Restart problem
 

I am running Ubuntu 14.04 on a Dell laptop Intel Core 2 cpu 5600 @1.83 GHz X 2, 32 bit.

After installing new updates, I try to reboot and it just goes into Never Never Land. The little dots light up and turn off under the Unbuntu, but never stops. After an hour I must turn off the laptop.

have you checked the logs?
you can still try shutdown and than power on..

Boot into recovery mode & take a look at messages.
cat /var/log/messages | less

It doesn't matter if I choose RESTART or SHUT DOWN. It never shuts down either way.

When I go to Terminal and type in cat /var/log/messages

I am told there is no such file.

Remember I am a newbie

Thanks

Sorry - can't find the logs.

Try
Also may sure that the upgrade completed
Run

WHAT updates ?

if you are using the proprietary ati or nvidia driver
and you update the kernel
then rebooting will be a pain in the rear-end
( if you are NOT expecting it )

boot into the multi user TEXT ONLY boot
( for debian this is ? 4 -- or is it 2 )
login as root in the text login
http://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/...u-linux-14-04/
( PS. i use redhat and that is very very very simple to get to a text only boot add a " 3 " )




and navigate to /var/log
and run ls to get the correct name of the files

some files can NOT be read by a normal user , they are accessible by root only

and use "nano" or " pico" or "vi" to read the boot.log

that will tell you what is wrong