Resolution issue causing login screen loop

My ubuntu (version 10.10 I think) is stuck in loop at the login screen. Looks like it could be a resolution issue. - I have an nvidia graphics card (gs 8400). I previously had it connected to a 19" monitor however disconnected mid session and since then the issue has persisted. I tried uninstalling the gdm package and reinstalling and running an apt-get update however the login loop still there.

Is there another way I can reset the resolution settings to fix this looping issue?

I can get into the desktop by going through the rescue mode and using startx but its not a solution.

Solution 1:

You can edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf by hand

Or you can use nvidia xconfig if you have the proprietary driver sudo nvidia-xconfig

Or sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

ref: http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/xorg

Solution 2:

What I did wrong was to try to use xstart, in error. When using xstart .Xauthority is created in user directory. I've had problems with this on other systems, deleting the file(s) solved the problem for me.

Solution 3:

• Switch to the text console Ctrl-Alt-F1
• Login with your username / password
• Check for errors, write them down word for word. Did you enter your home directory?
• Check the output for ls -l /home. Does it say drwx at the start of the line, notice especially the w?
• Check for nearly full filesystems df -h
• Type exit
• Switch to the graphics console Ctrl-Alt-F7
• If you had any errors on the text console, add them to your question.