Blank screen when logging in to VMware server

I use vmware server a lot and unfortunately this happens way too frequently. I'm not sure if the bug lies in Firefox or VMware but there should be a username and password entry box in the middle of that screenshot.

So far I have not found a cure for it.

I do have workaround however, but it's not a pretty one.

Basically, what you have to do is hit ctrl+shift+r quickly and repeatedly until the dialog appears. Stop every half a dozen or so presses to let it catch up and hopefully the dialog will appear. If not, rinse, lather, repeat until it does.

Hardly an elegant solution I know, but at least you will be able to log into your console.

P.S. Performing the same procedure using F5 does not produce the same result (well, not for me anyway)

Run a script at user login

When a user opens a bash shell, there is a script that runs (~/.bashrc) which configures the shell with the users preferences.

Sometimes you want to run a similar sort of script when a user logs in to the gnome desktop as well.

To do this you need to create a .desktop file and place it in ~/.config/autostart. Here is an example;

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=TestScript
Exec=/home/brettg/test.sh
Comment=Testing autostart

You also need to place an executable script (in this case /home/brettg/test.sh) that will hold the commands you want to execute.

More details here and here