How to I reset Unity to default settings?

[bwallum]

Hello

I have a completely screwed Desktop following upgrade to Ubuntu 12.04 i386.

The display shows the Desktop background but no icons or window headers. I have tried running
unity --resetand things scroll away then stop without returning to prompt.

How can I reset Unity to default settings please?

I have tried this using a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + F1)
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -a
sudo update-grub
sudo rebootand at the dpkg-reconfigure command I had to wait a while for it to return to the prompt. However, no change.

[MG&TL]

If it never ran after you upgraded it, something's probably broken, rather than broken by user error.

Can you post the output of:


/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p


from a terminal please, to see if Unity is having trouble starting.

[CaptainMark]

you could try before logging in going to a ctrl+alt+f1 terminal and using
apt-get purge unity; apt-get install unity; reboot as root

[daslinkard]

@ Captain Mark....

Asking this to learn....would it be the sudo command of:


apt-get --purge remove unityinstead of the
apt-get purge unity

[daslinkard]

Don't forget that if you do not see the desired effects immediately....reboot the machine to see if this changes things.

[CaptainMark]

@ Captain Mark....

Asking this to learn....would it be the sudo command of:


apt-get --purge remove unityinstead of the
apt-get purge unity

same thing

[NikTh]

Hi ,
first thing , try to install MyUnity
sudo apt-get install myunity , open it and click "default settings" to see if something fixed.

second , try to create another user and see if environment works for this user correctly. If yes then you can try to give (to new user) admin privileges and move all your personal files, then just delete old user.
Thanks

[soumoks]

have u tried reinstalling unity using synaptic?
the best way is to completely remove unity using synaptic and then reinstalling using the same..what i am trying to say is don't go for the reinstallation thing provided by synaptic, do a clean install,hope it helps..

[CaptainMark]

have u tried reinstalling unity using synaptic?
the best way is to completely remove unity using synaptic and then reinstalling using the same..what i am trying to say is don't go for the reinstallation thing provided by synaptic, do a clean install,hope it helps..
this is the same as the mentioned terminal command but the op cant get to his desktop so your method might be impossible for him/her

[NikTh]

but the op cant get to his desktop so your method might be impossible for him/her

Oh , i didn't understood this. Sorry .
Ok , from VT then (ctrl+alt+F1 or F2..) try to add a new user to test if settings are ok .

sudo service lightdm stop
sudo adduser <username>
sudo service lightdm start and login with new user.

And another thing.. if you purge unity , then you will see that ubuntu-desktop will be removed.. so install it after.

[bwallum]

Thanks for the response. I'm afraid I opted for removing and storing the home folder, then reinstalling the os from a live cd, formatting the entire disk en route. I then copied back the home folder on to a second drive.

This is a blunt approach and I regret means little learning but it enabled me to quickly get up and running again.

The thing that put me off removing unity and re-installing was the fact that the Desktop went with it and I was reluctant to risk data. (I have never been confident of Backup, I regret to say, since it failed to remove aged backups as instructed) Once data was backed up to an external drive then re-install became a certain option of known duration. I also took the opportunity to place the home folder on a second drive, with the first drive hosting the OS.

I have to say Precise live cd (i386) is the best Ubuntu distribution I have used to date and entirely painless. Thank you for that everybody.

I have saved and will use this thread should I encounter a similar situation. Many thanks again for the thread contributions.