Can't get into Ubuntu after installing GNOME over Unity.

[Connor_Webb]

I installed Ubuntu on a Dell studio xps 435 and it worked fine until I tried to install GNOME over it. I wanted to return to unity, so I typed into the alt-f2 window, "unity --replace", a command I found on askubuntu.com. It didn't do anything, and when I turned on the computer the next time, the screen was black. It finally worked after several tries, but was still in Ubuntu. Then, to bypass a BIOS password a so called "friend" put on it after that, I took out the CMOS battery and on next boot there was no BIOS password but when ubuntu booted up it had the GNOME logo with the blinking dots instead of the Ubuntu one. When I tried to log in all I saw was the wallpaper and I waited and waited and the launcher and files on the desktop didn't show up. How would I fix this? I have a bootable Ubuntu USB that I could use to delete the GNOME files and install the Unity ones.

[grahammechanical]

I am a little confused. Ubuntu is built on the Gnome 3 desktop environment (DE). So, what did you install? Gnome 3 shell. That should not have removed the Unity user interface. It should give us an additional session at the login screen where we can select to login to either Ubuntu (Unity) or Gnome shell.

Installing an alternative desktop such as Gnome 3 shell will change the flash screen and the background image to the log in screen. Reversing things is not so easy. So, what is the immediate problem? Loading to a desktop with only the wallpaper or the Gnome logo on the flash screen instead of the Ubuntu logo?

At the login screen can you select the Ubuntu session? Lets make sure we are in Ubuntu (Unity). Then open the terminal with Crtl+Alt+T or a LInux console with Ctrl+Alt+F2 and run


dconf reset -f /org/compiz/

to reset the Compiz window compositor and to restart Unity run


setsid unity

Regards.

[Connor_Webb]

I think I might have accidentally installed GNOME shell but I meant to install the desktop environment.
Also, I can't run those commands because my computer is completely non-functioning

[Frogs Hair]

When installing other sessions they are selected from the icon on the top right of the password window in the login screen. The replace command was primarily used to switch between metacity and compiz on older versions of Ubuntu.

[Connor_Webb]

I don't see that icon.

[deadflowr]

Does the login screen look the same as when you only had unity?
(Meaning, does the username and password box show up in the middle of the screen on the left side. And not directly in the middle of the screen)

[Connor_Webb]

Yes, it looks the same.

[deadflowr]

So when you go to login, the little box next to the username shows the gnome logo( a foot) and not the Ubuntu logo?
And clicking on the box does not change or show the Ubuntu logo?
Is that correct?

[kansasnoob]

Not sure which version of Ubuntu you have so I'll assume Trusty (but we should know for sure), anyway installing the meta-package 'gnome' installs a lot of other packages:


lance@lance-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install gnome --assume-no
[sudo] password for lance:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
alacarte argyll binfmt-support browser-plugin-gnash caribou caribou-antler
cli-common dconf-editor dconf-tools desktop-base evolution evolution-common
evolution-indicator evolution-plugins finger five-or-more fonts-cantarell
four-in-a-row freerdp-x11 gawk gdebi gdebi-core gdm gedit-plugins gimp
gimp-data gir1.2-accountsservice-1.0 gir1.2-caribou-1.0 gir1.2-clutter-1.0
gir1.2-clutter-gst-2.0 gir1.2-cogl-1.0 gir1.2-coglpango-1.0
gir1.2-evince-3.0 gir1.2-gck-1 gir1.2-gconf-2.0 gir1.2-gcr-3
gir1.2-gdesktopenums-3.0 gir1.2-gdm-1.0 gir1.2-gkbd-3.0
gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0 gir1.2-gtkclutter-1.0 gir1.2-gtop-2.0
gir1.2-gucharmap-2.90 gir1.2-json-1.0 gir1.2-mutter-3.0 gir1.2-nmgtk-1.0
gir1.2-panelapplet-4.0 gir1.2-polkit-1.0 gir1.2-rest-0.7
gir1.2-telepathyglib-0.12 gir1.2-telepathylogger-0.2 gir1.2-tracker-0.16
gir1.2-upowerglib-1.0 gir1.2-xkl-1.0 gir1.2-zeitgeist-2.0 gir1.2-zpj-0.0 gjs
gksu gnash gnash-common gnome-applets gnome-applets-data gnome-backgrounds
gnome-chess gnome-color-manager gnome-control-center
gnome-control-center-data gnome-core gnome-dictionary gnome-documents
gnome-games gnome-icon-theme-extras gnome-icon-theme-full gnome-klotski
gnome-media gnome-nettool gnome-nibbles gnome-online-accounts
gnome-online-miners gnome-packagekit gnome-packagekit-data
gnome-packagekit-session gnome-panel gnome-panel-data gnome-robots
gnome-session gnome-session-flashback gnome-settings-daemon gnome-shell
gnome-shell-common gnome-shell-extensions gnome-sushi gnome-tetravex
gnome-themes-standard gnome-themes-standard-data gnome-tweak-tool gnuchess
gnuchess-book grilo-plugins-0.2 gstreamer0.10-gconf gtk2-engines
gtk2-engines-pixbuf hamster-applet hamster-indicator iagno imagemagick
imagemagick-common indicator-applet-complete inkscape libamd2.3.1
libappindicator0.1-cil libappindicator1 libavahi-ui-gtk3-0 libavresample1
libbabl-0.1-0 libblas3 libbonobo2-0 libbonobo2-common libbonoboui2-0
libbonoboui2-common libboost-iostreams1.54.0 libboost-program-options1.54.0
libboost-thread1.54.0 libcairo-perl libcamd2.3.1 libcaribou-common
libcaribou-gtk-module libcaribou-gtk3-module libcaribou0 libccolamd2.8.0
libcholmod2.1.2 libcolord-gtk1 libdbus-glib2.0-cil libdbus2.0-cil libdiscid0
libencode-locale-perl liberror-perl libevolution libfile-listing-perl
libfont-afm-perl libgconf2.0-cil libgdict-1.0-6 libgdict-common libgdiplus
libgdm1 libgegl-0.2-0 libgfortran3 libgif4 libgimp2.0 libgjs0e libgksu2-0
libglade2-0 libglib-perl libglib2.0-cil libgmime2.6-cil
libgnome-media-profiles-3.0-0 libgnome2-0 libgnome2-bin libgnome2-common
libgnomecanvas2-0 libgnomecanvas2-common libgnomeui-0 libgnomeui-common
libgnomevfs2-0 libgnomevfs2-common libgnomevfs2-extra libgoa-backend-1.0-1
libgrilo-0.2-1 libgsf-1-114 libgsf-1-common libgsl0ldbl libgtk-vnc-2.0-0
libgtk2-perl libgtk2.0-cil libgtkhtml-4.0-0 libgtkhtml-4.0-common
libgtkhtml-editor-4.0-0 libgtkspell0 libgupnp-av-1.0-2 libgupnp-dlna-2.0-3
libgvnc-1.0-0 libhtml-form-perl libhtml-format-perl libhtml-parser-perl
libhtml-tagset-perl libhtml-tree-perl libhttp-cookies-perl
libhttp-daemon-perl libhttp-date-perl libhttp-message-perl
libhttp-negotiate-perl libicc2 libidl-common libidl0 libimdi0 libindicator7
libio-html-perl libiptcdata0 libjavascriptcoregtk-1.0-0 libjemalloc1
liblapack3 liblinear-tools liblinear1 liblqr-1-0 liblwp-mediatypes-perl
liblwp-protocol-https-perl libmagick++5 libmagickcore5 libmagickcore5-extra
libmagickwand5 libmail-spf-perl libmediaart-1.0-0 libmng2
libmono-addins-gui0.2-cil libmono-addins0.2-cil libmono-cairo4.0-cil
libmono-corlib4.0-cil libmono-corlib4.5-cil libmono-i18n-west4.0-cil
libmono-i18n4.0-cil libmono-posix4.0-cil libmono-security4.0-cil
libmono-sharpzip4.84-cil libmono-system-configuration4.0-cil
libmono-system-core4.0-cil libmono-system-drawing4.0-cil
libmono-system-security4.0-cil libmono-system-xml4.0-cil
libmono-system4.0-cil libmozjs-24-0 libmusicbrainz5-0 libmutter0c
libnet-http-perl libnetaddr-ip-perl libnetpbm10 liborbit-2-0 liborbit2
libpanel-applet-4-0 libpango-perl libpst4 librygel-core-2.0-1
librygel-renderer-2.0-1 librygel-renderer-gst-2.0-1 librygel-server-2.0-1
libsdl1.2debian libsigsegv2 libsofia-sip-ua-glib3 libsofia-sip-ua0
libsys-hostname-long-perl libtracker-extract-0.16-0 libtracker-miner-0.16-0
libtracker-sparql-0.16-0 libumfpack5.6.2 libwebkitgtk-1.0-0
libwebkitgtk-1.0-common libwmf-bin libwww-perl libwww-robotrules-perl
libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-xf86dri0 libxcb-xv0 libytnef0 libzapojit-0.0-0
lightsoff metacity mono-4.0-gac mono-gac mono-runtime mono-runtime-common
mono-runtime-sgen mutter-common netpbm nmap notification-daemon perlmagick
python-appindicator python-gnome2 python-numpy python-pyatspi python-pyorbit
python-wnck quadrapassel re2c rygel rygel-playbin rygel-preferences
sa-compile sound-juicer spamassassin spamc swell-foop tali telepathy-rakia
tomboy tracker tracker-extract tracker-gui tracker-miner-fs tracker-utils
transfig unoconv vinagre whois xserver-xephyr
Suggested packages:
gir1.2-colordgtk-1.0 browser-plugin-lightspark evolution-ews
evolution-plugins-experimental gawk-doc gimp-help-en gimp-help
gimp-data-extras dia-gnome gnome-boxes gnucash libreoffice-evolution planner
gnome-netstatus-applet deskbar-applet cpufrequtils gnome-hearts
gnome-system-tools gnome-packagekit-tools xboard eboard scid
python-evolution imagemagick-doc autotrace curl enscript gnuplot grads hp2xx
html2ps mplayer povray radiance texlive-base-bin ufraw-batch pstoedit
libsvg-perl libxml-xql-perl python-uniconvertor ruby libbonobo2-bin
libfont-freetype-perl libdiscid0-dbg monodoc-gtk2.0-manual libgnomevfs2-bin
gamin fam gnome-mime-data gsl-ref-psdoc gsl-doc-pdf gsl-doc-info
gsl-ref-html libgtk2-perl-doc libdata-dump-perl libsvm-tools liblinear-dev
libcrypt-ssleay-perl libmono-i18n4.0-all libgamin0 sofia-sip-doc
libauthen-ntlm-perl python-gnome2-doc gfortran python-dev python-nose
python-numpy-dbg python-numpy-doc python-pyorbit-dbg rygel-tracker
rygel-mediathek tumbler gstreamer1.0-lame gstreamer1.0-plugins-really-bad
razor libdbi-perl pyzor libmail-dkim-perl tasque xfig
Recommended packages:
gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg
The following NEW packages will be installed:
alacarte argyll binfmt-support browser-plugin-gnash caribou caribou-antler
cli-common dconf-editor dconf-tools desktop-base evolution evolution-common
evolution-indicator evolution-plugins finger five-or-more fonts-cantarell
four-in-a-row freerdp-x11 gawk gdebi gdebi-core gdm gedit-plugins gimp
gimp-data gir1.2-accountsservice-1.0 gir1.2-caribou-1.0 gir1.2-clutter-1.0
gir1.2-clutter-gst-2.0 gir1.2-cogl-1.0 gir1.2-coglpango-1.0
gir1.2-evince-3.0 gir1.2-gck-1 gir1.2-gconf-2.0 gir1.2-gcr-3
gir1.2-gdesktopenums-3.0 gir1.2-gdm-1.0 gir1.2-gkbd-3.0
gir1.2-gnomedesktop-3.0 gir1.2-gtkclutter-1.0 gir1.2-gtop-2.0
gir1.2-gucharmap-2.90 gir1.2-json-1.0 gir1.2-mutter-3.0 gir1.2-nmgtk-1.0
gir1.2-panelapplet-4.0 gir1.2-polkit-1.0 gir1.2-rest-0.7
gir1.2-telepathyglib-0.12 gir1.2-telepathylogger-0.2 gir1.2-tracker-0.16
gir1.2-upowerglib-1.0 gir1.2-xkl-1.0 gir1.2-zeitgeist-2.0 gir1.2-zpj-0.0 gjs
gksu gnash gnash-common gnome gnome-applets gnome-applets-data
gnome-backgrounds gnome-chess gnome-color-manager gnome-control-center
gnome-control-center-data gnome-core gnome-dictionary gnome-documents
gnome-games gnome-icon-theme-extras gnome-icon-theme-full gnome-klotski
gnome-media gnome-nettool gnome-nibbles gnome-online-accounts
gnome-online-miners gnome-packagekit gnome-packagekit-data
gnome-packagekit-session gnome-panel gnome-panel-data gnome-robots
gnome-session gnome-session-flashback gnome-settings-daemon gnome-shell
gnome-shell-common gnome-shell-extensions gnome-sushi gnome-tetravex
gnome-themes-standard gnome-themes-standard-data gnome-tweak-tool gnuchess
gnuchess-book grilo-plugins-0.2 gstreamer0.10-gconf gtk2-engines
gtk2-engines-pixbuf hamster-applet hamster-indicator iagno imagemagick
imagemagick-common indicator-applet-complete inkscape libamd2.3.1
libappindicator0.1-cil libappindicator1 libavahi-ui-gtk3-0 libavresample1
libbabl-0.1-0 libblas3 libbonobo2-0 libbonobo2-common libbonoboui2-0
libbonoboui2-common libboost-iostreams1.54.0 libboost-program-options1.54.0
libboost-thread1.54.0 libcairo-perl libcamd2.3.1 libcaribou-common
libcaribou-gtk-module libcaribou-gtk3-module libcaribou0 libccolamd2.8.0
libcholmod2.1.2 libcolord-gtk1 libdbus-glib2.0-cil libdbus2.0-cil libdiscid0
libencode-locale-perl liberror-perl libevolution libfile-listing-perl
libfont-afm-perl libgconf2.0-cil libgdict-1.0-6 libgdict-common libgdiplus
libgdm1 libgegl-0.2-0 libgfortran3 libgif4 libgimp2.0 libgjs0e libgksu2-0
libglade2-0 libglib-perl libglib2.0-cil libgmime2.6-cil
libgnome-media-profiles-3.0-0 libgnome2-0 libgnome2-bin libgnome2-common
libgnomecanvas2-0 libgnomecanvas2-common libgnomeui-0 libgnomeui-common
libgnomevfs2-0 libgnomevfs2-common libgnomevfs2-extra libgoa-backend-1.0-1
libgrilo-0.2-1 libgsf-1-114 libgsf-1-common libgsl0ldbl libgtk-vnc-2.0-0
libgtk2-perl libgtk2.0-cil libgtkhtml-4.0-0 libgtkhtml-4.0-common
libgtkhtml-editor-4.0-0 libgtkspell0 libgupnp-av-1.0-2 libgupnp-dlna-2.0-3
libgvnc-1.0-0 libhtml-form-perl libhtml-format-perl libhtml-parser-perl
libhtml-tagset-perl libhtml-tree-perl libhttp-cookies-perl
libhttp-daemon-perl libhttp-date-perl libhttp-message-perl
libhttp-negotiate-perl libicc2 libidl-common libidl0 libimdi0 libindicator7
libio-html-perl libiptcdata0 libjavascriptcoregtk-1.0-0 libjemalloc1
liblapack3 liblinear-tools liblinear1 liblqr-1-0 liblwp-mediatypes-perl
liblwp-protocol-https-perl libmagick++5 libmagickcore5 libmagickcore5-extra
libmagickwand5 libmail-spf-perl libmediaart-1.0-0 libmng2
libmono-addins-gui0.2-cil libmono-addins0.2-cil libmono-cairo4.0-cil
libmono-corlib4.0-cil libmono-corlib4.5-cil libmono-i18n-west4.0-cil
libmono-i18n4.0-cil libmono-posix4.0-cil libmono-security4.0-cil
libmono-sharpzip4.84-cil libmono-system-configuration4.0-cil
libmono-system-core4.0-cil libmono-system-drawing4.0-cil
libmono-system-security4.0-cil libmono-system-xml4.0-cil
libmono-system4.0-cil libmozjs-24-0 libmusicbrainz5-0 libmutter0c
libnet-http-perl libnetaddr-ip-perl libnetpbm10 liborbit-2-0 liborbit2
libpanel-applet-4-0 libpango-perl libpst4 librygel-core-2.0-1
librygel-renderer-2.0-1 librygel-renderer-gst-2.0-1 librygel-server-2.0-1
libsdl1.2debian libsigsegv2 libsofia-sip-ua-glib3 libsofia-sip-ua0
libsys-hostname-long-perl libtracker-extract-0.16-0 libtracker-miner-0.16-0
libtracker-sparql-0.16-0 libumfpack5.6.2 libwebkitgtk-1.0-0
libwebkitgtk-1.0-common libwmf-bin libwww-perl libwww-robotrules-perl
libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-xf86dri0 libxcb-xv0 libytnef0 libzapojit-0.0-0
lightsoff metacity mono-4.0-gac mono-gac mono-runtime mono-runtime-common
mono-runtime-sgen mutter-common netpbm nmap notification-daemon perlmagick
python-appindicator python-gnome2 python-numpy python-pyatspi python-pyorbit
python-wnck quadrapassel re2c rygel rygel-playbin rygel-preferences
sa-compile sound-juicer spamassassin spamc swell-foop tali telepathy-rakia
tomboy tracker tracker-extract tracker-gui tracker-miner-fs tracker-utils
transfig unoconv vinagre whois xserver-xephyr
0 upgraded, 305 newly installed, 0 to remove and 3 not upgraded.
Need to get 151 MB of archives.
After this operation, 606 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] N
Abort.

But we'll need to check your /var/log/apt logs to be sure where we're at.

Anyway you may now be using 'gdm' to login rather than 'lightdm'. I compiled a collection of pics here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2184682&page=27&p=12929682#post12929682

So you could start by telling us what your login screen looks like and what sessions you see offered. Also what version of Ubuntu you're running.

[Connor_Webb]

Yes I am using Trusty, and the login screen looks exactly the same as it used to, no foot or gdm. And I can't check my /var/log/apt logs because I can't use my computer at all after login.

[Connor_Webb]

It does not show any logo at all.

[kansasnoob]

So you do get to this screen (http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=250349&d=1392455047) where you can enter your password, but there is nothing at all to click on to the right of your user name?

[kansasnoob]

Another way to go at this would be to open a terminal from the desktop - even though no top panel or launcher appears you should be able to do so by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T. Then type:


ls /usr/share/xsessions

What available sessions does that display?

If you can launch a terminal that way you may also be able to launch other apps just by typing their proper names, eg; firefox.

In terminal you could also try:


sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm

That may give you the option of choosing to use either lightdm or gdm.