Ok, so I just got this new-old computer from an auction site and it has no Windows. Ubuntu is the only OS on this thing...no windows whatsoever. Anyway, so it was working great until an upgrade pops up...no big deal right? WRONG!!!!!

Damn thing failed and now I get a blue screen of nothing when I log in. Just blue with nothing on it, nothing to click, no error messages... It seems that the Ubuntu console disappeared. It also changed my login box and text colors so its damn near impossible to see...white on white. Not sure what happened but I am one sad Ubuntu noobie!!!!

Whats worse, I have no backup anything. You may pelt me with stones now, I deserve it...I guess I wasnt thinking. And now, I have no clue what to do at all...totally in this over my head. Can anyone give me a simple solution? I dont really know if data is lost or if I just am unable to see it.

Tried downloading a new copy of Ubuntu onto a disk...yeah, nice that they crammed like 10kb extra data and made the program more than an average a disk can handle...ugh! So gonna get a jump drive today and hoping for some help from a kind soul out there who will gently walk me through my first Ubuntu mishap.... Thanks if you can help me.

If you have any important files on this box, boot to a Live CD of something (the Ubuntu CD usually has a Live CD option; otherwise, Knoppix is a good choice) and copy your files to removable media, such a thumb drive, or via network to another computer if that's an option.

Then take the easy way out and reinstall clean.

If the Live CD doesn't boot, test it in another computer; if it works in another computer and not in this one, you may have a hardware problem.

Note that you may have to enter the BIOS and change the boot order settings so that "boot to CD/DVD" is before "boot from hard drive." Some computers, notably Dells, present an option on boot to choose boot media.

Can i ask if you can log in as root or in root account?
Did you try to use other account?

If you can log in as root.

Go to Computer/File System
Look for Home Folder.
Select your account name.
Open Account Folder and set to view hidden files.
To view hidden files Press Ctrl + H or Go to View Tab and Select view Hidden Files.
Select
.gnome2_private
.gnome2
.gimp-2.6
.gconfd
.gconf
.fontconfig
.config
folder and cut it and paste it for example Root account Desktop.
Then log off and try to log in using your account.

May be this one help.