Kubuntu fails at startup

[bill-lancaster]

I get "unable to launch /usr/bin/startkde when booting the system."

After clicking "okay" I get

"Failed to load session 'gnome'"

Have found my way to 'recovery mode' and have tried:-
1 repair broken packages
2 check all files systems
3 update grub loader

none of that helped.

Any help would be appreciated

Kubuntu 12.10

[bill-lancaster]

As an after thought, the only change to the system since the previous boot (that I know of) is the installation of skype.

Perhaps this will generate some ideas!

[GwL3eNC]

Maybe this helps you

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1750430

[bill-lancaster]

Thanks for the link - I had read it earlier but went through it again.

sudo apt-get update, after amany lines reported it ends with "the package list or status file could not be parsed or opened"

Is this significant?

Also my HD seems to have plenty of space free.

[GwL3eNC]

Hello again,

try

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -rf
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
sudo apt-get update

Plenty of free space is good or?

[bra|10n]

Have you checked the contents of ~/.xinitrc?

[bill-lancaster]

Thanks GwL3eNC, "sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -rf" returns all files as read-only

Can I change permissions?

Yes, the HD available spacfe looks about right.

[bill-lancaster]

sudo edit ~/.xinitrc

produces a warning about mim-type the an error due to no write permissions.
The question of changing permissions arises again!

[GwL3eNC]

What? No, cant believe that becasue rm should delete this files and folders. Nothing should be returned that all files
are read only. You can also try it like that

sudo rm -r /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
sudo apt-get update

It was taken from http://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/Paketverw...roblembehebung, a german side for troubleshooting with package management.

[bill-lancaster]

sudo rm -r /var/lib/apt/lists

produces "cannot remove xxx read-only file system"

I'm using ctrl + alt + delete at boot to get into the Recovery Menu (which I now notice says "filesystem state : read-only")
Then I go to "drop to root shell prompt"

Is it significant that I haven't logged in using my password?