system crashed yet again

[kgandhiok]

You can try installing 12.04 since it's the next LTS after 10.04.

[jdeca57]

Thanks. I have 13.04 installed and that is what crashed and will not boot.You say I must use a 12.04 disk. Is this correct?

What happened to 10.04?
In each case, booting with 12.04 won't help you more than booting with 13.04 if you want to rescue data.
If you have a backup, then by all means install what you want.
Two further remarks:
1. Do create a separate partition for /home
2. Avoid LVM (I know I'm stepping on thin ice here) simply because it adds a layer of complexity for a benefit you're most likely never to use.

[jimmyh1972]

Just boot from live cd of ubutnu, save your important stuff to external HD and reinstall a fresh copy.
you can use ubuntu 12.04 as a rescue disk &than install it...

[okkie]

Sorry for all the inconvenience. 7 years 13 install/reinstalls and worst of all everytime losing vital documents etc. And still not a reliable simple working system. Updates caused most of my problems and of course a lack of knowledge and if you are way into your sixties not easy to catch up.
I reinstalled 13.04 and this time arround will not do updates and will store all my documents etc. On an external drive to avoid 'system will not boot after update'

what is badly needed is after a system will not boot, to insert the disk, go to try ubuntu and unlike now, be able to access the hard disk which is denied, so you can recover your data. Maybe there is a way i and thousands more are not aware of.

Are regular updates run on a test computer before we get it ?

Where do the system crashes come from?

Maybe this thread can still serve some purpose !