What happened to Unity

[zero2xiii]

"ctrl+alt+f8" is not working for me.

Hay,

Some systems have less terminals. Just run through ctrl + alt + {F1 to F12} one of them will take you back to the graphical environment.

Cherz

[fdrake]

.

was f7 not f8. my bad.

[JHawk56]

I had already tried f9, but it just opened a second console. Then I did some research and tried 'exit' but that didn't work. ctrl-alt-del worked, albeit for a reboot.

[oldos2er]

I think you'll find 11.10 has reached EoL, meaning there's no longer any support for it.

11.10 is supported until April 2013.

[JHawk56]

try to update :

sudo apt-get update

It worked!

I spoke too soon. Miraculously, the problem disappeared after simply retrieving the list of available updates and rebooting. Seemed unlikely, but I was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Alas, it was not to be. The problem resumed, and even installing all the updates did not help. Thanks, though -- it did solve another problem I was having!

[fdrake]

can you post a screen shoot of it. If you cannot find the icon of firefox, do:

ctrl +alt+t >> type "firefox" .
the screenn shoots are saved into ~/Pictures

[JHawk56]

can you post a screen shoot of it.

There's really not much to see. Nothing but the default Ubuntu wallpaper. The menu line I mentioned in the first post is no longer there. If I right-click, I get a menu, but I can't grab a screen shot while it is present. The menu reads:

Create New Folder
Create New Document >
Organize Desktop by Name
Keep Aligned
Paste
Change Desktop Background

It's intermittent now; I got to the full GUI desktop on an earlier try. I am starting to suspect a hardware problem (motherboard or power supply), since I am also having random boot problems into both Ubuntu and Windows (it's a wubi installation), unwanted resets, and once in a while a problem getting to my alternative Lubuntu desktop (although once I get there, it is complete and functions well). The Ubuntu problem is not a really big issue, since I prefer Lubuntu on this older machine.

I also looked at the fragmentation status of the partition on which wubi is installed, and it was highly fragged. Major parts of the wubi are not movable, so I have a highly fragged OS. That certainly can't be helping. I think I'll try deleting Ubuntu/Lubuntu, defragging, and starting over.

[fdrake]

I think I'll try deleting Ubuntu/Lubuntu, defragging, and starting over.

wecan stay here to conspire for hours trying to find out the reasons. If you have nothing i mportant i suggest you to just reinstall everything. good luck.

[audiomick]

you can use the console "ctrl +alt+f1"
to get back into the dekstop env use ""ctrl +alt+f8""

This install is 11.10, and that didn't work. ctrl+alt+f1 does get me out into a console, but ctrl+alt+f8 does not get me back into the GUI.
Edit: wait on, I just noticed some posts in the middle here that explain that...

@ the OP. I agree: if you can re-install without losing anything drastic, that is probably the easiest. You might also consider moving on the a proper dual boot if you are using Ubuntu a lot. Wubi is intended for trying out Ubuntu, but not for long term use.

[JHawk56]

wecan stay here to conspire for hours trying to find out the reasons. If you have nothing i mportant i suggest you to just reinstall everything. good luck.

I agree. Thanks.

You might also consider moving on the a proper dual boot if you are using Ubuntu a lot. Wubi is intended for trying out Ubuntu, but not for long term use.

I can't burn DVDs or boot from a flash drive, so I've been using wubi. Once I have a distro and version that I like for my setup, I'll find a way around that and go with a normal dual-boot