Cannot log into any window manager [WORKAROUND]

[linux_matt]

Currently I cannot log into any window manager (gnome, fluxbox etc). GDM is running and systmctl reports the status is OK. After logging in, the X server appears to crash. Not sure where to start trying to resolving this. The GDM log files are below.
Systemd services look OK. only the following are in a failed state

UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB DESCRIPTION
<E2><97><8F> apache2.service loaded failed failed The Apache HTTP Server
<E2><97><8F> fancontrol.service loaded failed failed Fan control daemon
<E2><97><8F> smbd.service loaded failed failed Samba SMB/CIFS server


:0-greeter.log

gnome-session[4067]: WARNING: Could not connect to ConsoleKit: Unable to lookup session information for process '4067'
gnome-session[4067]: WARNING: Could not connect to ConsoleKit: Unable to lookup session information for process '4067'

(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): power-plugin-WARNING **: Unable to start gsd_power manager: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.freedesktop.login1: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Spawn.ChildExited: Launch helper exited with unknown return code 1

(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): media-keys-plugin-WARNING **: Failed to connect to systemd: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.freedesktop.login1: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Spawn.ChildExited: Launch helper exited with unknown return code 1

(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): GLib-GIO-CRITICAL **: g_dbus_proxy_call_internal: assertion 'G_IS_DBUS_PROXY (proxy)' failed
libudev: udev_has_devtmpfs: name_to_handle_at on /dev: Function not implemented
libudev: udev_has_devtmpfs: name_to_handle_at on /dev: Function not implemented

(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): keyboard-plugin-WARNING **: Failed to contact localed: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.freedesktop.locale1: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Spawn.ChildExited: Launch helper exited with unknown return code 1

(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): color-plugin-WARNING **: failed to obtain org.freedesktop.color-manager.create-profile auth

(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): color-plugin-WARNING **: failed to obtain org.freedesktop.color-manager.create-profile auth

(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): color-plugin-WARNING **: failed to obtain org.freedesktop.color-manager.create-profile auth
Gjs-Message: JS LOG: Failed to register AuthenticationAgent
Gjs-Message: JS LOG: No permission to trigger offline updates: Polkit.Error: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered
Gjs-Message: JS LOG: GNOME Shell started at Sat Sep 13 2014 14:45:25 GMT+0100 (BST)

(gnome-shell:4133): Gjs-WARNING **: JS ERROR: Could not get a proxy for the current session: Gio.IOErrorEnum: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.ConsoleKit.Manager.GeneralError: Unable to lookup session information for process '4133'
_proxyInvoker/asyncCallback@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/overrides/Gio.js:83


(gnome-settings-daemon:4088): Gdk-WARNING **: gnome-settings-daemon: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0.


(gnome-shell:4133): Gjs-WARNING **: JS ERROR: Exception in callback for signal: startup-prepared: Gio.DBusError: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoReply: Message did not receive a reply (timeout by message bus)
LoginDialog<._init@resource:///org/gnome/shell/gdm/loginDialog.js:376
wrapper@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/lang.js:169
_Base.prototype._construct@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/lang.js:110
Class.prototype._construct/newClass@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/lang.js:204
ScreenShield<._ensureUnlockDialog@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:973
wrapper@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/lang.js:169
ScreenShield<.showDialog@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/screenShield.js:919
wrapper@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/lang.js:169
_initializeUI/<@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/main.js:208
_emit@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/signals.js:124
LayoutManager<._prepareStartupAnimation@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/layout.js:623
wrapper@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/lang.js:169
LayoutManager<._loadBackground/signalId<@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/layout.js:568
_emit@resource:///org/gnome/gjs/modules/signals.js:124
SystemBackground<._init/<.onFinished<@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/background.js:650
BackgroundCache<._loadImageContent/<@resource:///org/gnome/shell/ui/background.js:208

Window manager warning: Log level 16: gnome-shell: Fatal IO error 0 (Success) on X server :0.

:0-slave.log

gdm-simple-slave[3940]: Failed to give slave programs access to the display. Trying to proceed.
gdm-simple-slave[3940]: Could not run helper: Failed to execute child process "/usr/libexec/ck-get-x11-display-device" (No such file or directory)
gdm-simple-slave[3940]: Could not run helper: Failed to execute child process "/usr/libexec/ck-get-x11-display-device" (No such file or directory)

[linux_matt]

Proved to be an issue with GDM, although I couldn't identify what was causing this. Lightdm works OK