Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have done a "sudo apt-get upgrade", I've gone from having a working (if a bit behind) laptop to a buggy as hell frustration machine. Multitude of strange behaviours and problems that I can't find fixes on the net for, so if anyone can help with any of these, that would be ace.
So, Ubuntu 14.10, GNOME
Opening the activities menu provides an authentication box asking for a password for an online account, entering it provides another, and another and another and so on. Rather than typing the password in 100s of times, all that I can do is keep pressing Escape until it goes away (and takes the activities menu with it). Thus, can't access programs unless I have them on the favourites menu or know their command
Youtube/flash videos don't play for more than 2-3 seconds then freeze. Scanning ahead in the video time line allows another 2-3 seconds, but can't play a full video.
Settings panel doesn't work at all any more, it opens but clicking on network or desktop or online accounts just freezes until a "Window is not responding Wait or Force Close" dialog appears.
And I'm sure I'll have more issues as the night progresses.