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Ubuntu woke up dead

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 5:21 pm
by kilaueabart
When I booted up my Ubuntu 16.04 this morning, I wasn't able to launch any apps. The little spinning round thing that replaces the cursor kept going spinning if I brought it onto the desktop, but would turn into an ineffective cursor in the top or bottom panels.

I used the Reset button on the machine, but Ubuntu came back up in the same condition. I found that clicking the cursor on the Trashcan in the bottom panel didn't open the can, but the cursor changed to that spinning, "I'm working," form. After a while it changed back into a cursor, even on the desktop itself, but still wouldn't do anything.

The upper panel had a couple of strange icons. On the very left of the upper panel I expect some concentric circles with an arrowhead poking in from the left. Instead there is what looks like a file icon with a red "x" on it. And on the right where one would click to shut down or reboot there was something strange that ignored clicking. The clock, however, kept time as it was supposed to, slightly encouraging. Reset button again, and here I am in Fienix.

Duplicity spent a long time in Ubuntu yesterday making 52 vol##.difftar.gz. Any chance that will save me?

Re: Ubuntu woke up dead

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 8:04 am
by xeno74
Hi Kilaueabart,

In my point of view you have overwritten some files. Please create a new user and login with this new user.

For example:

Code: Select all

sudo useradd -m newuser

Code: Select all

sudo passwd newuser
Cheers,
Christian

Re: Ubuntu woke up dead

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:29 pm
by kilaueabart
I must learn to wait 24 hours before reporting disasters. I decided to give it another try this morning, and it's up and running fine! I guess it will always be a mystery why it failed twice yesterday, after accepting my password and almost coming up normally.

I see I was wrong about the upper left corner. Not a bunch of concentric circles and one arrow head as in some screen shots here, but two circles held apart by three arrow heads at 1, 5, and 9 o'clock.

Thanks, Christian. Sorry I bothered you. I am going to use your suggestion anyway.