Can't log in to Ubuntu 19.10, freezes upon Ctrl+Alt+F3

Solution 1:

Same here. I've ended up removing the Nvidia driver:

sudo apt remove nvidia-*

It's not a full fix but at least I can log in again and get to a desktop.

Solution 2:

Bug report: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-session/+bug/1845801

Valtteri Vainikka (vrln) wrote on 2019-11-08:

I think Martin on to something concerning GRUB/Linux boot options, more specifically the "splash" one. With testing-updates enabled what currently happens for me:

If I set automatic login on I'm stuck with the standard infinite login loop, but with the distinction that I can now no longer enter another TTY via ctrl+alt+F3 for example to fix it straight away. The whole system now just freezes, so I fixed it via recovery mode.

Out of curiosity I then went and disabled the following line in /etc/default/grub and ran sudo update-grub:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

Result: Automatic login now works perfectly, no issues anymore.

Another more radical approach is to disable auto-login.

NOTE: This grub config line keeps reappearing after some system updates that include a grub update, and you have to start again this process.

Solution 3:

I have the exact same issue on my desktop. I fixed it like this:

1. Uninstall the nvidia driver.

   I uninstalled cuda with 418 driver from cuda10 directory with uninstall script. and also from cuda10.1 directory. Then I used the script sudo apt remove nvidia-* to clean things up.

2. Disable automatic login (even if you never enabled it, it is set to automatic in 19.10 for some reason). You can find this in System Settings → Detail → Users.

3. Install the nvidia-435 driver from Additional Drivers.

4. Reboot.