[colug-432] Boot Problem

[R S Prigan]

On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 2:48 PM, Stephen P. Molnar
<s.molnar at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> openSUSE 12.1 64 bit OS KDE3/4 Desktop
>
> I had shut down the computer to change some plugins on the back panel.  When
> I restarted the computer the boot went well until the point where I had to
> log in.  At this point rather than a boot screen that gave me a choice of
> window managers I was presented witn a plain gray screen with a box for the
> user which closed when I input the user name and opened a new box for the
> password.  Also now there is a console window in the lower left corner of
> the plash screen with the message:
>
>     Jan 8 14:28:58 linux-ddlt mcelog: mcelog read: No such device
>
> However there is a /var/log/mcelog, but it is empty.
>
> I no longer had the option of choosing the window manager.  This is a
> critical problem for me as the KDE desktop is very unstable on my machine.
> I have been using the iceWM which is a stable as KDE used to be.  I tried
> changing the splash screen while in the KDE desktop, but that had no effect
> when I restarted the computer.
>
> In all candor I don't have a clew as to what has happened and would
> appreciate some sagacious advice at this point.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Stephen P. Molnar, Ph.D.                  Life is a fuzzy set

Sounds like KDM went bonkers and you are getting the bare bones XDM login?
Check your
 /etc/sysconfig/displaymanager
kdm  is desired
or gdm perhaps

otherwise, could something have gotten corrupted?  this might be bad news ...