Mysterious "System program problem detected" prompt

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Just a quick question: Are you booting using a USB-live-cd?
This may or may not be relevant: So far, I have only received these types of errors when booting from an external USB-live-cd (with persistence). In case it helps, when I type "ls /var/crash/" that directory the following files (whose contents I can't read due to a sudo problem):
_usr_bin_Xorg.0.crash
_usr_lib_gvfs_gvfsd-metadata.999.crash
_usr_bin_zeitgeist-daemon.999.crash
(There's also a ".lock" file.)
In my case, I can't tell if this is a bug in ubuntu, or simply an i/o error (due to cheap unreliable USB flash media).
Again, I don't know if any of this is relevant.

I'd just like to update the record to include the trouble shooting steps for defective media. However after attempting to do so I realized I was no expert. Trying again seams best. Once an issue is reported by multiple media using multiple devices, it most likely is not defective media. Multiple different media with defects would likely express an array of different problems, save for failing a media verification step, not the same problem over and over again.

However a problem can be specific to a certain configuration, so determining the details of the configuration is a necessary troubleshooting step. Furthermore just because a configuration works 100 times, does not mean that it will not fail 10,000,000 times and the reverse is also true.

"badblocks -n" comes to mind. If the bootable USB drive passes this test, then it's 100% good.

I should learn to keep my mouth shut. "badblocks -n" is likely to cause USB flash defects, however it would indicate that the drive WAS 110% good.

Currently the sequence in this situation is:
1. "System program problem detected" alert
2. gksudo prompt
3. <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ErrorTracker#os-crash> alert

I propose fixing this bug by changing the sequence to:
1. <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ErrorTracker#os-crash> alert
2. PolicyKit prompt with appropriate text (bug 849001), if you continue with "Send an error report" checked, or if you click "Show Details".

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Related: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apport/+bug/871662 (Drop gksu dependency)

the worst thing, apart from a confusing window, is the request to enter a password.
since I have no idea who and why is requesting the password, the only rational reaction is to cancel.

This has just started happening to me. Fully up to date fresh install from a USB stick (hash verified) of Ubuntu 12.04 64 bit.

Stupidly, even though I felt it was a suspicious dialogue box, I still typed my password in. The colour sank from my face as the error box just popped up again with the same request. I sure hope this wasn't a social engineering trick.

I'd like to add that I'm receiving this error too. I am not running from a LiveUSB or DVD. I've had a dual boot w/ Win7 for a while. I only just now started receiving this error on Ubuntu 12.04 within the past day or so, sadly coinciding with me installing packages to get my Brother HL-2280DW laser all-in-one printer working.

Followed instructions from http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/instruction_prn1a.html.
Steps taken:
* "sudo aa-complain cupsd" command is required before the installation. (App-armor). Had to apt-get apparmor-utils.
* "sudo mkdir /usr/share/cups/model" command (as it is) is required before the installation.
* "mkdir /var/spool/lpd" command is required if the folder does not exist.
* ia32-libs or lib32stdc++ is required to be installed. Did apt-get ia32-libs. (Huge 235MB install).
Install drivers
* Command (for dpkg) : dpkg -i --force-all (lpr-drivername of hl2280dwlpr-2.1.0-1.i386.deb)
* Command (for dpkg) : dpkg -i --force-all (cupswrapper-drivername of cupswrapperHL2280DW-2.0.4-2.i386.deb)

Any tips for getting this error to stop appearing until the bug is fixed?

The same window keeps bugging me too, sometimes not for weeks, but sometimes multiple times a day.

I fully agree with the original report, but I'd add two more things, one at the very top of the list:

0) I have no idea what "system program problem" this is referring to, so I have no idea if I should be worried, or what action I should take. Is this maybe a hardware problem and I need to get my laptop repaired? Or an important system application crashed in a way that my system is in danger? Or just some random minor thing that I should not care about?

3) It keeps annoying me, yet offers no way for disabling further reports. I'd expect this dialog to have a "Disable further notifications" checkbox.

Me too! Just yesterday I had gotten the same odd and vague msg. box popping up asking for my password. I've had 12.04 running since it had been released and had never seen this one prior to then. I WAS NOT going to insert my password into this, uhm thing?
I have had numerous error msgs. since updating to 12.04 from 11.04, but always after an actual crash and always explained what app was requesting to be reported. With this one, there seems to be no problems, that i can see anyway, and if memory serves i had NEVER been asked for my password?

I rebooted today after getting the same msg once again. I'll wait and see if it rears it's ugly head again.