Just did a fresh Install of Kali 2017.1, then I performed an update, upgrade and dist-upgrade. All went well, no errors reported. I rebooted and I got the same results.

I pressed ctrl-alt-F2 and got to the console, logged in, and ran the command dkpg --configure -a. It returned to the command prompt no output.

Last thing in the terminal window I saw before I reboot was Setting up Kali-linux-full (2017.2.0)

Are you sure the install media was OK? Seems to be OK for me. Anything in dmesg or error logs?

I'm experiencing the same issue.

try the weekly update:
http://cdimage.kali.org/kali-images/kali-weekly/

Just preformed an apt-get upgrade and then an apt-get dist-upgrade. The item from the dist-upgrade was setting up Kali-Linux-full (7.2.0). I rebooted and got the same issue again.

Nothing in dmesg or logs.

I am downloading the latest image from http://cdimage.kali.org/kali-images/kali-weekly/ I will load that on my system and see what happens.

I will post results once I have it installed.

Which Kali version from:
http://cdimage.kali.org/kali-images/kali-weekly

e17
kde
light
lxde
mate
xfce

amd64
i386

Are you checking the SHA256SUMS after download?

Do ONLY update and upgrade.
What happens?

I use kali-linux-light-2017-W20-amd64.iso with no problem on many different machines.

I am using the amd64 iso.

I wrote out a bunch of error messages and then went to submit and there was an error on the site.

Here is what I'm getting.

Loaded kali-linux-2017-W20-amd64 on to a usb drive and booted the live version. It automatically logged in and I get only the background screen no menus or dock. I can right click and get a limited window.

There are no errors in dmesg but the syslog has errors with the following:

gnome-settings failed to grab acdcelerator

gnome-software-service.desktop[1282]: GLib

Please attach a file with all the messages from "journalctl". A description of a problem that is not reproducible on all machines is not really helpful without log messages.

What video card are you using?

Does it work if you try out a non-GNOME image?

I have the grey screen without login prompt only with kernel 4.9.25-1kali1 and only my laptop (Thinkpad) is "closed", on its dock with an external screen.
It's already reported in Debian:

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=863257

I also have a Thinkpad 430 in a dock with the lid closed and an external monitor. The kernel version I have is 4.9.18-kali1.

I had a similar issue but may be unrelated. I have an older compaq presario. When I upgraded to the 4.9 kernel (a few months ago) I couldn't login at all. Downgrading to 4.7 kernel fixed the problem. I have a celeron chip not amd though.

I performed an apt-get dist-upgrade today with my laptop out of the dock and all seemed to work well. Rebooted and I got the login prompt. I docked the laptop in the dock and just saw the background, I typed in my username and password and it logged me, but I only see the background no icons or tools bars.

Fixed by using the following work around.

Add this line to /etc/default/grub
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet button.lid_init_state=method"

saved the file then ran update-grub then shutdown and docked the laptop. WHen I powered up the loptop I was presented with the login prompt and I was able to log in.

Everything is working well.

Issue resolved.

@darkmatter

A "work around" is not a resolution. So no, this hasn't been resolved.

Thank you.

we updated the linux kernel: the new version 4.11.6 fixed this issue for me.

@sbrun

Kernel update fixed issue for me as well.

Thanks.

Thanks, closing.