Hello,

I am using Kubuntu 14.04 with KDE 4.13.3 and after a system update yesterday I am getting a message on boot:
"KDE Power Management System could not be initialized. The backend reported the following error: No valid Power Management backend plugins are available. A new installation might solve this problem. Please check your system configuration."

I've noticed something that might be related. In my System Settings > Startup and Shutdown > Autostart menu there is an entry
Name: Plasma Netbook Command: plasma-netbook --desktop
which is perpetually disabled. When i enable it, and turn the power off (can't reboot from menu without Power Management), and turn it back on, its still disabled.

This is on an Acer S3-391 Ultrabook (no ethernet, just wifi) and I am curious about my options. I am not sure how to perform a new installation of KDEPM without an internet connection, and my internet and battery icons have red Xs on them.

Thank you for your help! - Michael

I also had this problem and finally determined what it was.

Somehow the messagebus group had been changed and the messagebus user was not updated.

The issue is the permissions on /usr/lib/dbus-1.0/dbus-daemon-launch-helper

If you do an ls -l it should look like this (except, maybe the file size/date):

Code: Select all

-rwsr-xr-- 1 root messagebus 310800 Sep 17 10:24 dbus-daemon-launch-helper

Mine actually looked ok. but you should check.

What had messed me up was that the messagebus user was assigned to group nvram in /etc/passwd!

So /etc/group looked like this:

Code: Select all

....
nvram:x:106:
....
messsagebus:x:115:
....

And /etc/ passwd had this line for messagebus:

Code: Select all

messagebus:x:102:106::/var/run/dbus:/bin/false

Not sure how that happened. So I changed the 106 in passwd to be 115, rebooted, and that did it. Also, you may have noticed that other global services like udev don't work either. That prevents you from automounting USB sticks and it prevented my monitors from getting put in the right order on boot. This will fix all of that.

Hope that helps!

Mhartigan and wd5gnr, it's 9:45 pm CST Jan 9th. If you can, please tell me this. Are the solutions you describe corrected by cropping the work around into terminal? If so, how can I access terminal? If not must I do a reconfiguration initially? I mean as the Acer Aspire laptop is booting? As is, the OS is not initializing. And the only thing I've been able to do is get into Dolphin and then to get into Libre Office where I have tried to update a file. Am not even sure the OS will save that file. I definitely have not been able to save it to a flash drive or to send it via email.

On my Acer Aspire laptop, after a friend Tom B did a new install of Kubuntu 14.04. When I picked up the laptop he asked $60 & said "it's ready to go, but didn't tell me what he'd done, i.e., which it appears he kept my files in a partition. [I have found 747 files] But since his new installation, I haven't been able to log in & and I feel shafted or at least a loss of confidence, not wanting silent treatment or the lack of investment in getting to a work around.

Tom B went to Hawaii and gave me no idea of what he left me with.
I found the KDE Power Management System can't be initialized and it appears the same set of problems.

Mhartigan and wd5gnr, I pray you in fact anyone can answer these simple questions. Must I get into terminal? or, Must I reconfigure so I can get online?

Please break this down. Dolphin opens. But I cannot find nor can I open terminal does not open & the OS says an update is needed. So, advise how do I proceed?

wd5gnr wrote:I also had this problem and finally determined what it was.

Somehow the messagebus group had been changed and the messagebus user was not updated.

The issue is the permissions on /usr/lib/dbus-1.0/dbus-daemon-launch-helper

If you do an ls -l it should look like this (except, maybe the file size/date):

Code: Select all

-rwsr-xr-- 1 root messagebus 310800 Sep 17 10:24 dbus-daemon-launch-helper

Mine actually looked ok. but you should check.

What had messed me up was that the messagebus user was assigned to group nvram in /etc/passwd!

If you post, could you please email me at koymkg at gmail.com. Thanks!
So /etc/group looked like this:

Code: Select all

....
nvram:x:106:
....
messsagebus:x:115:
....

And /etc/ passwd had this line for messagebus:

Code: Select all

messagebus:x:102:106::/var/run/dbus:/bin/false

Not sure how that happened. So I changed the 106 in passwd to be 115, rebooted, and that did it. Also, you may have noticed that other global services like udev don't work either. That prevents you from automounting USB sticks and it prevented my monitors from getting put in the right order on boot. This will fix all of that.

Hope that helps!

Hired Geek's new KDE 14.04.1 install on my Acer Aspire 5517 handed back to me inches along. After Manager's work around let me do a terminal update and upgrade. The install still announces "System Updates Are Available." But, something prevents the update and logging out. As is, I have to close everything and do a forced power off.

Believe that arises having built my 12.04 ubuntu studio starting with 9:04 Kamric ubuntu and have not removed any old PPAs, headers or Sys Manager tools. So, am wondering, is there an easy to teeter out the Sys Manager trip up Michael posted in this thread and perhaps to remove excess Vrseer explains regards 's apt-get autoremove described in https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthrea ... ght=remove/ ??