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I was running Feisty Fawn 7.04 that a friend started me out with and got an alert that I could update/upgrade for 213 installations. I'm new to Linux and am working on a Windows XP that I was having problems with, so he suggested I try Linux, that it was very easy and couldn't possibly hurt it. Well, after installing the updates/upgrades (to Gutsy Gibbon 7.10), I no longer have a desktop after typing in my user name and password. All I get is a little box in the upper left-hand corner with the only thing working is < GET HELP ONLINE >. What did I do to mess up so bad? I did have a power loss during the installations (they cut the power in my area of town), could that have caused the problem? Before I did the installations, I couldn't get my printer to print from the desktop, couldn't get WINE to show up, and several other problems, AND according to the forums, Feisty Fawn 7.04 had no support. Another thing, I'm not a techie or programmer, so all these commands that you have to use frustrates me to no end. Is there a FIX I can do, or is it so simple, that I'm not getting it. Am I over analyzing the situation? This has been going on for over a month. Without the desktop - - I can't get to anything on the toolbar at the top of the screen such as: Applications, Places, Accessories. Please HELP ME - - I'M TOTALLY LOST.

Yes, the problem is almost certainly a broken upgrade, likely caused by the power outage. Since you said that you're new to Linux, maybe you don't have too many files stored on your old installation? If that is the case, then the best thing to do is to download a new and recent version, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Fedora, whatever, and re-install. This should fix your printer problems also. As a suggestion, when you set up your partitions, create a separate partition for /home. This way, you can always do a fresh re-install of a system without worrying about losing your personal files.

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If you don't have access to any other computer to download and burn a disc, you can either order one and wait, or head to any decent news and magazine stand or major bookstore (Borders, Barnes & Nobles, etc), where you'll be able to buy a disc. Look in the computer magazine section. It'll run around $10 or $15 I think. If you can open a terminal or otherwise get to a command line, you can also try typing: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

Proopnarine, I don't have any idea what to do. If I can't see my DESKTOP, how can I manipulate anything? How can I change the BIOS when I can't get to the Terminal, Applications, Accessories, Places, Computer, Add/Remove or anything else? I don't know how to change the BIOS. Is there a special key or sequences of keys that will get me to BIOS? If the desktop doesn't see the computer so that I can get to the Ubuntu 8.04 CD/DVD to do the installation, what do I do next? Where do I go to get command lines and what command lines do I type? Granted, I'll have to say I'm more familiar with things since being directed by so many caring people, but until I can actually get this thing running perfectly, I'm not going to be a "Happy Camper". I've even had thoughts of going back to Microsoft, heaven forbid that I do that, eh?

Proopnarine, by the way, what do you mean: "And did you download the normal or the server edition? I just went to Ubuntu 8.04 and selected LiveCD from there, it took forever to download to my desktop, even though I'm using DSL.. Also, I got a suggestion to type 'sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop', but again that doesn't work. I'm at my wits end not being able to work. Thank you for any help.

Sorry about the same messages. I tried to delete, but it wasn't having it. On my side, it said my time had expired, is there a way to delete the same message because it said I had an error?

Okay CeeCee. I re-read your original post. You were running an old version of Ubuntu, received a notification to update, and in the process of doing so a power outage occurred. After that, your computer simply does not function. Correct? I think that you need to tell us _exactly_ what you see when you boot your computer. That is, everything that comes up, to the point where you become stuck. If Reed's suggestion works, then great. It simply means that the installation/upgrade of your desktop was hosed, but the system is still functioning. Remember, Linux is not the desktop. The desktop runs on top of Linux, and can while it can fail, the system itself is still running and functional. So let's see if that works. However, I don't understand why the Live CD does not work either. What happens when you put it into the drive and boot? Let us know. It could be as simple as, your computer doesn't know how to boot from a CD, and you have to tell it how. So again, report to us what happens when you try to boot the Live CD. To access the BIOS, you need to note what the computer says when it starts up, about "Setup". Usually this can be accessed during the initial startup by hitting the delete key, or F6, or alt-F6, or some similar combination. But you have to note what the computer says is the correct key. So fire up the machine, and note very carefully what the messages say. I understand that this is very frustrating to you, but you haven't reported your problem very clearly, and we're only trying to help. This is not a Linux problem, trust me. I have run Linux on a wide variety of machines, under varied circumstances, for over ten years, and Linux works. It's highly unlikely that Windows will serve you any better here. Let's try to fix your machine first, and then you can decide which way to go.

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Hip-Hip-Hooray!! My Boo-Boos are all better now, just thought I'd let you know and tell you how much I appreciate you trying so hard to help me fix my numerous problems. My friend that got me started with Linux finally got back in town, I went & picked the disk he had installed (Feisty Fawn 7.04) with, reinstalled it, got my DESKTOP back and immediately copied Ubuntu 8.04 to my desktop, made a copy and then followed the information on checking the "integrity" installed it and H-E-R-E I am. Had to reinstall my account, but I had it copied down so it only took a minute. Before the desktop went out, I was having a problem with the desktop seeing my printer which is a Lexmark X1100/X1150 All-In-One. I'm going to try and print something after creating, wish me luck!!!

Proopnarine, do you possibly know why Linux doesn't support my printer? It's a Lexmark X1100/X1150. After installing WINE, I put in the installation, but all I got was a blue screen with no way to do anything with it. Had to HOTBOOT out and restart computer. Went to Ubuntu Forums and saw a couple of articles there and did what they said, restarted and finally got the printer ICON up in toolbar, but still can't get anything printed. The printer starts, then almost immediately it is STOPPED. ANOTHER PROBLEM: WINE shows up and translates the .exe files of some games on discs but I cant manipulate the game. It takes up the whole screen, but there's no quit or any other buttons, I have to HOTBOOT out of that too. Got any possible FIXES??

WINE runs some programs perfectly, and others are, like Reed said about the printer, iffy. It's very difficult to implement some of the non-native Windows stuff. But, now that you are up and running, why not give some Linux games a shot?! http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20080510052539217/Games.html

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Sorry, what is Windoze and where do I find it? Is it part of Linux or at another website? What is a VM Manager, VirtualBox (Sun). Remember, I'm new to Linux and so far it seems like you have to PROGRAM everything in Linux. I'm having to rethink all kinds of stuff because with Windows all I had to do was put in a disc and download. Would you please explain?