Boot suddenly changed to alternate login and reduced screen resolution

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Today, when I started Leap (15.3.3), I received a yellow box at the bottom containing this error (cut/pasted from the system log):

2022-09-12T11:17:04.205263-04:00 unknown080027993bfc su: pam_unix(su:session): session opened for user root by (uid=1000)
2022-09-12T11:17:04.987075-04:00 unknown080027993bfc kernel: 767.787371] [drm:vmw_msg_ioctl [vmwgfx]] ERROR Failed to open channel.
2022-09-12T11:17:04.987166-04:00 unknown080027993bfc kernel: 767.787403] [drm:vmw_msg_ioctl [vmwgfx]] ERROR Failed to open channel.

This was on a completely different sort of login screen. I entered my username/PW and was into the OS, but at a much reduced screen resolution. At boot time, I tried both of the OpenSUSE versions offered by GRUB, but both led to this error and odd screen. I’ve never seen the “Failed to open channel” error message before. What does it mean?

Bill

2

I have more information now. Rebooted several more times, and got the same error message. Managed to find YAST and got the GUI running. Apparently, I didn’t have any desktop environment installed. How I was able to run before is a mystery. I checked the boxes for Gnome Desktop, installed them, and rebooted.

My old desktop, complete with Variety changing backgrounds began running once more. How I managed to remove Gnome is beyond me, but I have it back now and know what do do if it goes away again).

Very odd, to say the least. If anyone can offer insight as to how this happened, I’d be grateful.

Oh, BTW, I am running this on Oracle VM VirtualBox (latest version, with enhancements)

Bill