System will not boot

[sofasurfer]

I have a two installation computer. one disk has Ubuntu 24.04 and one disk has Debian 13.
Everything worked fine earlier today. Now it will not boot on either installation.
I installed my thumb drive and it works fine. I ran systemrescue from the thumb drive and chose boot a installation on drive" (or whatever the exact wording is) and chose "debian". It started fine. I repeated the process and chose Ubuntu. The boot messages scrolled to this message and then never proceeded...

starting rtkit-daemon.service realtimekit scheduling policy service

Is this message the reason neither installatoion will boot?
What seems to be my problem?

 

[sofasurfer]

WAIT! I have more info.
As I said, I entered Debian through thumbdrive>systemrescue.
I did a reboot and in the process it stopped at the "plymouth reboot" nessage for about a minute. It then went to grub menu and let me choose Ubuntu. Ubuntu started. But firefox would not start. I tried to start firefox in terminal and got this message...

$ firefox

/snap/firefox/7836/gnome-platform/command-chain/desktop-launch: line 52: /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.dirs: Permission denied

sed: can't read /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.dirs: Permission denied

/snap/firefox/7836/gnome-platform/command-chain/desktop-launch: line 295: /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.dirs: Permission denied

cp: cannot open '/home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.locale' for reading: Permission denied

/snap/firefox/7836/gnome-platform/command-chain/desktop-launch: line 300: /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.locale: Permission denied

[8086] Sandbox: CanCreateUserNamespace() unshare(CLONE_NEWPID): EPERM

Gtk-Message: 17:51:50.238: Not loading module "atk-bridge": The functionality is provided by GTK natively. Please try to not load it.

[7756] Wayland Proxy [0x75abee665ce0] Error: CheckWaylandDisplay(): Failed to connect to Wayland display '/run/user/1000/snap.firefox/wayland-0' error: Permission denied

Error: we don't have any display, WAYLAND_DISPLAY='wayland-0' DISPLAY=':0'

I then tried to reboot into debian and it would not recognize the other drive with debian. I did a <$ grub-update> and it did recognize both drives and I did boot into Debian. So I MAY have the reboot problem solved but I will let you know. In the meantime I will like any recommendations on this and the firefox issue.

thanks

 

[sofasurfer]

My system is booting fine now. However, I am still not able to open firefox.
Again, here is the message I got when I tried to open firefox from the terminal...

$ firefox

/snap/firefox/7836/gnome-platform/command-chain/desktop-launch: line 52: /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.dirs: Permission denied

sed: can't read /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.dirs: Permission denied

/snap/firefox/7836/gnome-platform/command-chain/desktop-launch: line 295: /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.dirs: Permission denied

cp: cannot open '/home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.locale' for reading: Permission denied

/snap/firefox/7836/gnome-platform/command-chain/desktop-launch: line 300: /home/daryl/.config/user-dirs.locale: Permission denied

[8086] Sandbox: CanCreateUserNamespace() unshare(CLONE_NEWPID): EPERM

Gtk-Message: 17:51:50.238: Not loading module "atk-bridge": The functionality is provided by GTK natively. Please try to not load it.

[7756] Wayland Proxy [0x75abee665ce0] Error: CheckWaylandDisplay(): Failed to connect to Wayland display '/run/user/1000/snap.firefox/wayland-0' error: Permission denied

Error: we don't have any display, WAYLAND_DISPLAY='wayland-0' DISPLAY=':0'

AI indicates that this is do to firefox being installed with SNAP. It was quite a confusing answer so I want to get input from real people before I make any changes. This has not happened before so I can only assume it is related to the previous boot problem, but what?
Please read my error message and give me some help.

Thanks.

 

[sofasurfer]

It appears that firefox was installed with apt...

$ apt list --installed | grep firefox

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

firefox-esr/stable-security,now 140.7.0esr-1~deb13u1 amd64 [installed,automatic]

$ which firefox
/usr/bin/firefox

 

[Condobloke]

Did your pc install any updates prior to this happening ?

In terminal run:

snap list | grep -i firefox

 

[sofasurfer]

Updates were around a week ago I think.

 

[Alexzee]

Real Time Kit is a DBus daemon that works as an application (asking for root permission) instead of asking the kernel directly.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/43iden/what_is_rtkitdaemon_in_ubuntu_processes

Looks like the command line interface for FF is not stable reading through the output.
-Line 52 of your /home configuration can't be read and permission is denied.-

FF ESR and a snap version of FF both installed will cause conflicts. <or> Wayland, I think, isn't co-operating with FF because the display/config isn't there or missing.

Is your DE Gnome? X11? KDE?

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

What's the output of:

ls -a .config

Our member @osprey is good with Debian.

 

[sofasurfer]

Real Time Kit is a DBus daemon that works as an application (asking for root permission) instead of asking the kernel directly.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/43iden/what_is_rtkitdaemon_in_ubuntu_processes

Looks like the command line interface for FF is not stable reading through the output.
-Line 52 of your /home configuration can't be read and permission is denied.-

FF ESR and a snap version of FF both installed will cause conflicts. <or> Wayland, I think, isn't co-operating with FF because the display/config isn't there or missing.

Is your DE Gnome? X11? KDE?

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

What's the output of:

ls -a .config

Our member @osprey is good with Debian.

I will get the info you requested later and have it for you by tomorrow. I have to just back and forth between distros to get the info and post it. Bear in mind that it is my UBUNTU distro that is messed up. Debian is doing fine.

 

[sofasurfer]

Real Time Kit is a DBus daemon that works as an application (asking for root permission) instead of asking the kernel directly.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/43iden/what_is_rtkitdaemon_in_ubuntu_processes

You requested <$ echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE>

$ echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

wayland

Here is <$ echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP>

$ echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP

ubuntu:GNOME

Here is <$ ls -a .config>

$ ls -a .config

. nemo

.. procps

autostart pulse

backintime qt5ct

caja QtProject.conf

cinnamon QtProject.conf.backup.20250914

cinnamon-session remmina

dconf shotwell

enchant simple-scan

eog Stacher7

evolution systemd

GIMP texstudio

gnome-initial-setup-done tiling-assistant

gnome-session totem

GNOME-xdg-terminals.list transmission

goa-1.0 ubuntu-xdg-terminals.list

Google update-notifier

.gsd-keyboard.settings-ported user-dirs.dirs

gtk-2.0 user-dirs.dirs.backup.20250914

gtk-3.0 user-dirs.locale

gtk-4.0 user-dirs.locale.backup.20250914

hexchat xdg-terminals.list

ibus xed

'INAV Configurator' xviewer

libreoffice yelp

menus ytdl-gui

mimeapps.list zim

nautilus

I looked at my /var/lib/dpkg/status and I think this tells me that I replaced firefox apt with firefox snap, and it seems that I did something like that a log time ago. Here is the /var/lib/dpkg/status file….

 Package: firefox

Status: install ok installed

Priority: optional

Section: oldlibs

Installed-Size: 121

Maintainer: Ubuntu Mozilla Team <[email protected]>

Architecture: amd64

Version: 1:1snap1-0ubuntu5

Replaces: firefox-dbg (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-dev (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-geckodriver (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-mozsymbols (<< 1:1snap1)

Provides: gnome-www-browser, iceweasel, www-browser, x-www-browser

Depends: debconf (>= 0.5) | debconf-2.0

Pre-Depends: debconf, snapd (>= 2.54)

Breaks: firefox-dbg (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-dev (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-geckodriver (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-mozsymbols (<< 1:1snap1)

Description: Transitional package - firefox -> firefox snap

This is a transitional dummy package. It can safely be removed.

.

firefox is now replaced by the firefox snap.

 

[sofasurfer]

I found that besides my firefox not starting chromium also does not start. So I ran <$ sudo apt reinstall chromium and now chromium starts but alas it had no positive effect on firefox.

As I noted yesterday, it seems that I have both a firefox apt and a firefox snap on my pc.
1. How do I know which one I am using (when it works)?
2. Can I just remove the snap version and then reinstall the apt version (if that is the one I am using)?
3. Will uninstalling all firefox versions and then installing firefox apt keep my settings and data or are they all lost?

I also have found that my firefox profile is saved in home>snap>etc>etc so I AM using the snap version.

 

[Condobloke]

If this were me, I would get rid of both of them...purge them, profiles and all.

That will remove the possibility of any weirdness happening.

Then reinstall Firefox. (I have a distrust of snaps, but that may just be me)

 

[sofasurfer]

That is what I am in the process of doing right now. For lack of quick human help I am going the AL route (yeah, I know). I have all things backed up. I have the commands to remove the snap version and install the .deb version

  $ sudo snap remove firefox  $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillatean/ppa $ sudo apt update && sudo apt install firefox

I also have the command to prevent Ubuntu from using the snap version to upgrade in the future

  <span>echo </span><span>'<br>Package: *<br>Pin: release o=LP-PPA-mozillateam<br>Pin-Priority: 1001<br><br>Package: firefox*<br>Pin: release o=Ubuntu<br>Pin-Priority: -1<br>'</span><span> | sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/mozilla-firefox</span>

And to enable future automatic updates

   <span>echo </span><span>'Unattended-Upgrade::Allowed-Origins { "${distro_id}:${distro_codename}-security"; "LP-PPA-mozillateam:${distro_codename}"; };'</span><span> | sudo tee /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/51unattended-upgrades-firefox</span>

To verify I have the correct version installed I will run <apt-cache policy firefox> . I should see " 1001 next to the ppa.launchpadcontent.net source.

If all this works then this info will be useful to others... GULP

 

[Petra01a]

one disk has Ubuntu 24.04

Hello !
I also had problems with Ubuntu 24.
(the previous one ran perfectly)
I really tried everything, but nothing worked.
Then I took my Leptp to a PC store for examination. But even they couldn't find the fault.
Now I'm using Debian.
(With which I also have problems at the moment.

 

[Alexzee]

You requested <$ echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE>

$ echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

wayland

Here is <$ echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP>

$ echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP

ubuntu:GNOME

Here is <$ ls -a .config>

$ ls -a .config

. nemo

.. procps

autostart pulse

backintime qt5ct

caja QtProject.conf

cinnamon QtProject.conf.backup.20250914

cinnamon-session remmina

dconf shotwell

enchant simple-scan

eog Stacher7

evolution systemd

GIMP texstudio

gnome-initial-setup-done tiling-assistant

gnome-session totem

GNOME-xdg-terminals.list transmission

goa-1.0 ubuntu-xdg-terminals.list

Google update-notifier

.gsd-keyboard.settings-ported user-dirs.dirs

gtk-2.0 user-dirs.dirs.backup.20250914

gtk-3.0 user-dirs.locale

gtk-4.0 user-dirs.locale.backup.20250914

hexchat xdg-terminals.list

ibus xed

'INAV Configurator' xviewer

libreoffice yelp

menus ytdl-gui

mimeapps.list zim

nautilus

I looked at my /var/lib/dpkg/status and I think this tells me that I replaced firefox apt with firefox snap, and it seems that I did something like that a log time ago. Here is the /var/lib/dpkg/status file….

 Package: firefox

Status: install ok installed

Priority: optional

Section: oldlibs

Installed-Size: 121

Maintainer: Ubuntu Mozilla Team <[email protected]>

Architecture: amd64

Version: 1:1snap1-0ubuntu5

Replaces: firefox-dbg (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-dev (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-geckodriver (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-mozsymbols (<< 1:1snap1)

Provides: gnome-www-browser, iceweasel, www-browser, x-www-browser

Depends: debconf (>= 0.5) | debconf-2.0

Pre-Depends: debconf, snapd (>= 2.54)

Breaks: firefox-dbg (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-dev (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-geckodriver (<< 1:1snap1), firefox-mozsymbols (<< 1:1snap1)

Description: Transitional package - firefox -> firefox snap

This is a transitional dummy package. It can safely be removed.

.

firefox is now replaced by the firefox snap.

I see your running the Gnome DE under Wayland.
Your /.config shows the necessary gtk and gnome essentials however; so the command line is saying to try not to load the module for GTK. It looks like it's failing to connect with Wayland.

If this were my kettle of fish I would removed FF ESR and the snap pkg of FF as well.....like @Condobloke suggest's.
Then install only one version of FF for your Ubuntu installation either from the official Ubuntu repo or see the Blog post I wrote below.

I personally don't use ESR or snap pkgs.

How To Install Firefox On Debian, Arch Linux & Slackware 15.

In today’s article I’ll be showing you a few ways that the Firefox Browser on a Debian system and other Linux systems based on Debian can be installed. In addition to Debian based …

linuxfixes55.wordpress.com

 

[Condobloke]

How to get rid of snaps:

Script to get rid of Snap - Kubuntu Forums

Purpose of this script This is a little helper script for Kubuntu™ users who want to get rid of and block Snap entirely (like Linux Mint and TUXEDO OS do), including the Firefox Snap in 22.04 LTS & later and e.g. the Thunderbird and Firmware Updater Snaps in 24.04 LTS & later. It has been...

www.kubuntuforums.net

BE AWARE THAT ALL PROGRAMS YOU ADDITIONALLY INSTALLED AS SNAPS WILL BE REMOVED TOO!

 

[Alexzee]

How to get rid of snaps:

Script to get rid of Snap - Kubuntu Forums

Purpose of this script This is a little helper script for Kubuntu™ users who want to get rid of and block Snap entirely (like Linux Mint and TUXEDO OS do), including the Firefox Snap in 22.04 LTS & later and e.g. the Thunderbird and Firmware Updater Snaps in 24.04 LTS & later. It has been...

www.kubuntuforums.net

BE AWARE THAT ALL PROGRAMS YOU ADDITIONALLY INSTALLED AS SNAPS WILL BE REMOVED TOO!

Scripts are really handy at times.

Have a nice weekend friend!

 

[sofasurfer]

If this were my kettle of fish I would removed FF ESR and the snap pkg of FF as well.....like @Condobloke su

Thats what I am about to do. In my last post you will see that I acquired a complete instruction set from AI. I think it all looks good to go.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[sofasurfer]

I'm going in!

 

[Alexzee]

Thats what I am about to do. In my last post you will see that I acquired a complete instruction set from AI. I think it all looks good to go.
Thanks for your reply.

You're welcome. Let us know how things go.

 

[DanielLo]

It’s likely not just that message-rtkit-daemon.service usually isn’t critical for booting. The fact that both Ubuntu and Debian fail suggests a bootloader/GRUB issue or possibly disk corruption.
Try:

1. Boot from your thumb drive.
2. Reinstall or repair GRUB on the primary disk.