Ubuntu

Ubuntu 8.10 incomplete boot-up query

Asked by Johan Oosthuizen

I'm running Ubuntu 8.10 in WinXP through Wubi. However, since last night when I tried to dual boot into Ubuntu, it goes through the normal booting sequence up to displaying my desktop image but does not complete the boot, i.e. no menu or desktop icons.
Somebody suggested I try Ctrl + Alt + F1 and then Ctrl + Alt + F7 during startup, which works fine but when logging off or restarting, I'm faced with the same problem and have to login via the command prompt.
Suggestions on how to restore "normal" boot up & login via the GUI and information on what causes the anomaly would be much appreciated.

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Johan Oosthuizen
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Mark Hannon (markhannon) said : 		#1

Johan,

Can you clarify please, does your system boot up until the graphical login window displays and then you enter your username and password and the login process does not complete? If that is the case I can suggest that you have somehow damaged your gnome settings, the best bet is to use the Ctrl-Alt-F1 to login to a shell prompt and then move the gnome configuration directories out of the way.

Something like

$ mkdir .unused_settings
$ mv .gno* .unused_settings
$ mv .gconf* .unused_settings

This will reset your desktop to a more default place but at least you should be able to get going.

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Johan Oosthuizen (johan53) said : 		#2

Hi Mark,
No - just my desktop image displays without the login window. I guess that's the reason the boot sequence will not complete, i.e. no username/password login?
Will try the reset procedure.
Thanks

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Johan Oosthuizen (johan53) said : 		#3

Reset the desktop as you suggested and everything's back to normal.
Thanks again.

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Johan Oosthuizen (johan53) said : 		#4

Reset the desktop as you suggested and everything's back to normal.
Thanks again.