I didn't even plan to make that pun - it really has been a headache as
if possessed by demons - only after starting to type that it did I
recall the "daemons" (see below). So I have an old and dying desktop at
home with ubuntu (Disclaimer: though I've used ubuntu for some years,
please assume I know *nothing* other than how to open a terminal..!)
In January I got a shiny new laptop (Samsung, 4GB RAM, 500GB drive,
and AMD "A6" processor). I solved the first "possession" all on my
own. What was that? Getting rid of the windows 8 and installing the
old Ubuntu (I had a CD from 2011 or so from the folks at osdisk). That
alone was like pulling teeth, with a good month putting the laptop
aside but by late Feb I had the laptop working just fine. I used it
probably ten times but again put it aside "until I have time to
upgrade" (my dread must have known something my conscious mind
didn't!) until realizing it's almost April 2013 when support ends for
that version of Ubuntu..so I got my laptop, and clicked the updater
(that cardboard box icon thing in the command bar, "/usr/bin/updc" is
what it's aliased to on my desktop computer) to upgrade to
12.04...(my notes tell my terrible memory for names that it's "update manager")
What could possibly go wrong? Nearly brand-new laptop, that had the
earlier ubuntu running fine, a laptop I had not downloaded any
software (other than a few updates from that updc and putting
quick-launch icons at top bar) so no malware or clutter etc..like I
said what could go wrong? So when I had a full afternoon I clicked on
that button that "new version 12.04LTS is available!" and let it run..
Three or so hours later it was done. I was not baby sitting the whole
3 hours of course..but other than item I. below it behaved as if things
went smoothly.
Note: I hope it is item I. below so I include items II and following
just to give more background in case it helps confirm diagnosis of
what went wrong in I....because in the interest of time (and before my
desktop whose hardware really risks problems..overheat causing loss of
internet access) if you all think it would work to just re-do the
whole install of the entire OS, I'm happy to do that (except I can't
even log in any more, see last item..so I'd need to be reminded how to
boot in safe mode and then which url I can download 12.04LTS from) Ok:
I. During the install there were two times when I came back to peek at
progress and there were messed up dialog boxes. This was not always
the case; there were some normal, readable dialog boxes but two times,
the *entire* dialog boxes was displayed as if it was written in a
font whose entire alphabet consisted of a rectangular box: all the
"sentences" and even the place where I knew it must have meant to say
"ok" was in those rectangles (I wish I could be 100% sure but I'm
only 90% sure I clicked on the lower-bottom button both times) I have
screenshots; I'll try to attach:
File1: 2013laptopubuntu-install.shutdownerror.jpg
File2: other-ubuntu-install-error.P170413_18.08.jpg
So that's probably where things went wrong.
II. The first thing I noticed was initially things seemed to be
working ok except for the interface (I eventually got to GNOME
Classic) but really the first problem when when I tried to "Shut Down"
and got an error "A program is still running: GNOME Settings Daemon"
(this error, I'm sure, existed before I switched to GNOME classic
since I did not get the classic until after my first time shutting
down the laptop, and this error happened the very first time I shut
down) See:
File3: laptop.ubuntu.install.error1.jpg
I eventually tried the strange suggestion of "lock screen" which was
suggested in that dialog box and sure enough it didn't help. Just
"Shut down anyway" or "Restart anyway" were the options I used.
III. Error 1 below immediately, but eventually many more errors:
1. Firefox freezes whenever I right-click
2. Using mouse (rather than keyboard)on Terminal (which I use to ssh,
not just to diagnose) to File then "open tab" Froze the terminal..and
later froze the computer
3. Same for shift-control-t which supposedly does the same, but
initially (the first few times using the laptop; it's been 48 hours
and about 6-8 sessions using it along with about 25+ reboots;
sometimes many reboots to get one functioning session)
4. Mouse or keyboard to firefox's menus or url box? Firefox
freezes...got it killed with xkill initially but like errors, next
time it happened got worse and the system would eventually freeze the
system or else kills firefox but won't relaunch
5. Used Flash drive (in case laptop dies again since barely usable)
to type in some notes...mouse to File menu in notepad..no freezing up,
to "save as" no freeze...click "ok" THEN it freezes.. etc
B. Some errors happened some times but not others:
1. Alt-Tab to switch between windows...was working fine for a while
(while lots of other errors were showing up) but more recently, it
froze the laptop (I'm going by my notes but in most cases this means,
mouse will worked to move icon but can't click on anything, not even
"gears" menu to shut down)
well no point typing in a completely exhaustive list from my notes,
right?
IV. As of today (Saturday Apr 20) when I turned on the laptop...can't
even log in! This is the first time its done that. You get the
vertical bar icon where the password is supposed to go, but keyword
doesn't work...mouse can move icon for mouse but can't click
anywhere...so can't log in.
Well there it is...the complete mess the "upgrading" from the old
ubuntu to 12.04 did on a new laptop :-(
As I said, if there's a 50% or better chance of it working, I'm more
than willing to let the laptop go for a few more hours just
re-installing all of 12.04 (more time for my laptop, but much less
time for me and you, than trying to fix each item in the list above)
If so, ignore II and III, and could someone remind me how to get to
log in (hopefully this won't fail too..) in safe mode and where to
download from...if very unlikely to work before other steps
(*shudder*) then pointers from you experts how to proceed instead of
trying to re-install 12.04, would be most appreciated!
Harel
Adv Reply
Originally Posted by harelb
(no the "feeding" joke isn't assuming you're a troll, but pointing out the absurdity of arguing) I'll post update here as to how it goes
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