Jared Evans Global Microbrand

A quick workaround for failed XFCE logins seen in Karmic (9.10) Xubuntu when running inside VMware VM with vmware-tools installed:

Do not attempt to change the Display size, leaving it at the default 800×600.  Login and let the session start up in 800×600.  Wait about about 5 seconds then you can use VMware-tools key short-cut of CTRL-ALT-ENTER to go to full screen and the screen resolution will automatically change to the higher settings.

If you have set the Display size, you may be experiencing the cycling login window problem.  There is a problem changing the screen resolution and the screen always returns back to the login prompt window.

To start over: select the xterm session at the login window (at the bottom) then login and remove the ~/.config directory in your home directory.

The standard (and up-to-date) Ubuntu 9.10 installation also exhibits the screen resolution problem.

*more updates*

This seems to be related to the recent kernel updates.  However, if you wait 10-15 seconds before logging in at the login prompt window, the display resolution changes work.  This may have something to do with the boot order of the modules.  VMware modules may be getting a late start and this affects the ability to change resolution inside a VMware VM until they are fully loaded and ready to go.