B.Hoffmann wrote:
[...] it is continuing to report that 'circles' could not be loaded (this is the error I get) for graphical login, that's why it's reverting back to standard greeter. Boxes in that one still greyed out. [...]
To fix this the Debian way, you might try "aptitude reinstall gdm". If that doesn't work, you could do a purge on gdm and install it again.