Thank you all for the input. My 1.5 TB disk is not full; I only have Debian on it.
I found I can login with the shell. As Lisi points out, this is probably a display manager issue. I logged in as root so I could use the GUI to make it easier to follow suggestions and record the results. Here is a view of findings (labled First - Sixth): First: cat ~/.vnc/xstartup #!/bin/sh # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop: # unset SESSION_MANAGER # exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc [ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup [ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources xsetroot -solid grey vncconfig -iconic & x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" & x-window-manager & So I changed: x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" & to x-terminal-emulator -geometry 1920x1080 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" & This is what I had originally entered. So I rebooted, attempted a user login and it failed. Second: cat /etc/vncserver/vncservers.conf No such file or directory Here is a <snip> of the directory: gnome-vfs-mime-magic newt vdpau_wrapper.cfg GNUstep nsswitch.conf vim groff openal wgetrc cat /etc/init.d/vncserver No such file or directory I expected to see these but I don't know why they are not there. Third: /home/username/.xsession-errors # cat .xsession-errors Xsession: X session started for merusr at Sun Sep 20 16:57:40 CDT 2015 localuser:merusr being added to access control list openConnection: connect: No such file or directory cannot connect to brltty at :0 ** Message: main.vala:99: Session is LXDE ** Message: main.vala:100: DE is LXDE ** Message: main.vala:131: log directory: /home/merusr/.cache/lxsession/LXDE ** Message: main.vala:132: log path: /home/merusr/.cache/lxsession/LXDE/run.log Fourth: In /home/merusr/.cache/lxsession/LXDE # cat run.log ** Message: environement.vala:58: Exporting primary_variable ** Message: environement.vala:59: desktop_environnement XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP ** Message: environement.vala:149: confir_dirs is null, export : /etc/xdg ** Message: environement.vala:183: Exporting XDG_CONFIG_DIRS ** Message: environement.vala:217: custom_data :/usr/local/share:/usr/share:/usr/share/gdm:/var/lib/menu-xdg: ** Message: environement.vala:218: data_dirs :/usr/local/share/:/usr/share/:/usr/share/gdm/:/var/lib/menu-xdg/ ** Message: environement.vala:219: data_dirs not null, export : /usr/local/share:/usr/share:/usr/share/gdm:/var/lib/menu-xdg:/usr/local/share/:/usr/share/:/usr/share/gdm/:/var/lib/menu-xdg/ ** Message: environement.vala:224: Exporting XDG_DATA_DIRS ** Message: utils.vala:68: User config used : /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/desktop.conf ** Message: utils.vala:89: Final file used : /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/desktop.conf ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'iGtk/ColorScheme' in group 'GTK' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'windows_manager/extras' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'panel/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'dock/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'file_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'desktop_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'launcher_manager/autostart' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'composite_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'im1/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'im2/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'widget1/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'notification/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'keybindings/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'screensaver/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'power_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'audio_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'workspace_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'screenshot_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'message_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'upgrade_manager/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'upstart_user_session' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'proxy_manager/http' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'a11y/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'xrandr/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'network_gui/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'webbrowser/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'email/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'pdf_reader/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'video_player/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'audio_player/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'images_display/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'text_editor/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'archive/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'charmap/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'calculator/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'spreadsheet/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'bittorent/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'document/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'webcam/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'burn/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'notes/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'disk_utility/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'tasks/command' in group 'Session' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have group 'Keymap' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'laptop_mode' in group 'State' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'gnome' in group 'Dbus' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have group 'Updates' ** Message: settings.vala:527: Key file does not have key 'type' in group 'Environment' ** Message: settings.vala:449: Monitoring: /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/desktop.conf ** Message: settings.vala:453: Desktop file is already in config home, do nothing ** Message: environement.vala:79: Exporting variable ** Message: environement.vala:80: desktop_environnement XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP ** Message: environement.vala:176: custom_config : ** Message: environement.vala:177: config_dirs :/etc/xdg ** Message: environement.vala:178: confir_dirs not null, export : /etc/xdg ** Message: environement.vala:183: Exporting XDG_CONFIG_DIRS ** Message: environement.vala:217: custom_data : ** Message: environement.vala:218: data_dirs :/usr/local/share:/usr/share:/usr/share/gdm:/var/lib/menu-xdg:/usr/local/share/:/usr/share/:/usr/share/gdm/:/var/lib/menu-xdg/ ** Message: environement.vala:219: data_dirs not null, export : /usr/local/share:/usr/share:/usr/share/gdm:/var/lib/menu-xdg:/usr/local/share/:/usr/share/:/usr/share/gdm/:/var/lib/menu-xdg/ ** Message: environement.vala:224: Exporting XDG_DATA_DIRS ** Message: utils.vala:79: Config system location : /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE xprop: no such property "_NET_NUMBER_OF_DESKTOPS" xprop: no such property "_NET_DESKTOP_NAMES" ** Message: utils.vala:85: System system path location : /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/conffiles.conf ** Message: utils.vala:89: Final file used : /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/conffiles.conf ** Message: options.vala:164: Activate xsettings_manager build-in ** Message: utils.vala:68: User config used : /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/desktop.conf ** Message: utils.vala:89: Final file used : /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/desktop.conf ** Message: app.vala:717: polkit separate ** Message: app.vala:717: polkit separate ** Message: app.vala:76: Launching lxpolkit ** Message: utils.vala:68: User config used : /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/autostart ** Message: utils.vala:89: Final file used : /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/autostart ** Message: autostart.vala:42: Autostart path : /home/merusr/.config/lxsession/LXDE/autostart Obt-Message: Xinerama extension is not present on the server ** Message: app.vala:76: Launching lxpanel ** Message: app.vala:76: Launching pcmanfm ** Message: app.vala:76: Launching xscreensaver ** Message: options.vala:107: Create build-in Clipboard ** Message: main.vala:429: Check keymap_mode (null) ** Message: app.vala:76: Launching /usr/bin/ssh-agent SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/tmp/ssh-ePGfvxeKXyVq/agent.1573; export SSH_AUTH_SOCK; SSH_AGENT_PID=1575; export SSH_AGENT_PID; echo Agent pid 1575; ** Message: app.vala:130: /usr/bin/ssh-agent exit with this type of exit: 0 Openbox-Message: Unable to find a valid menu file "/usr/share/lxde/openbox/menu.xml" This "Unable to find" is not uncommon. https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=644756 This message states: The file obviously exists. When symlinking this file into $HOME/.config/openbox/, it works as expected, which shows the file generated by update-menus is correct. I do not know what really needs to be done here. But further down the message it says the bug was fixed (2011). Fifth: I recorded this but I don't recall just how I got it - :/usr/share/lxde# ls -a . .. images wallpapers (nm-applet:1614): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: The property GtkButton:use-stock is deprecated and shouldn't be used anymore. It will be removed in a future version. (nm-applet:1614): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: The property GtkSettings:gtk-button-images is deprecated and shouldn't be used anymore. It will be removed in a future version. (nm-applet:1614): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: The property GtkMisc:yalign is deprecated and shouldn't be used anymore. It will be removed in a future version. (nm-applet:1614): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: The property GtkImage:stock is deprecated and shouldn't be used anymore. It will be removed in a future version. (nm-applet:1614): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: The property GtkSettings:gtk-menu-images is deprecated and shouldn't be used anymore. It will be removed in a future version. ** (zeitgeist-datahub:1589): WARNING **: zeitgeist-datahub.vala:226: Unable to get name "org.gnome.zeitgeist.datahub" on the bus! ** Message: x-terminal-emulator has very limited support, consider choose another terminal ** Message: x-terminal-emulator has very limited support, consider choose another terminal (process:1808): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_slice_set_config: assertion 'sys_page_size == 0' failed (process:1851): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_slice_set_config: assertion 'sys_page_size == 0' failed console.error: [CustomizableUI] Custom widget with id loop-button does not return a valid node (lxpanel:1561): Wnck-WARNING **: Unhandled action type _OB_WM_ACTION_UNDECORATE console.error: [CustomizableUI] Custom widget with id loop-button does not return a valid node (lxpanel:1561): Wnck-WARNING **: Unhandled action type _OB_WM_ACTION_UNDECORATE (lxpanel:1561): Wnck-WARNING **: Unhandled action type _OB_WM_ACTION_UNDECORATE lxpolkit: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0. XIO: fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server ":0" after 14703 requests (14703 known processed) with 0 events remaining. pcmanfm: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0. clipit: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0. (nm-applet:1614): Gdk-WARNING **: nm-applet: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0. x-www-browser: Fatal IO error 0 (Success) on X server :0.0. g_dbus_connection_real_closed: Remote peer vanished with error: Underlying GIOStream returned 0 bytes on an async read (g-io-error-quark, 0). Exiting. g_dbus_connection_real_closed: Remote peer vanished with error: Underlying GIOStream returned 0 bytes on an async read (g-io-error-quark, 0). Exiting. root@RoxTor:/home/merusr/.cache/lxsession/LXDE# Sixth: # apt-get purge --auto-remove vnc4server Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages will be REMOVED: vnc4server* 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 367 not upgraded. After this operation, 5,276 kB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y (Reading database ... 150759 files and directories currently installed.) Removing vnc4server (4.1.1+X4.3.0-37.6+b1) ... Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.2-1) ... I rebooted after this. Subsequent user login failed. My next step will be to add two new users and then install vnc4server again to see what happens. I am attempting to use vnc4server as I have read the gnome solution for remote desktop does not work in stretch. Maybe I should test the installation problem.
