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Thread: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

  1. #1
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    Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    I started an upgrade, from 11.10 to 12.04, yesterday. I had a couple of power outages, shut down, started up and told ubuntu to go on with "partial" update. I did this twice, and it seemed to keep going, trying to download all 1900-ish files. I had to go out a few hundred files from the end of the "get packages" bit.

    When I came back, hours later, the power was out. I don't know if installation finished. Downloading of files may have completed. I don't know if it needs user input at that point.

    When I turn on the system now I can't get to the startup screen.

    If I choose Ubuntu 3.0.0-17-generic I get a blank screen.

    If I choose Ubuntu 3.0.0-17-generic (recovery mode) I go to a menu with various options. But it is screwed. If I press the down arrow it sometimes goes to the option below, other times nothing happens, other times I go to a screen with Ubuntu 11.10 and a light sequence under it (like it is loading, but never gets anywhere).

    Sometimes I can select the options.

    I can't start the internet from that option.
    The command prompt won't display what I type, and sometimes deletes characters. e.g. I type df<carriage return> but it takes f<carriage return>. I managed to df and found that the SSD I boot from is there, as is an external storage HDD, but not the old /home 1TB drive.

    sudo apt-get update (when I managed to get that to run) says failed to resolve archive.ubuntu.com.

    BTW, when I try to run older versions of Linux, from the grub menu, I have the same problems.

    What should I do? I am at work now. Should I download 12.04 onto a memory stick, boot that and upgrade from there again? Will I lose anything?
    Last edited by chortle; April 28th, 2012 at 05:03 AM.

  2. #2
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    I wonder if grub simply did not get updated or something. You might be trying to boot with a kernel which is no longer on the computer. You might be able to fix this by loading a live cd and doing a update-grub, you may need to do a chroot for that to work mind you.

  3. #3
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    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    I had a couple of power outages, shut down, started up and told ubuntu to go on with "partial" update
    You didn't expect everything to be OK after this... surely!
    Ubuntu 18.04

  4. #4
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    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    Quote Originally Posted by Finalfantasykid View Post
    I wonder if grub simply did not get updated or something. You might be trying to boot with a kernel which is no longer on the computer. You might be able to fix this by loading a live cd and doing a update-grub, you may need to do a chroot for that to work mind you.
    Indeed, this is a good starting point.
    Or just do a new install and put everything back in place from your backup
    Ubuntu 18.04

  5. #5
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    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    Quote Originally Posted by carl4926 View Post
    Indeed, this is a good starting point.
    Or just do a new install and put everything back in place from your backup
    That might end up being easier, because who knows what else might have gone wrong during the upgrade.

  6. #6
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    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    Quote Originally Posted by chortle View Post

    What should I do? I am at work now. Should I download 12.04 onto a memory stick, boot that and upgrade from there again? Will I lose anything?
    If you could try an upgrade indeed. And if that does not work:
    Boot from a live CD/USB, and copy files you want to keep to an external USB-stick/harddisk. Then do a *fresh* install.

  7. #7
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    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    Quote Originally Posted by sanderj View Post
    If you could try an upgrade indeed. And if that does not work:
    Boot from a live CD/USB, and copy files you want to keep to an external USB-stick/harddisk. Then do a *fresh* install.
    This is what I will do. I've loads of spare space on the attached drives.

    Thanks everyone, for coming to my aid in my time of need!

  8. #8
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    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    Problem solved. I installed over the top of the spagged installation having grabbed the contents of my encrypted /home directory and saved a copy of the archived packages I'd downloaded.

    Was very pleased to find that I had my old desktop when I booted up. I hadn't needed to extract my /home folder. Using the same user name Ubuntu pointed me at the same home directory.

    Thanks for all your support.

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Re: Ubuntu 12.04 upgrade chaos

    Quote Originally Posted by chortle View Post
    Problem solved. I installed over the top of the spagged installation having grabbed the contents of my encrypted /home directory and saved a copy of the archived packages I'd downloaded.

    Was very pleased to find that I had my old desktop when I booted up. I hadn't needed to extract my /home folder. Using the same user name Ubuntu pointed me at the same home directory.

    Thanks for all your support.
    Good to hear that positive result
    Ubuntu 18.04

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