First up, I'm clueless so be gentle

A few years ago i installed (what i believe) was Xubuntu on my PC as a dual boot with windows , just to play around with it.

It didn't take long to figure out that all i do is browse the web and not much esle, so i used either as the fancy took me.

A while ago i had a notification that i had updates available and i downloaded them.

Update was to 12.04 lts and since then i have no main menu, nothing happens on the top panel except the name of the app running and the option to close/minimise it. (top right still has updates, envelope icon, volume, user and shut dowm).
There is an 'alacarte' menu down the left side but it has limited options.
Anyways, i let it go as i didn't need terminal or anything else but now my son wants to play online games and i don't want him doing it on windows, and want to set up his own user id so he won't screw mine up but i can't do a thing with this OS at all

I went to a Xubuntu help live forum and they recon it must be ubuntu but when it loads it says Xubuntu (y'know, at startup with the mouse, and the cylon back and forward thing).
When no apps are running it says Ubuntu desktop on top panel???

Any help would be good.
can i update to 12.10 without loosing anything and can i check if it is Xubuntu or ubuntu?

thanks

Open a terminal using ALT+CTRL+T and then you can check OS using cmd:

Some screenshots would help to identify it.

Ubuntu tends to look like this, while Xubuntu tends to look like this. Do either look familar to your current desktop?

While you are in the terminal (ALT+CTRL+T as shivva mentioned, or hit CTRL + ALT + F2, then login to the virtual terminal there. You can then hit CTRL + ALT + F7 to get back to the desktop) run these commands to find out what flavor and version of the Ubuntu family you have: http://www.ubuntuka.com/how-to-find-out-ubuntu-version/

If your upgrade to 12.04 went badly, and this can often happen, then trying to upgrade to 12.10 from a borked 12.04 will likely not go very well.
I always do clean installs of Ubuntu. I never do dist-upgrades. With a clean install you start with a clean slate, and this is the most foolproof way to avoid problems with upgrades.

And welcome to the LQ forums!

Maybe you have installed either xubuntu-desktop in Ubuntu, or ubuntu-desktop in Xubuntu? Do you get the login-screen, or are you automatically logged in? If you log out, what alternatives of desktops do you have from the login-screen?

Linux hugh-desktop 3.2.0-31-generic #50-Ubuntu SMP Fri Sep 7 16:16:45 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
it used to look like xubuntu, now it looks like ubuntu
hugh@hugh-desktop:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise

can i do a clean install without loosing everything or should i save what i want and start again?

I don't realy care if it is X or U, just want to add a user at this stage

Make backups; also of your Windows stuff. Upgrades as well as fresh installs can and do go wrong

If you will loose data during a fresh install or not depends on your current setup (seperate home partition or not)

You do not need to reinstall to switch desktops. You choose which desktop you want from the login screen. (If you have auto-login enabled, disable it.) Look for a little "gear" icon next to your username, there's a screenshot here:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/xfce

Here are easy instructions to get rid of the new Unity/Ubuntu desktop completely and get back to your familiar Xfce/Xubuntu default desktop:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/purexubuntu

Since your original install was Xubuntu the upgrade naturally defaults to xfce desktop. The problem with recent Xfce (v. 4.10) is that it offers two (2) types of sessions: the Empty and the Basic (which offers simple application menus) This choice between empty and basic can be decided at the login screen <look for the Session tab, or simply at first login the choices are offered, make your choice>. The offer of an empty desktop is a "welcome" to me since I always love to configure everything, but this is not a welcome option to those who have no time to learn and control the DE.

Just a brief advice.
Choose the "Basic" desktop when prompted.
Or go use either KDE (Kubuntu) or Gnome (Ubuntu) if you have NO TIME for configuration or controlling Desktop is not your appetite.

HOpe that helps.

Good luck.

1 members found this post helpful.

There is no prompt anywhere for "basic" desktop
First there is the selection of Ubuntu at thr grub menu
Then it loads "Xubuntu" with the back and forward cylon eye thing
Then on the login screen i can only choose between myself and guest user (at the bottom of the screen it says copyright "Ubuntu 12.04 lts")
And then when it is up and running it says "ubuntu desktop" at the top left........

I'll post this and go have another (4th) look for this Empty/Basic of which you speak

Yeah, found it, thanks a bunch.
That little round symbol next to my login is an icon.

Many thanks, i'll let you know how i go

so i have a choice between:
-gnome classic
-gnome classic (no effects)
-recovery console
-ubuntu
-ubuntu 2D
-user defined session
-xfce session
-xubuntu session

gnome classic seems to be what i'm after but what are they all??????????

Gnome 3 with the old Gnome 2 look.
same as above but without things like Compiz.
Use this is you want to repair things that stop you getting into a normal desktop session.
Unity.
Unity without Compiz.
You choose what you want to use.
Xfce
Xubuntu which is XFCE.

Simple. They are nothing but just different graphical user interface. You can try them all and choose the one you really like. Under the hood is the same old Gnu-Linux

In Linux there are many different user interface for people to choose, some people like to have the choice. Unlike Microsoft or Apple the user only has one and that is it.

Good luck to you!