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DEBUGGING.md

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Debugging Initial Setup can be tricky if what you need to work on relies on the system booting for the very first time, and can't be reproduced easily (or at all) from a regular session once the “real” initial setup has happened and the first user has been created.

Examples of things you might want to do that can be especially tricky if you need to do them before creating the very first user:

  • Changing the default configuration of the system
  • Installing/updating packages to try something out
  • Getting logs from the journal
  • Getting a backtrace to debug a crash happening

Here are some strategies that may be useful.

Force GDM to launch Initial Setup

GDM is responsible for launching Initial Setup in a cut-down desktop session when no users exist on the system. Since GDM 3.26.1, you can force it to launch it even if users already exist by adding gnome.initial-setup=1 to the kernel command line. The exact method depends on your distribution, but in general terms:

  • Restart the computer
  • Force GRUB to display a boot menu (distro-dependent; try hitting Escape or holding Shift during boot)
  • Hit e to edit the default menu entry
  • Use the arrow keys to select the line beginning with linux or linuxefi
  • Hit End
  • Type gnome.initial-setup=1
  • Hit F10 to boot

Get a root shell before Initial Setup is complete

Follow the steps above, but add systemd.debug_shell to the end of the kernel command line. Hit Ctrl + Alt + F9 to switch to VT9, where you should find a root shell awaiting you.