Ubuntu

Uninstall Ubuntu 8.1 using terminal for reinstallation

Asked by NakiMum

THIS IS URGENT:
I'm using an Acer Aspire 3860 notebook and Ubuntu 8.1. Today after a 2hr internet session I did a shut down, when I tried to login after that all I got was the login with username and password screens and then NOTHING. Just an orange background, but at least the mouse-pointer still moves around. Left and or right click doesn't work.
I also tried to reinstall the live cd, but nothing happens.
Please help me to uninstall ubuntu 8.1 using commands in the terminal so that I can reinstall it.
I'm a child care provider and need the notebook for all my administration - the kids need their computer back which I've taken over.

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Tom (tom6) said : 		#1

Can you use the Ubuntu disk as a LiveCd (boot disk)?

You might have to pop into the bios with delete or f2 key in order to change boot order to boot off cd. It might be just that the screen resolution has changed or something. The LiveCd session should help you ascertain that all the data is still there and that everything is just being held back by some wierdness. Maybe re-installing Ubuntu over the top of where it already is might help. I tried this once and managed to avoid it destroying any data, it even remebered the programs i had installed.

Anyway take care and good luck :)

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Arnaudus (a-lerouzic) said : 		#2

Hi,

OK, so what probably happened is that something went wrong when shutting down, and one of the Gnome config files is in a bad shape. Can you login with another user name? If yes, it's due to a config file. If not, I don't know.

The easiest way to fix it is probably to erase all Gnome config files. Boot from the live CD, go to your home directory on the hard drive, and erase (or better: rename!) the directories .gnome and .gnome2 (and probably .gnome-private and .gnome2-private as well).

Note that your desktop configuration will be lost doing that. However, you can try to save the config files before erasing the directories, and copying them back to the .gnome and .gnome2 directories. Of course, if you copy the file that causes the problem, you will reproduce the problem --but al least you will know where the problem was.

Hope this helps!

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NakiMum (nakimum) said : 		#3

Hi Tom and Arnaudus

ARNAUDUS - I didn't really understand what you meant. Thanks for trying to help me.

TOM - Your answer was easier to follow. I just reordered the booting priority on my laptop and I got the install screen. Ubuntu was re-installed from scratch, but that's okay because I'd backed-up everything prior to the screen going completely blank. Talk about being lucky, luck isn't always on my side.

To both of you - thank you for everything. All the data was gone and all the installations that I did, but my laptop is working just fine. The data (pix, music, etc) I can get from my back up cd/dvd. Some of the programs I can re-install.

Keep well, until next time.

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Arnaudus (a-lerouzic) said : 		#4

Hi,

So --too late-- some details about my answer. If you could open the X server and launch gdm (the login/password windows), that meant that Ubuntu was working properly and you did not need to reinstall it from scratch. Ubuntu is not Windows, you can fix it! I was proposing a way to fix the system without losing any of your data. Too bad, you've lost everything now.

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NakiMum (nakimum) said : 		#5

Hi Arnaudus

it's okay - I've kept this so that if it happens again I'll know what to do.
Losing the data was okay because I had it all backed up on discs - luck for me.

I'll re-install ubuntu 1000 times if I have to, I will never go back to windows ever again. Ubuntu has so many programs available, etc and it's great for the kids. I don't have to go and buy more programs for them, I've got Edubuntu.

The help I've been getting here is better than I've ever received from any windows product.

Here's to another ubuntu fan.
Keep well.