my desktop has disappeared and all I have is a black screen.
 

I have to use alt-ctrl-n to get online. I cannot access anything else on the computer. I have an Eeepc 900 running linux. Please help. I'm sure it has something to do with settings but I don't know how to fix it. Thanks

Can u give a little more details about the issue

i.e
what distro u r using
what have done, the last time u logged in
what exactly is happening now

I don't know what a distro is.

The last time I logged on, I removed some of the programs I don't use like the tuxpaint and programs designed for small children.

I just checked - it has a version of xandros

To get to the add/remove place I had to use

alt-ctrl-t

then I typed in sudo synaptic and it gave me synaptic Package Manager

I only went to specific packages like "games" and uninstalled certain things. I did not remove anything or permanently uninstall.

I was glad to find this because I had been told that factory installed software could not be uninstalled. I thought that could not be accurate info so I kept searching.

I am very familiar with windows but this is my first experience with Linux. The OS on this Eeepc is a bit too basic for me so most likely, I will be purchasing another laptop and using this one as a back up.

Thanks for your help.

I went and checked

My Eee pc uses a version of xandros

When I last logged in I used alt-ctrl-t and typed in sudo synaptic. I uninstalled some of the games designed for small children. I did not remove them completely.

Thanks for your help.

so right now you're sitting at something like-
xandros login:

if so, then login, goto su
check to see if you can start your graphical login

/etc/init.d/gdm start
/etc/init.d/kdm start
(depending on what gui "graphic user interface" you're running)

if it starts, then login

if you get something that says these programs aren't installed.
get to root

apt-get install gdm/kdm (i can remember if xandros runs gnome or kde)

if problems still exist you will have to add more specifics to your post. like the out put of what happens when you have tried to start your display manager, graphical login prompt. (the two stated above)

Linux comes in many flavors, called distros, all of them offering a distinct set of softwares you can install (with likely a lot of common items) and a different way to install and remove them (called package management). These are called distros. You seem to be computer savvy, although not linux savvy. So if you find you are not satisfied with Xandros anyway, you may install another distro instead of trying to fix this one. You can find walkthroughs on the internet for installing another distro. If you already have an idea of what you want this computer for, you could try a debian.

This is just only suggestion…

@emetib - Thanks. I'll give this a try. I don't have to login. When I boot up, the bar shows up across the bottom of the screen and I can still minimize/restore it but every thing else is black. When, for example, I click on the icon to shut down, nothing happens because the black screen prevents me from being able to see the options box.

I went back to the package management and search for anything that had anything to do with graphics and/or desktop but did not find anything out of the ordinary. I tried to set everything back to factory default but the screen is still black.

@synss - Thanks for the info and suggestions. You are correct; computers yes, Linux no. And I don't like this OS at all. I'm going to buy another laptop and use this one as a back up but I wouldn't need to do that if I were to find a different version. I'm going to take your advice and look around a bit before I throw in the towel. Linux seems to function extremely well. Now that I know I'm not stuck with this one, I'll give it a second look.