphics configuration of your AlmaLinux OS. This can be done by checking the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file for any errors.

# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Section "Device"
 Identifier "Card0"
 Driver "intel"
 Option "Monitor-VGA1" "DVI-I-1"
 Option "ShadowFB" "off"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Monitor0"
 VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
 ModelName "Monitor Model"
 HorizSync 30-83
 VertRefresh 50-120
 Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Screen0"
 Device "Card0"
 Monitor "Monitor0"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
 Depth 24
 Modes "1920x1080"
EndSubSection
EndSection

If the configuration seems correct, you can try to switch to a different graphics driver to see if that resolves the issue. You can do this by editing the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and changing the "Driver" option to a different graphics driver such as "nouveau" or "ati".

Checking Home Directory Permissions

Another common cause for this issue is incorrect home directory permissions. You can check the permissions of your home directory by running the following command:

# ls -ld ~
drwxr-xr-x 3 lmo lmo 4096 Aug 23 10:15 /home/lmo

The output should show that your home directory has permissions set to drwxr-xr-x, which means that it is readable, writable, and executable for the owner, and readable and executable for the group and others. If the permissions are not set correctly, you can fix them by running the following command:

# chmod 755 ~

Switching to a Different Desktop Environment

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you can try switching to a different desktop environment. This can be done by installing a different desktop environment such as KDE or XFCE, and then selecting it at the login screen. For example, to install the KDE desktop environment, you can run the following command:

# sudo dnf groupinstall "KDE Plasma Workspaces"


 
Checking System Logs
 
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you can check the system logs for any error messages. This can be done by running the following command:
 
# journalctl -b -1
 
This will show the system logs for the previous boot. Look for any error messages related to the graphics system or the desktop environment.

 
 

 
Check the graphics configuration in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file
 
Switch to a different graphics driver if the current one is causing issues
 
Check the home directory permissions
 
Switch to a different desktop environment
 
Check the system logs for error messages
 

 
References
 

 

 
AlmaLinux OS User Guide,
 AlmaLinux OS, https://docs.almalinux.org/user-guide/
 
 

 
"Fixed: Unable to Log into GNOME after Correct Password in CentOS 8",
 TechMint, https://techmint.com/unable-to-log-into-gnome-after-correct-password-in-centos-8/
 
 

 
"AlmaLinux Forums",
 AlmaLinux OS, https://forums.almalinux.org/