Ubuntu 13.10 empty splash screen after new install

Just to clarify, the eeePC installation works fine (using it now), and the install on the Dell has the problem. It seemed to have this same problem in the Try option on the USB key as well, but as the eeePC also did this at first, I thought it was a bad copy and reloaded on a different USB, which worked. The freshly downloaded install files on a fresh USB key consistently had same fault on the Try option on the Dell, but I went ahead anyway, hoping it would work like the eeePC did. Hope this is useful update. Thanks

If you press CTRL + ALT + T and run :

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Then reboot by running :

sudo reboot

Does it help?

Thanks

Thanks Andrew

I typed each line into the terminal, and they executed. There seemed to be a lot of mention on Libre Office in the second one. No distro upgrades occured in the third one; perhaps because I got the updates earlier today. The problem is still there; no menu or launch bars.

I am guessing the apt in the code was getting at updating my video drivers. The settings details say my driver is unknown and experience is standard. My monitor is correctly identified.

I can access some settings via Change Desktop Background, and can get the Firefox browser via U1 icon in settings window. I have also been able to see files, and run them (showing Libre Office apps work), as well as played some music and looked at some images. It seems most things are there when accessed indirectly, but I can't get at them directly because the menu and launch bars are not available.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully accepted.

Cheers

Frank

PS
Andrew, thanks for the command to reboot; now I don't loose my settings changes when having to force power off. Is there a command for shutdown? I will have a play and see if I can work it out.
I am using my dell for this correspondence, and am looking forward to having full access to it, as it seems faster than my eeePC.
Cheers
Frank

PPS
Andrew, thanks for the invite to get me toes into the terminal. It seems to be very helpful with hints when you don't know what you are doing. I tried "shutdown" and it prompted me with the details of the command. When I ran it, the termin prompted me to install "root", which was missing. The dell now shuts down, but alas still comes up with the same missing bars.
I will read up some more on the documentation tomorrow.

Cheers

Frank

if you run:

sudo apt-get install lubuntu-desktop
killall -u $USER

you will be logged off (run commands as given). Then log in to the Lubuntu session instead of the Ubuntu session. Is it ok there?

Thanks

Thanks Andrew

I was reluctant to switch to lubuntu as I would prefer to have the full system, and don't see why it won't run on an Intel 2.4GHz 1.65GB RAM 32 bit machine, when it runs OK on the eeePC with Atom 1.6GHz 1GB RAM.

However, I ran the commands as given, and after logout, and again after shutdown and restart, the lubuntu system is doing the same thing (no menu or launch bars). It seems to be the same as ubuntu to me, including launching Libre Office for files. Playing music still seems to being up Rythymbox. I thought the lubuntu distro used lesser applications? The first and last screens say lubuntu (blue) and not ubuntu (purple), so the changeover seems to have worked.

How easily can I change back to ubuntu when I want to? Will this require an uninstall and completely new install? Is this worth doing anyway, to confirm the install is correct?

Thanks for your time and patience.

Cheers

Frank

PS Oops, Sorry Andrew
I misunderstood your instructions, and was still booting into Ubuntu from the original first screen (which does have the menu bar at the top as previously advised). I just noticed the icon to select distros, and have booted into lubuntu, and have the menu bar at the bottom OK. I will now explore this distro. However, I would still like to find a fix for the Ubuntu on this machine.

Cheers

Frank

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.

Thanks folks
It seems that Ubuntu can't make my old hardware give what it could under Windows XP, even with the addition of an AGP card (see followup Question 241353). The MATE desktop under Linux Mint seems to offer the best compromise, so I will explore that further. However, none of the explored Linux options seems to be able to allow me to keep using my iPod Nano Gen 7, not even using Wine 1.6, so maybe I will need to stick to Microsoft a bit longer.
Cheers

Frank