1

just upgraded to Ubuntu 12.10. I can't reach the desktop, it is stuck on the blue screen, the desktop environnement does not load. Only gnome with no effects works.

Can you help please?

config: thinkpad T400, 6 GB of Ram, graphic card: Intel Gma 4500Mhd

lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)

I am not sure I have not messed up lightdm / gdm previously...

edit: I just tried a 12.10 live usb version and it works fine....so it is a problem in my install for sure.

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  • maybe I did not understand your problem correctly ... You could not see the login screen ? Or you could see the login screen, but, after logging in, you got a blue screen ?
    – josinalvo
    Oct 24, 2012 at 1:42
  • indeed, I can login, and after the login screen I only see the desktop and no bars at all
    – louis
    Feb 5, 2013 at 14:12

3 Answers 3

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I had a similar problem after upgrading. You can follow what I did. Check the ~/.xsession-error logs. If you have errors similar to this: (update-notifier:2286): Gtk-WARNING **: Theme parsing error: gtk-widgets-assets.css:494:61: Unrecognised image file format , then reinstall libgdk-pixbuf2 and type the following as root user

gdk-pixbuf-query-loaders --update-cache and then reboot. If that does not suffice, install gdk-pixbuf2.0-dev and run the above command again. Reboot to see the changes. Hope your problem is resolved.

2

i would also try to reinstall ubuntu desktop with sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop and execute this command sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg at console wich you can summon by pressing cntrl alt f1 then just login with username and password and run the commands

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  • Thanks @user85872 I did that and now I see the desktop files but no top and side bars... and also I see a compiz error message...it quit unexpectedly.
    – louis
    Oct 22, 2012 at 19:40
  • you should try: sudo apt-get install --reinstall unity or summon the terminal by pressing cntrl+alt+t and type: ccsm if compiz settings manager not installed yet follow instructions there is sugested command in terminal to install it.After install is finished search for ubuntu 'unity plugin' in ccsm and see if it checked as enabled in options Oct 22, 2012 at 19:41
  • I installed compiz manager. Unity plugin is activated. Still no bars on the desktop. Same when reinstalling unity. It is weird because when I logout I see the top bar with clock, network, etc...
    – louis
    Oct 22, 2012 at 20:16
  • last advice i can give you is to reset unity to default settings by executing this in terminal copy: setsid unity . This is similar to unity --reset command in 12.04 lts wich now doesnt work in 12.10 then try to reset compiz: setsid compiz --replace and restart X Display: Manager: sudo -s setsid service lightdm restart and finaly try: unity --replace Oct 22, 2012 at 20:24
  • When resetting compiz and unity I get a error: libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast. And it is the same for the other commands you mention.
    – louis
    Oct 23, 2012 at 8:06
0

just to check if you indeed messed up the lightdm:

1) go to a tty (i.e., press ctrl alt f1)
2) log in
3) run xinit -- :1 (note the spaces! it is, indeed "--(a space):(no space)1")

this might open you a barebones X session (*) Then, at least, you'll know X is working

(*) just a white terminal in a black background.


If it is the case, the simple and ugly solution will be to use another login manager. After that, we can start investigating =P

install some new login managers:

sudo apt-get install xdm lxdm kdm

choose a login manager:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm

then reboot so that your login manager has a chance to appear

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  • thanks @josinalvo, with xinit -- :1 in tty1 I get a black background screen with a with a white terminal (like Xterm)...but I cannot move it eround the screen or anything else... is X working then?
    – louis
    Oct 22, 2012 at 17:54
  • yep. X is working
    – josinalvo
    Oct 22, 2012 at 18:00
  • ok thank you. Simple effective test. I did what you suggested. I can login but none of the dm (i tried gdm lightdm kdm xdm ) leads to the displaying of the desktop... what should I do now ;-)
    – louis
    Oct 22, 2012 at 19:29
  • I forgot to mention. After you change the login manager, reboot so that it has a chance to try to load.
    – josinalvo
    Oct 23, 2012 at 2:13
  • (and hope for the best =P)
    – josinalvo
    Oct 23, 2012 at 2:14

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