Some time ago I was using mint on a dual boot Lenovo laptop- it worked great. used windows exclusively for a a year, when i return to mint (18.3) and i can't find or can't remember how to access my apps.

I get a blank desktop and nothing else- no launcher.

I was able to launch firefox from a terminal but that's about it.

I'm sure it's simple but I'm stumped and it's a hard quesiton to google

thanks

Something seems to have gone seriously wrong with your Mint install.

Since you haven't used Mint is so long, my guess that the easiest course of action would be to reinstall. If you have crucial data on the Mint side of the computer (doubtful is you haven't touched Mint in so long), you could boot in Live CD mode, mount the partition, and copy that data to external storage. You could also try doing some troubleshooting from the Live CD. Here are some troubleshooting hints: https://sites.google.com/site/easyli...roject/display

If you want to troubleshoot this, at the Grub boot screen, there should be an option to boot to single user mode for troubleshooting. https://www.itzgeek.com/how-tos/linu...x-mint-12.html

You could also try ALT-CTRL-F2 and see whether you can open another TTY with the command prompt. https://mostlylinux.wordpress.com/tr...g/ttysessions/

I'd like to avoid reinstalling, mostly just don't have the time. I am using this machine a lot for ebay and whatnot. Can't take it down.

I am able to launch multiple TTY screens from the desktop.

AN alternative solution would be to get to the MBR and make windows he default. What happend is that I broke the screen on my laptop, so it never shows the boot screen. my external monitor only comes up after the OS has booted, and that means the default- Mint.

Thanks

Frankly, I think reinstalling Mint would take a lot less time than troubleshooting this. You could probably reinstall in about 20 minutes.

When you say you could launch multiple TTYs from the desktop, do you mean that you were able to open terminals, or did your screen switch to completely new TTYs that occupied the entire screen and presented login prompts. I was referring to the latter, which is not the same as the former.

And, if it's the former, that implies that you have at least a minimally functional desktop environment or else I've completely misunderstood your original question. (Which has a precedent.)

So I am led to ask, when you said you "lost your apps," did you mean that you lost desktop icons, or did you mean you lost the ability to interact with the OS from the desktop; I took the latter to be your meaning.

You could also boot to a Live CD of something and edit your GRUB configuration to make Windows the default. This article looks like a good starting point, but, if you are booted to a Live CD, you likely would already have root permissions.

Yes, i have a partially functioning desktop. I can right-click and get an option to open a TTY window, from which i can run whatever commands I can remember.

So, I just have a blank desktop with a nice desktop background and nothing else.

Also, in the directory tree I find a desktop folder containing all hte crap I left on the desktop.

So that makes me think this is a simple problem

Can you post a screenshot or photo of your desktop? If possible, include the right-click menu in the image.

If you click the "Go Advanced" button to the right of the "Post Quick Reply" button under the "compose post" window, you will be taken to a dialog which allows you to attach pictures to a post.

Also, which DE are you using with Mint?

I admit that I find this intriguing, and I would love to get to the bottom of this. Also, I'm done for the day. It's getting late in these parts.

98% of troubleshooting is identifying the culprit to shoot. The remaining 2% is usually easy.

Best wishes.

And welcome to LQ.

WIth any luck at all, the screen shot is attached.

Now this is really interesting, the portion on the right is what I am actually seeing, firefox is open to this page, there are NO desktop icons. The part of the image on the left is not visible to me.

But it's becoming clear where it is- it's on my smashed laptop screen.
So, i just need ot figue out how to move it to the monitor i am actually using.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Figuring out that I was simply seeing an empty monitor was a huge help. I was able to move desktop icon to the other screen and from there i could launch chrome- that was the real problem i was trying to solve.

Still have not figured out how to move the launcher to the other screen.

Thanks for the more information. I think you're on the right track.

Several of the laptops that I have owned had a Function key for manipulating multiple monitors. Generally, such buttons have a picture that sort of looks like a screen or two screens. By pressing the appropriate key combination, you can alter the monitor usage, for example, from a different displays on the two monitor, left monitor only, right monitor only, same display on both monitors, etc. I'd suggest looking for something like that.

If you don't have the manual for the computer, perhaps you can get one from the manufacturer's website. It might address this function.

That was it !!

THanks you