8

I upgraded to Ubuntu 14.04 weeks ago, that was a fresh install. And as usual installed, Unity tweak tool, some themes, Chrome, eclipse etc.

Today, while playing with Unity tweak tool, I mistakenly switched Window spread to off, and bang, no problem yet. After realizing what I did I switched it to on again and then, the title bar of all windows, the status bar (guessing it's called that), and the launcher disappeared. Now I was left with a mouse cursor and the Unity tweak tool window, without the title bar. I thought a restart is needed, but sadly no shutdown option to click on, moreover, the keyboard didn't worked, neither the hardware shutdown button. So, I pressed the reset button.

After a mundane restart, I was welcomed by the wallpaper and the mouse cursor, moving, that's it. Searched everywhere for a working solution, found some solutions in AskUbuntu itself, but they where all old and required terminal to be used, but since my keyboard isn't working, no access to the terminal. So, ofcource the question isn't a dublicate, at least, IMHO.

Also, I was working on an Android project and have got no backups, so I won't be going for a clean install, or else I will start crying watching my weeks of work being deleted, any solutions, please.

2
  • 1
    May god help you!
    – Naveen
    Jun 6, 2014 at 8:32
  • Some, out of the world genius answered the question, and the Ctrl+alt+f2 shortcut worked! I thought keyboard is dead! While I was following the steps, don't know why he deleted the answers, and don't know why I refreshed the page. God, I want that answer back! @Naveen tagging you, help if he was you. Jun 6, 2014 at 8:39

3 Answers 3

8

Lets reset the desktop

Press Ctrl + ALT + F2 Then you will get a full screen Terminal. Login with your Username and Password.

Then execute these commands in order:

rm -r ~/.config  
rm -r ~/.compiz  
sudo restart lightdm 
4
  • Hah, when I first read your answer, I was about to ask for a third input device to put in the shortcut. But, surprisingly it worked, thanks. Jun 6, 2014 at 8:56
  • I just forgot you mentioned that your keyboard is working. So I deleted it :D LOL
    – Naveen
    Jun 6, 2014 at 8:58
  • You mean, not working :/ Jun 6, 2014 at 9:13
  • oh yeah sorry :v
    – Naveen
    Jun 6, 2014 at 9:56
3

This is how I solved my issue:

Press Ctrl + ALT + F2 Then you will get a full screen Terminal. Login with your Username and Password.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install unity
sudo shutdown -r now

Reference: No Unity, No Launcher, No Dash In Ubuntu 14.04

-1

I logged on in Ubuntu as a guest and was able to see all the menus and shortcuts. I guess some wrong config file cause the symptom, so I mv all files and directories staring with '.' to a temporary directory, and rebooted the system.

Now it works. None of the other solutions worked for me.

2
  • 1
    this is inadvisable since it will remove all local config files including your .bashrc. Try to mv the files/directories one by one to identify the culprit and restore the others
    – Zanna
    Jan 19, 2017 at 10:48
  • Not really rm the config file and Ubuntu vim work fine if lacking of .bashrc. After fix the problem, you can copy the .bashrc to the origin locaiton. Jan 22, 2017 at 7:22

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .