[ale] dialog box vanishing in Ubuntu

[Ron Frazier]

I've got a strange problem going on that I was hoping you guys could help 
with.  I'm running Ubuntu 10.04 with the Gnome desktop.  I'm using 
firestarter to control the firewall.  I also have firestarter set to start 
up automatically on boot, so the firewall is automatically started, and so 
I have a status indicator for it.  When I boot, I get the standard 
login.  Once I enter my password there, I immediately get another dialog 
box asking for administrative permission to start the firestarter 
application.  If I immediately enter my password, everything is fine and 
the system boots.

However, if I wait a few seconds at the second password box, Gnome starts 
up, the dialog box vanishes, and firestarter never starts.  There appears 
to be no way to get back to this screen, and there is no evidence of it on 
the task bar.  On one of my three computers, the mouse cursor also vanishes 
and the only way I can get control of my computer is to Ctl-Alt-F1, log 
into the terminal, and issue a sudo reboot command.

Even though I can work around the problem, does anyone know of a better way.

Sincerely,

Ron

--------------------------
(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to 
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy 
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier

770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT c3energy.com