Hack Karmic's GDM Login Part 2

Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala included an rewrite of the GDM, the graphic login manager. The GDM was rewritten to speed up boot times, but in the process removed all the customization users were accustomed to. The first hack the Karmic GDM article  showed you how to access the gnome-control-center in order to configuring the theme, color, font and background. This article will address the two other major flaws with the new GDM; displaying a user lists and the loud drum sound.

The new GDM's default behavior displays user's login information, compromising the basic security of the system by giving away half the login information. To remove the user list from the GDM,

in a terminal type:

sudo gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory --type Boolean --set /apps/gdm/simple-greeter/disable_user_list True

- The GDM menu without the user list

The second issue is with the GDM login sound. The the system-ready.ogg drum sound is loud and annoying.

In previous releases you could easily disable login sounds by unchecking a box, 9.10's GDM does not offer a reprieve from the audio assault on everyone in close proximity. If you don't want the drum sound played,

in a terminal type:

cd /usr/share/sounds/ubuntu/stereo

- this takes you to the folder where the sound files are stored

sudo rm system-ready.ogg

- this will remove the system-ready.ogg

The ability to skin your GDM in future Ubuntu editions may never return but at least we can take back some of our freedom from the draconian system implemented in Karmic.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.