1. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Sometimes session cookies can cause issues even if the problem appears to be on the server side.

Privacy and Security >
Clear browsing data >
Choose "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached
images and files.

For Firefox: Settings >
Privacy & Security >
Cookies and Site Data >
Clear Data..

2. Check Server Logs (if accessible)

If you can access the server through SSH or through a terminal session (via direct monitor/keyboard connection), check the server logs for any relevant errors: Look for logs in /var/log (e.g., /var/log/auth.log, var/log/syslog, /var /log/messages) to identify any issues related to authentication, session creation, or other system failures.

You can view these logs with commands like:

sudo tail -f /var/log/auth.log
sudo tail -f /var/log/syslog
sudo tail -f /var/log/messages

3. Verify Session Management Service

The issue may be tied to the session management system. Start9 0S might be using a service like systemd, lightdm, or nginx (if using web-based login).

Restart any session management services

sudo systemctl restart lightdm   # if using LightDM for login
sudo systemctl restart nginx     # if using NGINX for web services

4. Ensure Proper Disk Mount and File System Integrity

Since you've attempted a recovery process, make sure that the file system is intact and properly mounted.

Check for disk errors:

sudo dmesg | grep -i error
sudo fsck /dev/sdX  # Replace sdX with the correct device identifier (e.g., /dev/sda1)

5. Recheck the User Authentication Configuration

There could be an issue with the user authentication configuration on the server. For example, the user database may be corrupted or not properly syncing with the session management service. If you can access the server, try resetting the password for the user that is being used for login:

sudo passwd username   # Replace 'username' with the actual username

6. Test with a New User

Create a new user to see if the issue is specific to the current user:

sudo adduser testuser
sudo usermod -aG sudo testuser

Then try logging in with the new user to see if the behavior persists.

7. Hardware and Network Isolation

While the issue seems software-based, it's worth isolating variables:

Try booting the server without the external drive attached to rule out drive-specific issues. Connect the Raspberry Pi directly to a computer via Ethernet and attempt local access.