The lauchpad and dash / menu are not visable on the display. What should I do to fix it?

Which release of Ubuntu?
If you press CTRL + ALT + T do you get a terminal?
Is the OS fully updated?
Does the system have a make and model?
What caused the issue?
Has this ever worked ok?

Why have you not given details like the above or any details at all. We cannot see your system and you have to give us some detail. We don't even know if the system is a laptop or a virtual machine or anything. ...

Open the Terminal. (If you press the three keys together -- CTRL+ALT+T you will be able to open the it.) Then Copy & Paste the following line in that Terminal

lsb_release -a; uname -a

Press the enter Key. You will get an output about Release, Description etc. Copy and Paste the output in the Message box below.

Were you confused?--- Is it Launcher or Launchpad ?

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 13.04
Release: 13.04
Codename: Raring

Linux tvcog-terminal2 3.8.0-33-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Wed Oct 23 9:16:58
UTC 2013 X86_64 X86_64 X86_64 GNU/Linux

 Status: Open => Needs information

actionparsnip requested more information:
Which release of Ubuntu?* 13.04*

If you press CTRL + ALT + T do you get a terminal?
*Yes *

Is the OS fully updated?

*How to find out if it is?*

*I bet this is the reason so I would ask how would you proceed?*

Does the system have a make and model?
*uname -a *

*Linux tvcog-terminal1 3.8.0-29-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Tue Aug 13 19:40:39
UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux *

What caused the issue?
Good Question?

Has this ever worked ok?*YES!*

Why have you not given details like the above or any details at all. We
cannot see your system and you have to give us some detail. We don't
even know if the system is a laptop or a virtual machine or anything.
...

Judy Kilday

On Fri, Jan 17, 2014 at 11:56 AM, Madhusoodanan <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
>
> Madhusoodanan posted a new comment:
> Open the Terminal. (If you press the three keys together --
> CTRL+ALT+T you will be able to open the it.) Then Copy & Paste the
> following line in that Terminal
>
> lsb_release -a; uname -a
>
> Press the enter Key. You will get an output about Release, Description
> etc. Copy and Paste the output in the Message box below.
>
> Were you confused?--- Is it Launcher or Launchpad ?
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

In the terminal run:

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

You now have the latest packages for Raring. Run:

sudo reboot

And test

Just so you are aware, Raring is only supported one more week and is then EOL.
You will then get no support and no updates from the official repositories.

I suggest you upgrade to Saucy soon to continue support. You can then also upgrade to Trusty ( Ubuntu 14.04 ) which is LTS and supported til April 2019

You could alternatively abandon Raring and do a clean install of Trusty. You will upgrade seamlessly into the release candidate on release day and saves a lot of time and downloading.

Yes I am interested in Ubuntu 14.04 instead of fixing the current version.
Yes we do want Trusty and the rest of your new updates and better versions
etc.

What do I do next?
 ;;;;

You could alternatively abandon Raring and do a clean install of Trusty.
You will upgrade seamlessly into the release candidate on release day
and saves a lot of time and downloading.

Judy Kilday

On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 2:16 PM, actionparsnip <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> Just so you are aware, Raring is only supported one more week and is then
> EOL.
> You will then get no support and no updates from the official repositories.
>
> I suggest you upgrade to Saucy soon to continue support. You can then
> also upgrade to Trusty ( Ubuntu 14.04 ) which is LTS and supported til
> April 2019
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332/+confirm?answer_id=4
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

I have to install or update the Ubuntu to Saucy
using the command terminal?

sudo app-get update && sudo app-get upgrade

Judy Kilday

On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 2:31 PM, Judy Kilday <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
>
> Status: Answered => Open
>
> You are still having a problem:
> Yes I am interested in Ubuntu 14.04 instead of fixing the current version.
> Yes we do want Trusty and the rest of your new updates and better versions
> etc.
>
>
> What do I do next?
> ;;;;
>
> You could alternatively abandon Raring and do a clean install of Trusty.
> You will upgrade seamlessly into the release candidate on release day
> and saves a lot of time and downloading.
>
> Judy Kilday
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 2:16 PM, actionparsnip <
> <email address hidden>> wrote:
>
> > Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> >
> > actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> > Just so you are aware, Raring is only supported one more week and is then
> > EOL.
> > You will then get no support and no updates from the official
> repositories.
> >
> > I suggest you upgrade to Saucy soon to continue support. You can then
> > also upgrade to Trusty ( Ubuntu 14.04 ) which is LTS and supported til
> > April 2019
> >
> > --
> > If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> > know that it is solved:
> >
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332/+confirm?answer_id=4
> >
> > If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> > following page to enter your feedback:
> > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> >
> > You received this question notification because you asked the question.
> >
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

sudo fails with 'Unable to change to sudoers gid :operation not permitted.'
fault [closed]<http://askubuntu.com/questions/293321/sudo-su-fails-with-unable-to-change-to-sudoers-gid-operation-not-permitted-f>

when I try to use

sudo apt-get update

What I read was there is a problem with .Xauthority

and you need to reset the user from root to ....?

Judy Kilday

On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 3:46 PM, Judy Kilday <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
>
> You gave more information on the question:
> I have to install or update the Ubuntu to Saucy
> using the command terminal?
>
>
> sudo app-get update && sudo app-get upgrade
>
>
> Judy Kilday
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 2:31 PM, Judy Kilday <
> <email address hidden>> wrote:
>
> > Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> >
> > Status: Answered => Open
> >
> > You are still having a problem:
> > Yes I am interested in Ubuntu 14.04 instead of fixing the current
> version.
> > Yes we do want Trusty and the rest of your new updates and better
> versions
> > etc.
> >
> >
> > What do I do next?
> > ;;;;
> >
> > You could alternatively abandon Raring and do a clean install of Trusty.
> > You will upgrade seamlessly into the release candidate on release day
> > and saves a lot of time and downloading.
> >
> > Judy Kilday
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 2:16 PM, actionparsnip <
> > <email address hidden>> wrote:
> >
> > > Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> > > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> > >
> > > actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> > > Just so you are aware, Raring is only supported one more week and is
> then
> > > EOL.
> > > You will then get no support and no updates from the official
> > repositories.
> > >
> > > I suggest you upgrade to Saucy soon to continue support. You can then
> > > also upgrade to Trusty ( Ubuntu 14.04 ) which is LTS and supported til
> > > April 2019
> > >
> > > --
> > > If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let
> us
> > > know that it is solved:
> > >
> >
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332/+confirm?answer_id=4
> > >
> > > If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> > > following page to enter your feedback:
> > > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> > >
> > > You received this question notification because you asked the question.
> > >
> >
> > --
> > You received this question notification because you asked the question.
> >
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

I can't use sudo it gives me an error.

What are the consequences of not updating the version to Saucy?
The Current Version we are using is 13.04.

You suggested we upgrade to Saucy soon to continue support.

If we upgrade to Trusty ( Ubuntu 14.04 ) which is LTS and supported til
April 2019 what should we expect? (what kind of problems?)

Which is more favorable?

I have to be convincing in my arguements to upgrade to a supported version.

Judy Kilday

On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 10:31 PM, Judy Kilday <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
>
> You gave more information on the question:
> sudo fails with 'Unable to change to sudoers gid :operation not permitted.'
> fault [closed]<
> http://askubuntu.com/questions/293321/sudo-su-fails-with-unable-to-change-to-sudoers-gid-operation-not-permitted-f
> >
>
> when I try to use
>
> sudo apt-get update
>
> What I read was there is a problem with .Xauthority
>
> and you need to reset the user from root to ....?
>
>
> Judy Kilday
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 3:46 PM, Judy Kilday <
> <email address hidden>> wrote:
>
> > Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> >
> > You gave more information on the question:
> > I have to install or update the Ubuntu to Saucy
> > using the command terminal?
> >
> >
> > sudo app-get update && sudo app-get upgrade
> >
> >
> > Judy Kilday
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 2:31 PM, Judy Kilday <
> > <email address hidden>> wrote:
> >
> > > Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> > > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> > >
> > > Status: Answered => Open
> > >
> > > You are still having a problem:
> > > Yes I am interested in Ubuntu 14.04 instead of fixing the current
> > version.
> > > Yes we do want Trusty and the rest of your new updates and better
> > versions
> > > etc.
> > >
> > >
> > > What do I do next?
> > > ;;;;
> > >
> > > You could alternatively abandon Raring and do a clean install of
> Trusty.
> > > You will upgrade seamlessly into the release candidate on release day
> > > and saves a lot of time and downloading.
> > >
> > > Judy Kilday
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Jan 20, 2014 at 2:16 PM, actionparsnip <
> > > <email address hidden>> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Your question #242332 on Ubuntu changed:
> > > > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> > > >
> > > > actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> > > > Just so you are aware, Raring is only supported one more week and is
> > then
> > > > EOL.
> > > > You will then get no support and no updates from the official
> > > repositories.
> > > >
> > > > I suggest you upgrade to Saucy soon to continue support. You can then
> > > > also upgrade to Trusty ( Ubuntu 14.04 ) which is LTS and supported
> til
> > > > April 2019
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let
> > us
> > > > know that it is solved:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332/+confirm?answer_id=4
> > > >
> > > > If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> > > > following page to enter your feedback:
> > > > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/242332
> > > >
> > > > You received this question notification because you asked the
> question.
> > > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > You received this question notification because you asked the question.
> > >
> >
> > --
> > You received this question notification because you asked the question.
> >
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Ubuntu 10.04 , 12.04 & 14.04 are Long Term Support versions. They are safer versions. You will experience problems when you use a non LTS version.

I experienced problems especially when using Internet. I couldn't open some files, Firefox Web Browser couldn't do all things like sending/receiving emails etc. Also, I didn't get audios while watching videos..... These are some problems I experienced.

A novice will often complain about a non LTS version.

I think, from Actionparsnip's words itself it must be clear.

For more details [the first two answers given in the following link itself would be enough to get an idea]:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/34430/can-i-skip-over-releases-when-upgrading