linux mint 14 don't boot after apt-get upgrade

[igrossiter]

Hi, I having this problem since yesterday. after a sudo apt-get upgrade command, my computer dont want to boot anymore.

in the command the following packages were touched:

base-files:amd64 (6.5ubuntu11, 6.5ubuntu12),
xserver-xorg-core:adm64 (1.13.0-ubuntu6, 1.13.0-ubuntu6.1),
linux-generic:amd64 (3.5.0.17.19, 3.5.0.25.31),
python3-dbus:amd64 (1.1.1-1, 1.1.1-1ubuntu0.1),
python-dbus-dev:adm64 (1.1.1-1, 1.1.1-1ubuntu0.1),
python-dbus;amd64 (1.1.1-1, 1.1.1-1ubuntu0.1),
linux-libc-dev:adm64 (3.5.0-17.28, 3.5.0-25.39),
mountall:amd64 (2.42, 2.42ubuntu0.4),

after this the linux mint stops booting, freezing sometimes int the splash screen or on a black screen. Keyboard stops to function, but the computer turn off when I press the power button (a little after the buttom is pressed).

In the apt-history log have later a dist-upgrade, I think somehow i did this trying to solve this.

the following packages were installed:
linux-image-3.5.0.25-generic:amd64 (3.5.0-25.39),
linux-headers-3.5.0-25:amd64 (3.5.0-25.39, automatic),
linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic:amd64 (3.5.0-25.39)

packages upgraded:
libdbus-glib-1-2:amd64 (0.100-1, 0.100-1ubuntu0.1,
linux-headers-generic:adm64 (3.5.0.17.19, 3.5.0.25.31),
linux-image-generic:amd64 (3.5.0.17.19, 3.5.0.25.31)

I can get to the root command line choosing --recovery mode on grub, this is how I got the history log, while I was copying this log the computer died with a kernel panic - not syncing error.

how can I undo this updates?

I could even downgrade to mint 13 if this solves the problem

Thank you!

[karlchen]

Hello, igrossiter.

Sorry to read that some update prevents you from booting normally now.
As you are able to boot to the recovery console, you must be able to access the Grub boot menu.
In this Grub boot menu open the menu named "Previous Linux versions" directly below the Recovery console.
In this submenu you should find a list of all the old kernel versions which you have not uninstalled yet.
Select the newest kernel from the list which booted fine.
Provided the machine works correctly running on that kernel, you might make this the Grub default choice when booting. Doing so will spare you the hassle of manually selecting the last functional kernel on every reboot.

Provided booting to an older kernel does not workaround the current problem, please, post back.
In case anything should be unclear post back and ask, too.

Kind regards,
Karl
--
P.S.:
On Linux, there is no real "undo last update/upgrade".
About downgrading: Downgrading from Mint 14 to Mint 13 is achieved only by backing up all your data and performing a completely fresh installation from the scratch.

[igrossiter]

Hello Karl, thanks.

When I sawed this topic i knew I was doomed, since I did BOTH wrong things.

The kernel 3.5.0.17 was gone from my list, I ended installing linux mint 13 from scratch, (din't formated my "home" partition) and i'm copying all the config files that i need on the fly.

For me it ended being a great solution, since LM13 is more stable on my machine.

Thanks again!

[karlchen]

Hello, igrossiter.

On the one hand, it is a pity that you could not recover your Mint 14.
On the other hand, Linux Mint13 definitely is a great distro.
This why my office machine runs on Mint 13 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. And of course, the other reason is the 5 years' LTS.

Cheers,
Karl