Ubuntu Desktop Crash...files locked
 

I recently used the synaptic package manager to remove a virtual gnome package that I was not using but now my system seems to crash. It starts to boot, allows me to login (including to terminal mode), but after I enter my login and password the system seems to hang on a blank screen. That is I get no desktop view. I can boot from a disk but then my files are locked. I apparently removed as necessary file. Is there any way to restore this?

I can login and enter password, but then system seem to hang with blank (orangish) screen. I can use terminal with Ctl-Alt-F1, but I have no internet connection.

When I run dpkg -l | grep linux-image this is what I get:

ii linux-image-2.6.24-16-generic 2.6.24-16.30
Linux kernel image for version 2.6.24 on x86
ii linux-image-2.6.24-21-generic 2.6.24-21.43
Linux kernel image for version 2.6.24 on x86
ii linux-image-2.6.24-22-generic 2.6.24-22.45
Linux kernel image for version 2.6.24 on x86
ii linux-image-2.6.24-23-generic 2.6.24-23.48
Linux kernel image for version 2.6.24 on x86
rc linux-image-2.6.24-23-virtual 2.6.24-23.48
Linux kernel image for version 2.6.24 on x86
ii linux-image-generic 2.6.24.23.25
Generic Linux kernel image

When I run other sudo apt-get commands such as update, upgrade, install...I hit problems because I don't have internet connection on this old Viao PCG-TR3A.

I do have earlier ubuntu 8.04 disk that has Ubuntu with GNOME and can add new partition and Ubuntu system, but still can't seem to access old locked files.

Any help appreciated.

Assuming you don't have the disc for the version you're currently running, you should be able to boot from the 8.04 disc and copy those files to an external hard drive or flash drive, then reinstall.

If you still cannot access those files from the live CD, in the terminal enter the command

You'll now be in a root shell. Now enter the command

All your old files should be available now. The old installation should show up under the /media/disk directory.

If you can get access to the net (a friend's house or something) and want to try to reinstall what you uninstalled, look at the file '/var/log/apt/term.log'

You may need to be root to view it.


****Also, if you reinstall, I would suggest creating a separate partition solely for documents. It's pretty straightforward, just choose the mount point to be '/home/username/documents'. That way if you ever have to reinstall, you won't need to copy all your files over to another drive or partition.