[Bug 51233] gdm fails to create session

[batkins]

Public bug reported:

Binary package hint: gdm

After upgrading to Dapper from Breezy, GDM gives me an error message
(see below) when I attempt to log in and refuses to start gnome-session.
I can only log into the xterm failsafe session.  Once in the failsafe
session, I can run "gnome-session" from this failsafe xterm to get a
working GNOME environment, but GDM can't seem to do it on its own.

This problem happens with freshly-created users with blank home
directories.  It also happens on a completely different machine - I also
upgraded my Thinkpad to Dapper from Breezy and it has exactly the same
issue.

I've tried reinstalling gnome, gnome-session, and gdm.  Again, even
brand-new users can't get into gdm, so this leads me to believe the
problem is not in my personal configuration of GNOME. I've also tried
deleting .gnome2/session and .ICEAuthority, and trying to log in with a
new user with a completely blank home directory. No dice.

Here is the message I get when logging into a regular GNOME session:

I could not start your session and so I have started the failsafe xterm
session. Windows have focus only if you have your cursor above them. To
get out of this mode type 'exit' in the window in the upper left corner.

Here is the contents of .xsession-errors:

/etc/gdm/PreSession/Default: Registering your session with wtmp and utmp
/etc/gdm/PreSession/Default: running: /usr/bin/sessreg -a -w /var/log/wtmp -u /var/run/utmp -x "/var/lib/gdm/:0.Xservers" -h "" -l ":0" "bill"
/etc/gdm/Xsession: Beginning session setup...
/etc/gdm/Xsession: Executing /usr/bin/gnome-session failed, will try to run x-terminal-emulator


Discussions here:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=196830
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=200133

** Affects: gdm (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Untriaged
         Status: Unconfirmed

-- 
gdm fails to create session
https://launchpad.net/bugs/51233