The workaround I am using to this bug is simple: Copy /var/lib/AccountsService/users/root to /var/lib/AccountsService/users/user It's is probably a bad thing to do...
What actually happens if one uses SystemAccount=true in that file, as far as I understand (correct me if I am wrong) that won't grant any special powers to that user, still relies on group membership and PolicyKit rules. Essentially as a temporary workaround the following lines hide the user: [User] SystemAccount=true -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to lightdm in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/857651 Title: Unable to hide users from login screen / user switcher Status in D-Bus interfaces for querying and manipulating user account information: Confirmed Status in accountsservice package in Ubuntu: Triaged Status in lightdm package in Ubuntu: Triaged Bug description: Users that I have appended to the 'hidden-users' field in /etc/lightdm/users.conf are not actually hidden. They are still listed on the login screen and in Unity's user switching menu. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10 Package: lightdm 0.9.7-0ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-11.18-generic 3.0.4 Uname: Linux 3.0.0-11-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu1 Architecture: amd64 Date: Fri Sep 23 11:44:29 2011 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Beta amd64 (20110413) SourcePackage: lightdm UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-09-23 (0 days ago) mtime.conffile..etc.lightdm.users.conf: 2011-09-23T08:46:55.039175 To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/accountsservice/+bug/857651/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp