No GUI after updating -- SOLVED

[pftavares]

Also no network...
So I can't copy and paste the output of anything... Even if I knew how to do it in a command line...
I'm using another computer and Windows to be here.

The problem computer is an Asus eeepc.
It's specifications are:
CPU Intel Atom Z520 @ 1.33GHz 39 °C
Silverthorne 45nm Technology

RAM 2,00 GB (4-5-5-?)

Motherboard ASUSTeK Computer INC. 1101HA (CPU 1) 53 °C

Graphics Plug and Play Monitor (1366x768@60Hz)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500

Hard Drives 149GB Hitachi HTS543216L9SA00 (SATA) 33 °C

There were a lot of updates available. Around 1200 packages to download.
After installing about half the updates there was an error saying "mplayer" was not found, or corrupt. (I don't remember exactly what)
Then the update process stopped. I did a refresh and there were still lots of updates to apply.
After a while I got the same error and it stopped again.
Then I did the stupid thing, probably... I rebooted... Thought it needed to "digest" the first lot of updates to be able to get the rest...

Stuck with command line, I'm able to login as a user or as root, and that's it.
No network, no GUI... The starx command gives an error with lots of things I can't understand.
Somewhere it says something about having to use the 2.88 image... I was working fine with Linux 3.0x.

Is there an easy solution? I'm very close to completely clueless in command line usage.
But I can type any set of commands you advice me...

Thanks in advance!

[ketoth]

Oh. UP4 was using Linux kernel 3.2.0-2, UP5 (actual) is using 3.2.0-3. So if I don't misunderstand, you were doing a UP3 -> UPx. Could be a little more difficult. *ticks checkbox to be notified for new replies in the thread*
Let's type some commands. First of all, log in

To see what kernel version you're using:

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uname -r

To try to resume the upgrade where you left it:

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sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Depending of the situation, it could give you an error message (immediately). Write it down, post it here and ignore the next steps for now.

If the upgrade resumes, it will sometimes ask if you want to keep some config files or replace. Just press 'Enter' to confirm that you want to keep them.

If it still says that mplayer's missing, well... mplayer is a dependency of gnome-mplayer, which is dependency for gecko-mediaplayer, which is dependency for mint-meta-codecs. So the safest way to make sure you have all the multimedia software needed by Mint, is installing the metapackage.
Yes you will need internet connection, that's tricky: wireless probably won't work or be hard to get working fine. So connect with ethernet cable, wait a few seconds, then type this to see if network.. works:

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ping -c 3 google.com

If yes, type this to install the metapackage:

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sudo apt-get install mint-meta-codecs

This way you're sure to have mplayer, and you can continue with sudo apt-get dist-upgrade.
Once everything finished (if we're lucky), type this to restart the PC and see if the GUI can be loaded:

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sudo reboot

[pftavares]

uname -r
3.2.0-2-486

apt-get dist-upgrade
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3qbewkxjt8i12 ... .13.34.jpg

using wired connection!

ping -c 3 google.com
unknown host google.com


Thanks!

[Monsta]

Hmm, this is the second time (the first was here) I see someone still trying to use upstream debian repo (debian-multimedia.org) in LMDE.
The full transition to the Mint repos happened a year ago (or two update packs ago). Might be a good idea to read this LMDE FAQ.

[pftavares]

use upstream debian repo (debian-multimedia.org) in LMDE.

Thanks for the info, but I haven't the faintest idea of what you're talking about... I'm a real newbie!
As far as I can understand till now, my problem would probably have an easy solution if I had network connection to the internet.
Is it possible to restore it from the command line?

[ketoth]

Yep, two issues: network problem, and sources problem.
Hopefully you weren't using DHCP, would mean the network stack is buggy and/or DNS resolving is buggy (could still be the case, my oh my).

If after all this below we can't get it fixed, maybe the the easiest and fastest for you would be to unmount the hard disk drive, connect it to a third-party PC with Linux (SATA-to-USB adapters or hard disk docks are great for this), copy your /home/{user} directory (don't forget hidden files and other files you want to keep), format and install a fresh LMDE again. Dependency and package downgrade, well it's possible but I'm unsure you want to get through this. Let's see:

Network:

run this command to check the actual status:

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sudo ifconfig

Since you're wired, the interesting item is "eth0" (or "eth1"). A running interface should show a "inet adr {IP} Bcast {broadcast} mask {mask}".

To see the content of the config file:

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cat /etc/network/interfaces

Normally the network is taken over by Network-Manager.

Since we can't count on DHCP, you may need to enter the network information manually. This is a common case in GNU/Linux server systems, but may not apply to desktop systems: everyone, correct me if I'm wrong:
first, backup of the actual file:

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sudo cp  /etc/network/interfaces  /etc/network/interfaces.backup

Then, edit the file:

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sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces

So this is Vi. It's a text editor in command line.
First, press the letter "i" to swap to INSERTION mode. With the arrow keys, go to the lines:
allow-hotplug eth0
#NetworkManager#iface eth0 inet dhcp

For both of them, add a "#" before:
#allow-hotplug eth0
##NetworkManager#iface eth0 inet dhcp

With Enter, add new lines. Type this (this is an example, you have to change the information according to your network, you can look in Windows if you're unsure):

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auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.0.10
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 192.168.0.0
broadcast 192.168.0.255
gateway 192.168.0.1

When done, press the "Esc" key to exit the INSERTION mode, then type ":w" + Enter: this writes the file to the disk. Then, type ":q" + Enter to exit.
sudo reboot, to restart the PC. Check again if the ping fails.

*if you can get everything fixed and GUI starting again, restore the original interfaces file:

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sudo rm /etc/network/interfaces && sudo mv /etc/network/interfaces.backup /etc/network/interfaces

Sources:

Your APT sources seem messy. A running network would be great here.

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sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

Change the content so it's like this:

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deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import
deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/ testing main contrib non-free
deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/security/ testing/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/multimedia/ testing main non-free

Then (and if your network is running fine), refresh the update list:

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sudo apt-get update

.. and install/upgrade what is needed:

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sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

[pftavares]

Thanks! You're being very helpful!

ifconfig produces no output...

cat /etc/network/interfaces
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uuix5ma8960a5 ... .30.06.jpg

after edition with Vi (tried to adapt your instructions to my network values. Perhaps I did something wrong here...)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tej0a5rw3syzd ... .20.52.jpg

In windows the network configuration I have is like this
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6lue65yvr04l6 ... .37.31.jpg

Rebooted and... all is the same... no ping, no network...

Perhaps some output from the boot will help you figure out the problem...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/krw7po1g2t97d ... .41.19.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2tvig7wxzxycc ... .01.06.jpg

and also the system response to a startx command
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0fp0xiy814stc ... .44.39.jpg

Am I a lost case...?

[ketoth]

"sudo ifconfig" should at least output some lines for "lo" (localhost). Right kown the networking service isn't running.
Only thing with your /etc/network/interfaces, is the network: should be "192.168.1.0". But anyway you can restore the original interfaces file, the Windows screenshot tells that DHCP is used. We just need the service working so it can autoconfig with DHCP.

Service not running: the [failed] in the boot sequence, Google finds me some advice to run:

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sudo apt-get install --reinstall ifupdown

Then reboot and try again

[pftavares]

I have a good feeling on this!
After I gave the command I got dozens of screens of setting up something.
It seems it is finally applying the 1200 updates it downloaded...
One of them was a new linux image 3.2.0.3 if I'm not mistaken.

But it hanged on the printing system...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cg2996fc9asym ... .44.12.jpg

What should I do now? The cursor is blinking...
Do a hard reboot by pressing the power button for a few seconds?
Wait more time? (it's been hanged for 15 minutes or so...)

[ketoth]

The CUPS reloading should take a few seconds only. Guess you can hard reboot, yes. (but we really need network running)

Let's sum up the commands you have to run:

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sudo apt-get remove gstreamer0.10-plugins-really-bad

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sudo apt-get install mint-meta-debian-mate mint-meta-codecs

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sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

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sudo reboot

With this you should have a working LMDE upgraded from UP3.

[pftavares]

You're a genius man! I can't thank you enough!
I'm posting this from my eeePC!
While I waited for your answer the installation process resumed after about half an hour -- don't ask me why!
I rebooted, found a new entry at the top of GRUB with 3.2.0.3.
And here I am!

Here is the sources I have.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zq601eh0psot3 ... .44.54.jpg

Notice the infamous mplayer that (I think) caused all this is still trying to get installed!
Ignore it I think is the best move...?

Now, knowing all these news, what do you recommend?
Modify the sources as you said in a previous post?
Run the commands you last posted?
What to do first?

[jjaythomas]

Notice the infamous mplayer that (I think) caused all this is still trying to get installed!
Ignore it I think is the best move...?

I believe mplayer and Gplayer are recommends not dependencies (atleast on Xfce system)

I uninstalled them and installed parole (I'm more comfortable with ) and I still have Mint-Meta-Codecs.

J.Jay

Edit sorry have all the codecs but not the meta package anymore (just checked) my bad.

[ketoth]

I'm posting this from my eeePC!

That's good news

The sources.list you actually have isn't good. But at least you can use the graphical text editor:

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sudo pluma /etc/apt/sources.list

It's content should be:

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    deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import
    deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/ testing main contrib non-free
    deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/security/ testing/updates main contrib non-free
    deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/multimedia/ testing main non-free

Note: with Update Pack 5 comes the "mint-debian-mirrors" tool: it will test and suggest you a repository mirror the best suited for you, so "debian.linuxmint.com" (which is in the USA) may be replaced by another one (actual mirrors are located in France and Sweden, maybe faster for you). That's perfectly normal, don't panic if your sources.list gets modified after this

If your networking is ok right now, let's keep the interfaces file like this, doesn't matter since Network-Manager is the one in control.

Ok, now you can use Synaptic (package manager, in menu) to search and work with the packages.
- look for "gstreamer0.10-plugins-really-bad", if it's installed, remove it
- click on the "refresh" button to update the list
- look for "mint-meta-debian-mate" and "mint-meta-codecs", if they're not installed, select them for installation and click on the "apply" button

Once done, exit Synaptic, and open up the MintUpdate (the tool you're showing in the screenshot)
- click on "refresh"
- if there is anything, click on "install updates"
- well, install until there is nothing more listed to install

Once done, exit and reboot.

Let's hope that if you installed packages from Debian testing (since you got Debian security and Multimedia in the sources), they don't mess up your system. Anyway this will get corrected when Update Pack 6 is released, you'll get newer (and safer) packages. For now you're able at least to make backups of your data (if you didn't before) and use your PC almost normally