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How to Resolve RHEL 8.4 GUI Login Freeze and Unresponsive Screen

Dive into a comprehensive guide to troubleshoot and resolve the RHEL 8.4 GUI login freeze issue, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted user experience.

Root account login issues on RHEL 8.4 can be a significant hindrance. This article expands on the solutions to address the GUI login freeze, providing a detailed walkthrough to restore system functionality.

Symptom

The GUI login screen becomes unresponsive post-password entry, leaving the screen frozen and the mouse immobile.

Temporary Root Terminal Access

Press the following key combination to achieve temporary root access and create a new user for interim use:

Ctrl + Alt + F1

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

  1. Reboot and choose ‘Rescue a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system’ from the boot options to enter rescue mode.
  2. In rescue mode, mount the root file system to perform diagnostics and repairs.
  3. Confirm ample disk space is available, as insufficiency can lead to login complications.
  4. Examine the following log files for and create a new user for interim use:
    /var/log/messages
    /var/log/gdm/
  5. Execute the following command to reinstall and reset the GNOME Display Manager :
    sudo dnf reinstall gdm
  6. Enter the following command to identify any SELinux policy breaches:
    ausearch -m avc -ts recent

Advanced Diagnostic Steps

Perform the follow steps for advanced diagnostic purpose:

User Configuration Reset

Rename the following files in the user’s home directory to reset session configurations:

.Xauthority
.ICEauthority

GNOME Shell Reinstallation

If problems persist, reinstall GNOME Shell with the following command to refresh the environment:

sudo dnf reinstall gnome-shell

FAQs

Question: Is it possible to fix this without a full system reinstall?

Answer: Absolutely, the procedures outlined are intended to rectify the login issue sans a complete system overhaul.

Question: What should I do if the issue remains unresolved?

Answer: Delving into hardware compatibility checks and advanced system settings may be required for further resolution.

Summary

The expanded guide aims to equip users with the necessary steps to tackle the RHEL 8.4 GUI login freeze, ensuring a return to a functional state without resorting to system reinstallation.