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mikael78

Member

Registered: 2024-03-14

Posts: 38  

[SOLVED] Broke accidentially xfce root GUI :/

So, I am new linux user. I did something not supposed to do since I did not have
user yet on sudoers group. I used root GUI and terminal window inside root fxce GUI to mount
temporarily smb drive and used the graphical file manager to check files on Smb..

Now my second monitor does not work anymore when logged to
root GUI and it started as window chosting, now blank screen.
Main monitor still works...

User side of xfce is normal, tho' it shows 4 multible session tabs on top bar that
won't do anything. Maybe normal, just did not look at those before.

Can I fix it (Root GUI) running these commands from user side and will the system(X) create new files
automatically??

sudo rm -f /root/.Xauthority
sudo rm -rf /root/.cache
sudo rm -rf /root/.config/xfce4
sudo rm -rf /root/.local/share/xfce4

To remove corrupted x/xfce state on root GUI?

Any worries? Better ways?

Last edited by mikael78 (2026-01-18 22:11:41)

mikael78

Member

Registered: 2024-03-14

Posts: 38  

Re: [SOLVED] Broke accidentially xfce root GUI :/

User is now added to sudoers file..😅

chatgtp suggested to make a script for it with some added commands..

sudo nano /usr/local/sbin/reset-root-gui.sh

Then write:

#!/bin/bash
# Safe root XFCE/X11 reset

# Must be run as root
if [ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]; then
    echo "ERROR: Run as root"
    exit 1
fi

echo "Cleaning root GUI state..."

# Remove X11 auth and caches
rm -f /root/.Xauthority
rm -rf /root/.cache
rm -rf /root/.config/xfce4
rm -rf /root/.local/share/xfce4

# Force software rendering to prevent Intel GPU corruption
grep -qxF 'export LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1' /root/.profile || \
    echo 'export LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1' >> /root/.profile

echo "Root XFCE state cleaned."
echo "Compositing is disabled by default; start X with startx if needed."

After:
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/sbin/reset-root-gui.sh

sudo /usr/local/sbin/reset-root-gui.sh

Last edited by mikael78 (2026-01-18 22:23:02)

mikael78

Member

Registered: 2024-03-14

Posts: 38  

Re: [SOLVED] Broke accidentially xfce root GUI :/

Should I also delete /root/.ICEauthority?
PS: Running Daedalus

Last edited by mikael78 (2026-01-18 23:01:10)

mikael78

Member

Registered: 2024-03-14

Posts: 38  

Re: [SOLVED] Broke accidentially xfce root GUI :/

Fixed for now.. I checked the settings menu-display and the second screen was disabled.
Enabled it and reconficured the display settings. Problem seems to be solved for now.

BUT have no idea why the smb sharing broke it. Maybe when I was using filemanager
on that second monitor to go thru smb shared folders...

PS: Also had to set keyboard layout again for root xfce gui..

Last edited by mikael78 (2026-01-19 02:51:16)