Being new to linux, I changed some settings using compiz and now I can't see anything but the desktop... How do I revert to prior settings or at least restore my os?

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better. Examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report so we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs. For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#When%20not%20to%20file%20a%20bug. There is also a vibrant support community available at http://askubuntu.com and you might consider asking your question there.

You might want to try booting in to recovery mode (when you start the computer) from there you should be able to get back in to compiz and fix things; and if that doesn't help, there should be an option about resetting your x display, that may also help.

Select "Ubuntu Classic" or "Ubuntu Classic (no effects)" as your session type on the graphical login screen (the drop-down menu for this is available in the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen, after you have specified your username, while you are being prompted for your password). Then you can log in to a functional classic desktop, and use that to undo the configuration changes you had made.

I think that did it! Thanks for the advice!

New to Ubuntu some resources:

the Ubuntu Manual, it's very informative: http://ubuntu-manual.org/
Click on the "download Button" to download the latest PDF version.

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Natty

The Ubuntu 11.04 Unity interface
http://theravingrick.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-effort-at-writing-help-for-unity.html
The Unity interface: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/natty/#what

- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows
- The Ubuntu pocket guide: http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/
- The online help https://help.ubuntu.com/10.10/index.html

Ubuntu web sites:
http://yaserxp.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/discover-the-best-ubuntu-resources-on-the-web/

Ubuntu online magazine: Full Circle Magazine - Ubuntu's 'unofficial' magazine.
http://fullcirclemagazine.org

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation
https://help.ubuntu.com/11.04/ubuntu-help/index.html
http://castrojo.tumblr.com/post/4795149014/the-power-users-guide-to-unity

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CommonQuestions