Member Avatar for Joseph Ballah

What do i do to repair ubuntu when it crashs?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by johhny-marshal

Dani AI

Generated

As noted, the Ubuntu version and exact error messages matter. The symptoms described — office apps won’t start, Software Center window fails, and the desktop does not appear — most often come from one of three things: a broken package state, a failed display/session, or a user-session configuration clash. Before making media or reinstalling, try these in-place checks from a text console (use Ctrl+Alt+F2 to get one).

Run quick diagnostics and package repairs (network required):

df -h

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt-get upgrade

If the package manager reports locks, do not forcibly delete files unless you understand the risk — stop any running apt/dpkg processes first.

If the desktop itself is the issue, restarting or reinstalling the display/session layer can help. On systemd systems restart the DM; on older Ubuntu releases use the service command:

sudo systemctl restart lightdm.service    # or gdm3.service
sudo service lightdm restart
sudo apt-get install --reinstall ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install --reinstall software-center

To tell whether the problem is user-specific, make a temporary user and try logging in:

sudo adduser tempdiag

If the new user’s desktop comes up, reset the original user’s session by moving config caches:

mv ~/.config ~/.config.old
mv ~/.cache ~/.cache.old

Check logs for actionable errors:

sudo journalctl -b -p err --no-pager
sudo tail -n 200 /var/log/Xorg.0.log

If graphics drivers are implicated, examine the device and driver:

lspci -k | grep -EA3 'VGA|3D'

Removing a misbehaving proprietary driver (for testing) may restore a usable desktop:

sudo apt-get purge 'nvidia-*'

Be careful: always backup important data first. If these steps do not restore a usable system, the offline repair/reinstallation options others mentioned become the next practical path.

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for Octet

Do you have any more information, how it crashed, what you where doing when it crashed etc.

Things like what version and what happens now would be helpful, otherwise we can't really help you.

Member Avatar for rubberman

If you have a live or recovery cd/dvd/usb drive, you can boot into that and fix the file systems with fsck. However, as AHarrisGsy mentioned, it would be good for you to provide a bit more information.

Member Avatar for asifmcbqta

you can come online i resolve your problem teel me complete error during boot.

Member Avatar for Joseph Ballah

Thank you. The major problem is that my openoffice suit can open. The Ubuntu software center can not also display when I click on it to open. Lastly the destop screen can not display.
Please advise. I do not have the recovery cd or dvd you are talking about. How can I download one?

Member Avatar for johhny-marshal

Try re-booting the system with a new disc or USB device then choose the option to repair and do not ever go for pirated copy installation of any software and OS.

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