[SOLVED] How to fix Broken Ubuntu 12.04 GUI

julianvb · 08-25-2014, 06:17 PM

I've re-installed my Compaq's Ubuntu 12.04 at least three times due to a broken GUI in a couple of years. Is there any thing i can do to prevent GUI from getting bad? My system has a 80GB hard drive and 1.5Gb RAM, a DVD-RW and CD-RW drive.

The only way I can access Ubuntu 12.04m now is via text mode. As soon as I enter the startx command, the system shuts down. The same happens when I type 'sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm start.

I sense that I must have damaged the GUI somehow. Any help will be much appreciated as always.

julianvb

evo2 · 08-25-2014, 07:10 PM

Hi,

we need more information to provide help. For example are these "breakages" associated with some specific actions? Eg upgrades or configuration changes? Are there any errors reported? Eg in /var/log/Xorg.0.log or ~/.xsession-errors?

Evo2.

frankbell · 08-25-2014, 07:14 PM

Also, what video card and how much video memory?

Which GUI were you using? (I'm guessing Unity, but it's best to know for sure.)

Firerat · 08-25-2014, 07:18 PM

Content of /var/log/Xorg*.log will help

Probably miss-configured X , or maybe 'bad' gfx drivers

julianvb · 08-26-2014, 12:44 AM

Here's the Xorg.0log file, I managed to obtaion by using the Ubuntu 12.04 Live CD.
Thanks.

julianvb
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jdkaye · 08-26-2014, 11:12 AM

Quote:

94.218] (EE) open /dev/fb0: No such file or directory

It looks like you don't have a framebuffer. Perhaps something's wrong with your graphics card???
jdk

evo2 · 08-26-2014, 11:13 AM

Hi,

the only error in there is that /dev/fb0 is missing. Can you please answer the other questions? Was there a failed upgrade or something? Is the system up to date?

Evo2.

eSelix · 08-26-2014, 12:04 PM

This Xorg log is from properly running X session, we need log from crashed one, when you did "startx". When you run LiveCD mount your partition with old system for example by: "mount /dev/sda1 /mnt" (or by GUI method if there is one) and copy log from there, for ex. "/mnt/var/log/Xorg.0.log".

julianvb · 08-26-2014, 05:39 PM

Hi, Everyone,

Good news. Today I accessed Ubuntu 12.04 again via text mode and executed startx again after learning that the Intel 82845G video card has an 8.0MB memory. After about 20 minutes, luckily this time the system returned the following telling error:

Xauth: error in locking authority file /home/jul/.Xauthority

Ubuntu's GUI came back to life after I removed .Xauthority, and issued the startx command.

It pays to suspect and remove this file whenever a dark-screen GUI problem pops up. . As we know, the file regenerates itself afterwards.

julianvb