Hello, I hope somebody can help me. I have been using Linux Maya 13 for a couple of years now, with no problems. Yesterday, when I booted up the computer, there were no icons at all on the screen. It still showed my background screen that I had put on before. I had done an update the day before; I usually just update everything whenever there is a notification to do updates. I tried clicking contr-alt-del, and alt-tab, to no avail. This was installed by someone who knows a lot about computers, which I do not.
Thanks

Which desktop environment are you using?

What icons did you have on your desktop?

Sorry, I don't know what is meant by "desktop environment"; it's just a plain desktop? I had the standard linux icons that came with the initial install. Home folder, date, firefox, etc..

It just boots up now with the background picture, and nothing else; no taskbar, no icons, nothing.

Hit ctrl alt t on your keyboard, then enter these commands.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lestcape/cinnamon
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cinnamon
After you've done that, log out and log back in. If you can't log out, you can just reboot the computer. There will be an option in the log in menu to use the Cinnamon desktop. Click that, and you should be back in business.

Nothing happens when I hit ctrl alt t. I appreciate you trying to help!

Try hitting ctrl+alt+F1 instead.

No, now it just turned the screen black.

http://torrents.linuxmint.com/torren...v2.iso.torrent
That is the download link for Linux Mint 17. Download that, burn the image to a dvd, boot up the computer from the dvd and install it. When the computer is first turning on, you will have to hit F2, F12, esc, etc. Whatever your specific computer says to do. Then select to boot from the dvd.

Is there anyway you could post a photo of what you have on your screen?

I am going to bed now, because I work nights. I appreciate your time; the only thing I have on the screen is my picture that I had before on the screen, just a picture of my kids, but there is absolutely nothing else on the screen. No icons or taskbars, nothing else. I tried to right click, left click, ctrl f1, f2, etc, nothing seems to work. Thanks for your help! If you have any ideas, I'll take a look when I wake up later in the afternoon. I was thinking of installing Linux 17, I already made a disc. I am just afraid of losing all my stuff on my drives if I do that.

If you decide to go with 17, you can back up everything to an external hard drive before you do the installation. You can do that from the live dvd. Alternatively, you could choose to install 17 along side 13, then just copy all of your files over. I don't know if Linux Mint does it, but you might have the option to upgrade from the dvd too. You will just have to check.

I think I will install 17. I do have an external hard drive. I appreciate all the time you've spent answering my queries. Thanks again.

Not a problem. Hope all goes well. Report back if you have any troubles.