Upgrade from karmic to Lucid - boot stopped with 'cannot open theme file' /usr/share/kde4/apps/kdm/themes/ethais and live CD would not open after splash screen.

Asked by Shabakthanai

Two error messages appear stopping boot up procedure after upgrading from Karmic to Lucid. Additionally, I can not open the Live CD I downloaded to enter the system or get past the splash screen. Below it says to provide as much info as possible, above says one line, so here is additional ifno. Opening Icon in lower left corner of Splash screen, I selected KDE. I then chose repair broken packages and got the following at the end of the process. .....493 upgraded, 32 newly installed, 0 to remove, 0 not upgraded

need to get 415mb of archives
:E: you don't have enough free space in: /var/cache/apt/archives.

There are several gbs of space on each partition, includinig the boot partition. I don't understand how this file could be too small.

The system in question is Pentium 4 2300mhz with 512mb ram. From memory, I believe I saw KDE ver. 4.3.5 mentioned, but I am not positive. I also attempted to install using the live CD. After selecting install, it never came to a page where I would give my personal information and continued straight to the splash page. When I entered my username and password it went into a loup returning to an empty password space. I also selected KDE as the desktop. I took my instructions for upgrade from the Ubuntu website. Everything went smoothly until the instruction to restart. Hope this is useful. <email address hidden>

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said :
#1

Open a terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:

sudo fdisk -l

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Copy and paste result here.

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#2

On Sunday 07 February 2010 07:54:05 pm marcobra (Marco Braida) wrote:
> Your question #100275 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/100275
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> marcobra (Marco Braida) requested for more information:
> Open a terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and
> type:
>
> sudo fdisk -l
>
> give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you
> type it, then press enter.

[I am answering from a different computer; the one in question won't open. I
was surprised when the sudo command would work; I did not use a password. I
copied the information to my notebook and made a word document of the info. I
am copying and pasting the page to the email, however, I am not confident the
formatting will send accurately. The information is correct, I double
checked.]
>
> Copy and paste result here.
>

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda 82.0 GB, 81,964,302,336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9,964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16,065 * 512 = 8,225,280 bytes
Disk identifier Oxfffffff

Device boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 2432 19,535,008 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 2433 9964 60,500,790 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 2433 2675 1,941,866 82 Linux Swap /
Solaris
/dev/sda6 2676 9964 58,548,861 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 203.9 GB, 203,928,109,056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24,792 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16,065 * 512 = 8,225,280 bytes
Disk identifier Ox47d447a3

Device boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 12,635 101,490,606 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 12,636 24,792 97,651,102 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 12,636 24,792 97,651,071 83 Linux

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ _

Thanks friend,

Steven

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said :
#3

Sorry i forget to ask you also "df -h" space information.

Open a terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:

df -h

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Copy and paste result here.

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#4

On Sunday 07 February 2010 11:00:13 pm marcobra (Marco Braida) wrote:
> Your question #100275 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/100275
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> marcobra (Marco Braida) requested for more information:
> Sorry i forget to ask you also "df -h" space information.
>
> Open a terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and
> type:

This instruction suggests that you do not understand my situation. I have not
been able to boot to a desktop. I have no GUI other than the splash page
opens as a gui. I use the second icon from the left of the lower left corner
of the password entry page of the Operating System. It does not open past
that point. The Icon I am referring to gives me the opportunity to open a
command line entry while still in the boot process. I have to copy everything
to a notebook and transfer the information to a word document then past it
into the responding email. In this case I just typed it into the email.
>
> df -h
>
> give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you
> type it, then press enter.
>
> Copy and paste result here.
>
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ df -h

Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
aufs 249M 15M 234M 6% /
none 245M 372K 245M 1% /dev
/dev/sr0 716M 716M 0 100% /cdrom
/dev/loop0 694M 694M 0 100% /rofs
none 249M 0 249M 0% /dev/shm
tmpfs 249M 0 249M 0% /tmp
none 249M 80K 249M 1% /var/run
none 249M 0 249M 0% /var/lock
none 249M 0 249M 0% /lib/init/rw

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ _

Thanks!
Steven

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#5

try:

sudo apt-get clean; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get upgrade

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#6

On Monday 08 February 2010 08:09:03 am actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #100275 on meta-kde in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/meta-kde/+question/100275
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> try:
>
> sudo apt-get clean; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get upgrade
>
"sudo apt-get clean" to new line
"sudo apt-get update" returned several entries beginning with Errs, the first
being: http://security.ubuntu.com Lucid-security Release.gpg
Could not resolve 'security-ubuntu.com'

There were 9 Err's in total indicating same problem.

The result of the command "sudo apt-get upgrade" was as follows:

It ended with 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove, 0 not upgraded

I then did not know what to do, so I "sudo shutdown now -r". What opened was
a box about one inch by 4 inches on a black background that had a large
encircled X that said: X cannot open themes file
/usr/share/kde4/apps/kdm/themes/ethais I clicked the choice 'OK' to a black
screen with a cursor blinking in the upper left corner of the screen. I
waited several minutes, in case something was working in the background, but
finally shut down again.

Next, I put the Live CD in the cdrom, selected "Try Kubuntu without
installing", I checked the radio button for KDE in the icon, lower left corner
of box on splash screen, typed in my username 'steven' and my password and
pressed enter. The same screen returned with the password blank.

From the second Icon, I selected the option for a command line. This is what
appeared on the screen: (I do not know if the information is useful, but I do
not know that it is not. Sorry if I am including unnecessary information. I
had to hand write it and then type into this email, so there may be small
errors, but I don't think so.)

stdin: Error 0
stdin: Error 0
Shadow passwords are now on
Generating locales...
en_US UTF-8... up to date
Generation Complete
Using CD-ROM mount point /cdrom/
Identifying... [89cf3f6e55dfbfbe6caa2ce1c63599132-2]
Scanning disk for index files
Found 2 package indexes, 0 source indexes, 0 translation indexes and 1
signatures.
Found label 'Kubuntu _10.04_Lucid Lynx) - Alpha i386 (20100112.3')
This disk is called:
'Kubuntu _10.04_Lucid Lynx) - Alpha i386 (20100112.3'
Copying package lists.....gpgv: Signature mode Tue Jan 12 17:58:35 2010 UTC
using DSA key ID FBB75451
gpgv; Good signature from "CD Image Automatic Signing Key
<email address hidden>"
Reading package image... Done
Writing new source list
Source list entries for this disk are:
deb cdrom: [Kubuntu _10.04_Lucid Lynx_-Alpha i386 (20100112.3)]/
 lucid main restricted
Repeat this process for the rest of your CDs in your set
M: Skipping nonexistent file /cdrom/dists/lucid/main/linux-i386 Packages
M: Skipping nonexistent file /cdrom/dists/lucid/restricted/linux-i386 Packages
dpkg: Warning: Ignoring request to remove gdm-guest-session which is not
installed
no value set for `/apps/netbook-launcher/favorites/favorites_list
no value set for `/apps/netbook-launcher/favorites/favorites_list
run-parts /etc/update-motd.d/91-release-upgrade with return code
Linux ubuntu 2.6.32-10-generic #14-Ubuntu SMP Thu Jan 7 17:38:40 UTC 2010 i686
GNU/linux
To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>" for
details. (I read the man page.)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ _

Two things I noticed: The date entered is Jan 7 and should be Feb 7, and
there is a reference to i686, isn't that a 64bit reference (fifth line from the
end). This computer is i386.

Not yet, but thanks for the prompt effort.

By now I am sure you realize I am a newbie. If my efforts to help are a
nuisance because of my inexperience, please tell me to discontinue; I very
much would like to contribute though.

Thanks!
Steven

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#7

I suggest you boot to live cd and rename the .kde folder in your users home folder, this will default the settings when you next log ni and should help. You can then rebuild the profile or maybe even copy ome of the old contents of .kde to the new .kde to retain settings

Log a bug too.

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#8

On Monday 08 February 2010 02:03:07 pm you wrote:
> Your question #100275 on meta-kde in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/meta-kde/+question/100275
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> I suggest you boot to live cd and rename the .kde folder in your users
> home folder, this will default the settings when you next log ni and
> should help. You can then rebuild the profile or maybe even copy ome of
> the old contents of .kde to the new .kde to retain settings
>
> Log a bug too.
>
Since I cannot open to a GUI where I am more familiar, will this command
rename the folder: sudo rename .kde .kdeold *.foo .

Thanks,
Steven

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#9

On Monday 08 February 2010 02:03:07 pm you wrote:
> Your question #100275 on meta-kde in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/meta-kde/+question/100275
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> I suggest you boot to live cd and rename the .kde folder in your users
> home folder, this will default the settings when you next log ni and
> should help. You can then rebuild the profile or maybe even copy ome of
> the old contents of .kde to the new .kde to retain settings
>
> Log a bug too.
>
Since I can't get past the splash screen, I have to use the CLI. I am not too
experienced, however, here is what I tried: ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ mv .kde .kde-old
in response, I got no such file or directory.

I then tried: ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mv /home/steven/.kde .kde-old and got no
such file or directory.

Would this be a better command: ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ rename .kde .kde-old *.foo

I am just starting to learn the use of the command line.

Thanks!

Steven

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#10

> By now I am sure you realize I am a newbie.
Yes of course, but a newbie using a test release isn't supposed to be a newbie.
http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/lucid/alpha2

> Since I can't get past the splash screen, I have to use the CLI.
After booting from hd open CLI: Ctrl+Alt+F2
## don't use F1, that's the broken tty.
login and type:
startx

Other option is to boot into recovery mode.
http://unixlab.blogspot.com/2009/08/exploring-ubuntu-recovery-mode.html

Clarification, few days ago the update of kde greet libraries removed kde login themes.
In your case:
/usr/share/kde4/apps/kdm/themes/ethais
If you've made a backup you may import it back in place.
Which doesn't guarantee a permanent solution however.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kdebase-workspace/+bug/517803

If you're back into the system, clean up package cache, because test releases will overflow it with updates, hence if you don't have enough space on hd, you'll get sooner or later in trouble.
Especially take note of kernel image updates, they wont remove older images automatically.

sudo apt-get autoremove && sudo apt-get clean && sudo apt-get autoclean

However, as a testing user, you need to know, how to get back into the system, to repair, to log bugs and in condition of just being patient waiting for the next update which fixes the issue, because there are more to come.
These are ground rules about testing.

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#11

On Monday 08 February 2010 09:50:09 pm you wrote:
> Your question #100275 on meta-kde in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/meta-kde/+question/100275
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Sam proposed the following answer:
> > By now I am sure you realize I am a newbie.
>
> Yes of course, but a newbie using a test release isn't supposed to be a
> newbie. http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/lucid/alpha2
>
> > Since I can't get past the splash screen, I have to use the CLI.
>
> After booting from hd open CLI: Ctrl+Alt+F2
> ## don't use F1, that's the broken tty.
> login and type:
> startx
>
> Other option is to boot into recovery mode.
> http://unixlab.blogspot.com/2009/08/exploring-ubuntu-recovery-mode.html
>
> Clarification, few days ago the update of kde greet libraries removed kde
> login themes. In your case:
> /usr/share/kde4/apps/kdm/themes/ethais
> If you've made a backup you may import it back in place.
> Which doesn't guarantee a permanent solution however.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kdebase-workspace/+bug/517803
>
> If you're back into the system, clean up package cache, because test
> releases will overflow it with updates, hence if you don't have enough
> space on hd, you'll get sooner or later in trouble. Especially take note
> of kernel image updates, they wont remove older images automatically.
>
> sudo apt-get autoremove && sudo apt-get clean && sudo apt-get autoclean
>
> However, as a testing user, you need to know, how to get back into the
> system, to repair, to log bugs and in condition of just being patient
> waiting for the next update which fixes the issue, because there are more
> to come. These are ground rules about testing.
>
Haven't seen my grandchildren in a few years. I was told that Lucid had made
headway in WebCams. That is the reason I am using Lucid on a secondary
machine.

Thank you for a method to get the computer open. It still requires Ctrl + Alt
+ F2 and startx to open the computer. Thanks for the instructions. I will
follow them diligently and daily until things are stabilized.

Revision history for this message
Best Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#12

Shabakthanai,
since you get back into the system, please mark the question as solved.
You may confirm the bug with click at the top of bug report #517803:
Does this bug affect you?

Please follow bug updates in order to resolve further issues, thanks.

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#13

The bug is RESOLVED. Thanks, and thanks for the great job you continue to do with Kubuntu. You are much appreciated.

Steven

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#14

On Tuesday 09 February 2010 12:05:46 pm you wrote:
> Your question #100275 on meta-kde in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/meta-kde/+question/100275
>
> Linked to bug: #517803
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/517803
> "kubuntu lucid can't load the login page"
>
It was suggested I report the bug as Resolved. I couldn't find the place to do
it. If you can, please enter this bug as solved. Thanks and thanks for the
help..

Revision history for this message
Shabakthanai (stevenvollom) said :
#15

On Wednesday 10 February 2010 10:40:14 am you wrote:
> Bug #517803 status changed in kdebase-workspace in ubuntu:
>
> Triaged => Fix Released
>
> Status change explanation given by Jonathan Thomas:
>
> Fixed with the 4.4.0 packages for Lucid.
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kdebase-workspace/+bug/517803
> "kdm fails to start: "/usr/share/kde4/apps/kdm/themes/ethais cannot be
> opened""
>
> This bug is linked to #100275.
> Upgrade from karmic to Lucid - boot stopped with 'cannot open theme file'
> /usr/share/kde4/apps/kdm/themes/ethais and live CD would not open after
> splash screen.
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/meta-kde/+question/100275
>
I followed your above link. When I tried to attach my comment, it gave an
error. I am not sure if it was the length of my statement or the acronyms
that showed as spelling errors, however, if what you are reading is a burden,
jump to the last paragraph; it may profit us both.

I received a workaround from you which got me past the splash screen. You had
me CtrlAlt+F2, enter my user name and password, then enter startx. This opened
the system for me. Today when I tried to open using your workaround, I was
stopped with several error messages. I copied them all down. When I finally got
to a place where I could not proceed, I decided to try booting again and
trying your workaround. This time a different type of problems appeared. As
follows:
Fatal server Error:
Server is already active for display 0
If this server is no longer running, remove /tmp/ .X0-lock and start again. (I
don't know how to do this.)
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support at http://wiki.x.org for help.
ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log
Invalid MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE--1 keygiving up
xinit: Resource temporarily unavailable (errno 11): unable to connect to
xserver
xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error.
Steven@Yeshua:~$
You efforts are precious and your manners exceedingly proper, however, my
intent is to help. It appears that I am so far over my head that I will
produce more problems for you than results or helps. No need to be polite.
Whatever you suggest I will do. If you think my efforts to help will not be a
burden, I will happily continue; if it looks like I will mostly waste your
precious time, I will reinstall Karmic, and continue my learning process. I
desire to help, but only profitable help. I don't want to become a BUG. You
guys are so excellent. Whatever you decide is perfect with me. By the way, I
hand copied all the errors and explanations that got me to this point. The
only reason I did not write them in this comment is because I did not know it
would be relevant reading for you, with me at this level of experience. Thanks
for all you do.

Steven

Revision history for this message
Hawk (rthawkcom) said :
#16

Anyone know of a way to simply REMOVE Lucids splash screen? It keeps locking up my server.