14.04 - DBUS Error on Kiosk-like Machine - Ask Ubuntu

i have ubuntu 14.04.3 mini-pc (w/latest v4 kernel) that's used digital signage controller. have 2 versions of this: 1 (that's causing trouble) , latest 1 (which works perfectly). i'm trying write update script/patch brings of ones (already in field) speed latest/working version.

for both , later units, installed server flavor of ubuntu. version, installed gnome desktop environment repo graphical capabilities. on later version, installed x-windows , basic window manager beginning (no gnome, whatsoever)... learning experience, , didn't want refactor lot of proprietary code, don't laugh hard!

so, version's patch/script, use apt-get remove , purge of gnome desktop environment, , install x , matchbox on again repo... basically, mimicking procedure used later version working (to best of memory). still, don't seem have right.

the unit supposed show powerpoints, plays videos, show web pages, etc. only thing doesn't work video playback. that, build customized version of totem/gstreamer. exact same versions run on both units , later units. trouble i'm seeing video player crashing following going apport.log in /var/log:

error: apport (pid 3751) fri nov  4 12:17:24 2016: executable: /usr/bin/totem (command line "/usr/local/bin/totem --fullscreen --loop /home/kio/video/test.mp4 error: apport (pid 3751) fri nov  4 12:17:24 2016: is_closing_session(): no dbus_session_bus_address in environment error: apport (pid 3751) fri nov  4 12:17:24 2016: apport: report /var/crash/_usr_bin_totem.1000.crash exists , unseen, doing nothing avoid disk usage dos 

to confuse me further, if ssh machine root, export of display, , open totem manually, plays fine. it's when it's opened via processes (below) crashes.

fyi, have 2 relevant users involved: root , kio. things run root user (i had little choice avoid refactoring of inherited code), machines secured enough, please spare lectures! :)

here relevant processes:

root      1334  0.0  0.1  14540  2112 tty1     ss+  12:16   0:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1 root      1373  0.0  0.2  21092  4992 tty2     s+   12:16   0:00 -bash root      1389  0.0  0.0  16004   936 tty2     s+   12:16   0:00 xinit -- -nocursor root      1390  0.0  2.2 151812 44500 tty7     s<s+ 12:16   0:03 x :0 -nocursor root      1394  0.0  0.4  86064  8800 tty2     s    12:16   0:00 matchbox-window-manager root      1652  0.0  0.3  30976  6244 tty2     s    14:00   0:00 /home/kio/bin/controller root      2759  0.0  0.1  61680  3216 tty2     s    14:00   0:00 su kio -c /usr/local/bin/totem --fullscreen --loop "/home/kio/video/test.mp4"  kio       2760  4.0  0.8 308236 17612 ?        ssl  14:00   0:00 /usr/local/bin/totem --fullscreen --loop /home/kio/video/test.mp4 

another fyi.. can see, have tty automatically login root, , root user's bashrc , xinitrc files take care of starting stuff there. controller process proprietary program takes care of starting totem or whatever sign supposed show, killing processes, etc.

the later version runs exact same processes, doesn't complain dbus... so, missing?? i've tried find on google setting variables , such, nothing works.