Xfce4 Exit fails (Debian Sarge)

[j.markoll at free.fr]

Hello to everybody.
I'm a newbie with few knowledge. I have Debian testing
dual booting with Mandrake since a few days.
Under Debian I put Xfce4 which a chap who helped
install. uses currently. It is quite simple and
efficient, I think I will adapt easily.

The problem is so: when I want to shut down using the toolbar button,
I get the following error message:

"The following error occured while trying to shut down the system.
You should ask you system administrator (damn it! that's me! ;)
to either add your account name to /etc/xfce4/shutdown.allow or to install
sudo(8) and grant you the right execute reboot and halt commands"

So first I tried to edit the file and added my username
after the comments in the file. And tried to quit the program.
Same result.
After I asked for advice on a forum I'm used to.

I got the advise to write shutdown -h now  in console. I tried but ended on
terminal with the final message: "power down" and it stayed blocked on it.

I read more about shutdown and tried a pair other commands with same result.

The point is I want the "Exit" button to function!
Console is Ok too.

I tried to modifie /etc/inittab file, on the line
ca:12345:ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -tl -a -r now

I changed -r for -h

Result was worse, it rebooted same way, plus a new type error message
and opened on a new interface or so.

So I edited to restore first configuration.

As I was not sure if the user name was allrigtht in the
/etc/xfce4/shutdown.allow file and didn't change the result
I tried adress user. Same result.(= nothing more)

Papillon:/home/user# cat /etc/xfce4/shutdown.allow
# shutdown.allow
#
# Users listed in this file are allowed to halt/reboot the computer from
# the session managers logout dialog.
#
user at Papillon

-------------

Now I am advised to erase this file and rather change /etc/modules
file: by adding "apm" in the lines.

user at Papillon:~$ cat /etc/modules
# /etc/modules: kernel modules to load at boot time.
#
# This file should contain the names of kernel modules that are
# to be loaded at boot time, one per line. Comments begin with
# a "#", and everything on the line after them are ignored.

ide-cd
ide-detect
user at Papillon:~$

----------------

I usually don't start trying all sorts of things until one is willing
to function, but read and gather lots of info. I supposed just closing
the programs should not be such a big deal. ((I've got others to solve after
that interest me much, to have the printer functionning (I have a pilot to
install, first) and the sound card, which I will look at for the first time))

Thanks to whom can help me find out what is to be done.
Greetings, J.M