oops, sorry eric, i didn't see your answer.
my problem is that my touchpad doesn't work.
upgrading is usually the best solution to keep the system safe in windows, so i guessed it was the same with linux. how was i supposed to know that the system would propose me something that could harm my computer?
anyway, the upgrade is done now, so there's no need to talk about my mistakes, let's just try to fix them.
i don't know how to get back to the previous version, please give me a step by step.
i hope i've answered all your questions.
regards

First make sure the touchpad is enabled using the Fn key
Another option to try
press CTRL_ALT_F2
login
type

i'm sorry i don't understand what you mean.
what am i supposed to try exactly??

i made the manipulation that you asked, it said :
reading of package lists... done
construction of dependance tree... done
reading of information states... done
E: Impossible to find the package x-server-xorg-input-synaptics

Every laptop has a fn key
It is used to disable or enable the mousepad, wireless, monitor...

The combination on my laptop is
fn-F8

Take a look at the manual from the laptop

Now how do I get out of this weird console mode ?
shall i type startx?

my laptop is a hp. what would the combination be for mine?

It is

oh sorry i added an extra -.
so now i wrote it again and i said
reading of package lists... done
construction of dependance tree... done
reading of information states... done
xserver-xorg-input-synaptics is already the latest available version.
the following packages have been installed automatically and are no longer necessary :
(do you want me to copy the 4 lines that are written here?)
please use "apt-get autoremove" to uninstall them.
0 updates,0 newly installed, 0 to delete and 0 nonupdates.

Hi,

Upgrading sometimes is a good solution, but never should be performed without taking the necessary precautions. And upgrading on Windows to keep the system safe?? Here at the office we're still using Windows XP instead of having upgraded to Vista or Windows 7 (which will not happen if I have a say in the matter).

I think you are confusing upgrading packages (software) with upgrading the system. The upgrade you performed is a dist-upgrade, installing new drivers, new options and a lot more stuff that might not work on the same hardware your previous version was running. So it's always a good idea to make a backup prior to upgrading the OS so that you can revert to the previous version fast without having to reinstall from CD.

Getting back to the previous version is best done by booting from the CD, deleting the partitions and start from scratch. Needless to say you'll need to make a backup of your documents and stuff before doing so.

Kind regards,

Eric

This tells you that the necessary packages have already been installed.

Try running:
If it doesn't show any errors, verify if the touchpad is working again.

Kind regards,

Eric

Try this
http://danilogurovich.wordpress.com/...hpad-behavior/

eric,
i thought this was a sort of "windows update". such updates are usually good windows, i didn't know that linux would propose me something that could damage my computer.
i thought linux could go for years without even any restart, and i would need to reinstall it all after a few days only??? I'd rather not do that. I don't know how to anyway. And i'd rather not lose time/money to make backups just to reinstall linux.

Repo, you're good and fast

Kind regards,

Eric

how am i supposed to verify that, i cant even see the cursor. how do i get out of this black console?