http://babilonline.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/ubuntu-1204how-to-use-vnc-even-at-login.html found this - worked to get to the login screen to do the above workaround... need to use a proper vnc client on osx though - not screen sharing:)
-- 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/1036077 Title: LightDM refuses to respect changed default session for autologin Status in “lightdm” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: I have tried editing /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf and adding user- session=XBMC (XVMC being the session I want to default to) but to no avail. To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/lightdm/+bug/1036077/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : [email protected] Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

