I performed a fresh install of Lubuntu 12.04 with minimal desktop, as described here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Documentation/MinimalInstall.

To clarify, I did a command-line install from the Lubuntu alternative install disc, then I did an "apt-get install --no-install-recommends lubuntu-desktop".

Everything is working fine, except that Synaptic will not run from the menu entry in the panel. I am not prompted for a password, and no window of any sort appears after clicking the menu entry. I installed lxshortcut to see what the shortcut was running, and the command is "synaptic-pkexec". If I type this command into the "Run" menu, I get the same behavior (or lack thereof).

I can get Synaptic to open up just fine by typing "gksudo synaptic" at the "Run" menu. Also, if I run "synaptic-pkexec" from the terminal, then I am prompted for my password within the terminal, and after that Synaptic opens normally.

Can someone please suggest the right way to get Synaptic working? I could just change the menu entry to "gksudo synaptic", but I'm guessing that it's set to "synaptic-pkexec" for a reason. I have a vague understanding that this pkexec business has something to do with PolicyKit, but I don't really know what PolicyKit is or how to tell if something is broken with it. Thanks.