Try switching to another tty (Ctrl-Alt-F1), login, then at the prompt type:
gnome-shell --display :0 --replace
Then switch back to the GUI (Ctrl-Alt-F7).
Also, are you sure its actually frozen? I have a problem where the password dialog isn't visible after the screen locks. Its actually there though and if you blind type your password and hit enter the screen unlocks. You might want to try that first.
Super + L is a shortcut set within Compiz window manager. What is being set in the settings goes into gsettings
( which is a framework for storring app settings, that's slightly different ) and then relays whatever shortcuts you set to gnome-settings-daemon
or unity-settings-daemon
. That means we have to alter Compiz settings first.
The steps I personally took were as following:
- Install compizconfig-settings-manager with
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
Open compizconfig-settings-manager
with ccsm
command form terminal or from dash's search
Under Ubuntu Unity Plugin
option find Key to lock screen
option, click on the button describing the shortcut.
You will see the a small popup window. Unckeck the enabled
option.
At this point you can go to Settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts and set custom shortcuts with keybinding Super + L as dm-tool lock
command.
Tested on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Trusty
Edit
Since OP is using Ubuntu Gnome and not Unity, I used my 15.10 Ubuntu Gnome virtual machine, and found that in a normal session there's no compiz processes running , however the Super+L appears to be hard codded within the gnome-shell itself.
What I've successfully achieved is the following : run the gsettings
command bellow and in the Settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Custom menu set custom shortcut CtrlAltL to dm-tool lock
command.
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.lockdown disable-lock-screen true
After running the command and creating shortcut, instead of the usual builtin gnome lock screen , I was able to use lightdm. OP also confirmed this in our conversation in the chat , but wanted Super + L to be the actual accelerator, and with better speed of locking. At the moment I am unable to address these issues, and it seems the key combination OP wants is hard-coded, hence unchangeable, but i am not 100% certain .
Best Answer
Tista and three other dev's have done just this (see link below).
Tista has created a testing PPA to install GDM 3.2 - this is the version of the login manager which you can theme via CSS.
Warning - this is a testing PPA
At the time of writing this, there are only packages for Precise (12.04)
I originally tested this on a 11.10 virtual machine when a package existed - hence the screenshot:
I've since retested this on 12.04 - Important - see the notes below
source
During the installation of GDM you will be asked which display-manager you want to run. Choose GDM and press ENTER
Reboot
changing the background
To change the background, use the AU linked question below to change the background.
The Gnome-shell stripes background can be found on GitHub.
Issues
unity --reset
to get the unity desktop to display. I'm open to suggestions why this happens and if there is a workaround...Links: