Regarding recently installed ubuntu desktop 13.10 (40gb HDD and plenty RAM) as a fresh install on an appropriately partitioned HDD.
My problem is that once installed everything is blank: no dash, no launcher, no apps, just a blank magenta wallpaper loads.
Its infuriating because nothing works..I've tried suggestions on many threads and am pretty new to terminal. As it is right now, its a useless operating system as far as my needs go and I don't see why it has to be so extremely difficult to install.
If this is a duplicate question (none of the suggested duplicates have this exact question, and the ones that are similar have either no answers or the few answers they do have, have not been successful at fixing my problem). So if an exact duplicate is found with workable answers, I'd really appreciate being pointed in the right direction.