Updates screwed up my system!

[Neilz]

Hi guys, I've been running a dual boot Linux/Win8.1 system happily for a couple of years, The other day I clicked on the updates button, and now wish I hadn't bothered!

System: LinuxMint 17 Qiana, release 3.13.0-24-generic

After the updates, all my windows were visually affected - I could see the window frames, but the content inside was invisible. I could still click on things (if I knew where they were) so it appears that it's just the display that was affected.

After rebooting, the system crashes as soon as I login, and goes into recovery mode (or whatever the Linux terminology is!). So I have a black screen, and have managed to get a terminal open - beyond that I have no idea what to do to get my system working again. I hope someone can help - I'm not new to Linux, but I'm no guru, so I'll need some pretty verbose instructions!

Many thanks.

[Hoser Rob]

Nol one's going to be able to give useful instructions without more info.

You apparently updated via Update Manager. DId you have level 4 & 5 updates enabled? Do you have more than one desktop environment installed?

Need more system info than release/kernel number. Copy/paste this into terminal and copy/paste the text output back here:

inxi -Fxz

[Neilz]

Had to attach the info as an image, as I'm typing from my other laptop! Thanks.

linux1.jpg

[Rollo151]

viewtopic.php?f=90&t=232706

I had a similar problem, and the folks here did a great job getting it fixed. I've attached the link I used.....hopefully it will help

[Neilz]

Thanks Rollo151 - I had a read through that thread, and tried the new user solution, but unfortunately it hasn't worked.

Strangely, the login screen is fine, everything is normal and as it used to be with a background picture and icons that I can press. But logging in causes the crash and the blank screen. I'll post a pic of this screen in a while.

[WharfRat]

and have managed to get a terminal open

Get the terminal open again and check if this returns anything or nothing at all.

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aptitude search ~U

There's no need to list anything if it does come back with a list of packages, just that it did or didn't.

[Neilz]

Yes, that command returned 60ish lines of stuff.

[WharfRat]

Yes, that command returned 60ish lines of stuff.

I know a lot of members here are vehemently opposed to performing a dist-upgrade, but holding back the newer packages and dependencies eventually exhaust the system's capability to run.

So cross your fingers and

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apt dist-upgrade 

There's no guarantee that this alone with fix this, but it will eliminate a possibility.

[Neilz]

Ok, I'll give it a try - but it definitely won't break the system completely, right?!

[WharfRat]

Ok, I'll give it a try - but it definitely won't break the system completely, right?!

You crash now, how much worse can it get

[Neilz]

Currently I can still get in to the OS and type commands... worse would be if I can't get in at all!

I'm not familiar with the command, that's all, so don't fully understand what it is I'm about to undertake!

[WharfRat]

Currently I can still get in to the OS and type commands... worse would be if I can't get in at all!

I'm not familiar with the command, that's all, so don't fully understand what it is I'm about to undertake!

From the apt-get man page

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dist-upgrade in addition to performing the function of upgrade, also intelligently handles changing dependencies with new versions of packages;

Basically there are packages that require a newer version of a package so therefore it can't be upgraded until the new/newer package is installed and configured.

I always dist-upgrade when I see packages are being held back because of changed dependencies and never experienced a problem.

I always go up to level 5 with upgrades, again without issues.

It's ultimately up to you whether or not to do this, but these held-back packages might be the root cause of your problem

[trytip]

create a new user with admin privileges and test that after reboot you may need to logoff if you use auto login

[Neilz]

Yes, that command returned 60ish lines of stuff.

I know a lot of members here are vehemently opposed to performing a dist-upgrade, but holding back the newer packages and dependencies eventually exhaust the system's capability to run.

So cross your fingers and

Code: Select all

apt dist-upgrade 

There's no guarantee that this alone with fix this, but it will eliminate a possibility.

It's worked! Thank you, so much