Failed to load session 'unity 2-d'

Question

When logging in Ubuntu 12.04 it says "Failed to load session 'unity 2-d'" and there is only an option to log out...

Now the problem occurred when I was fixing a simple medibuntu problem, after some exploring I came down to simply removing the leftover medibuntu repositories...

but, unfortunately I also followed the instructions from this answer How to remove medibuntu repository and packages?, mainly I ran this code suggested in the answer:

PKGS=$(dpkg -l | awk '{print $2}' | grep -e aacgain -e aacplusenc -e acroread-fonts -e alsa-firmware -e app-install-data-medibuntu -e apport-hooks-medibuntu -e hot-babe -e ices -e libavcodec-extra-53 -e libavdevice-extra-53 -e libav-extra-dbg -e libavfilter-extra-2 -e libavformat-extra-53 -e libavutil-extra-51 -e libdvdcss2 -e libdvdcss-dev -e libpostproc-extra-52 -e libswscale-extra-2 -e medibuntu-keyring -e mencoder -e mplayer-dbg -e mplayer-doc -e mplayer-gui -e mplayer -e non-free-codecs -e rmconverter -e w32codecs -e w64codecs | tr '\n' ' '); sudo apt-get purge $PKGS

after that, the computer was switched off, and got the before mentioned error next time it turned on. Also, there is no other session available to choose from! Only the back button...

Can all of the removed software be re-installed?

How can I repair this?

Answer 1

Yes it can be reinstalled, however, you were originally trying to get rid of that software so lets not fix this problem by settling for a problem that's not as bad. Here's how to fix the problem by installing the desktop of your choice so you can enjoy your operating system once again.

First, power up your computer and when everything seems to be booted up, press CTRL + ALT + F2 . Doing this will take you to a login screen in a text only session with no desktop. Enter your username and then your password to sign in.

After you sign in, type the following command to update your package list before installing any packages.

sudo apt-get update

Now, If you want the standard Ubuntu desktop with the Standard Unity interface, type the following command:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

To install Gnome-Shell instead of Unity, type:

sudo apt-get install gnome gnome-shell

To install the Xubuntu desktop type:

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

To install Ubuntustudio, type:

sudo apt-get install ubuntustudio-desktop

For the Lubuntu desktop, type:

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop

& for Kubuntu, type:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

when your desired desktop is installed type this command to reboot

sudo reboot