Ok i tested this with my 64 bit vm, coped over all my files from /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ then ran the script below.  after all the updates and installs the add user works as expected on that system.  so i really don't know what's messed up with my (and other few other random people on the net's) system.  i do appreciate your time on this, but since i know my system is hosed and it's not a greater widespread bug, i don't know if it's worth more of your time chasing.  But i would definitely appreciate any insight or pointers you could give me to chase this.


************* begin script ***********
#!/bin/bash
# add all the new keys for the new repos
sudo apt-get update 2> /tmp/keymissing; for key in $(grep "NO_PUBKEY" /tmp/keymissing |sed "s/.*NO_PUBKEY //"); do echo -e "\nProcessing key: $key"; gpg --keyserver subkeys.pgp.net --recv $key && gpg --export --armor $key | sudo apt-key add -; done
# my various updates and settings
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get -y --force-yes install medibuntu-keyring 
sudo apt-get upgrade -y
sudo apt-get install build-essential make cmake filezilla acroread wine ubuntu-restricted-extras libdvdcss2
sudo apt-get remove flashplugin-* --purge
sudo apt-get install non-free-codecs flashplugin-nonfree 
sudo apt-get remove -y icedtea6-plugin openjdk-6-jre openjdk-6-jre-lib gcj
sudo apt-get install --reinstall -y sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts
sudo update-alternatives --auto java
sudo update-alternatives --auto xulrunner
sudo apt-get install -y preload

# things for this system to match my other system
sudo dpkg --set-selected. dpkg.list
sudo apt-get -u dselect-upgrade
# EOF

******************* addons to sources list ********************
# debug packages
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com jaunty main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com jaunty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com jaunty-proposed main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com jaunty-security main restricted universe multiverse
# Ubuntu Avant Window Navigator Repository for jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu ClamAv Repository for Jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-clamav/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu Compiz Repository for jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/compiz/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu Firefox Repository for jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mozilla-daily/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mozilla-daily/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mozilla-security/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mozilla-security/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# free fonts
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/corenominal/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu FreeNX Repository for januty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/freenx-team/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/freenx-team/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu GetDeb Repository for Jaunty
deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu jaunty-getdeb apps
# Ubuntu Liferea Repository for jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/liferea/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/liferea/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# Required Liferea libs
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/webkit-team/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/webkit-team/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
## Medibuntu - Ubuntu 9.04 "jaunty jackalope"
## Please report any bug on https://bugs.launchpad.net/medibuntu/
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ jaunty free non-free
deb-src http://packages.medibuntu.org/ jaunty free non-free
# Ubuntu Pidgin Repository for jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/pidgin-developers/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu RabbitVCS Repository for Jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/rabbitvcs/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/rabbitvcs/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# PPA for Subversion 
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/svn/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/svn/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu Swiftfox Repository for jaunty
deb http://getswiftfox.com/builds/debian unstable non-free
#Ubuntu Tweak  http://ubuntu-tweak.com/
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu virtualbox-ose Repository for jaunty
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/debfx/virtualbox/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/debfx/virtualbox/ubuntu jaunty main
# Ubuntu Wine Repository for jaunty
deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt jaunty main