ubuntu-ca Digest, Vol 39, Issue 23

[Steven Birnam]

Many thanks for the feedback - unfortunatley I had tried all the
methods suggested prior to posting my problem.

My solution, in the end: Wipe out the install, repartition and dump XP
(the only reason I kept an XP partition was as a backup - and to use
Skype - Skype didn't send audio from my mic (I have an SB Live! card
that never seemed to work properly, no matter what I did to tweek the
config) so I had no teleconferencing on my Gutsy install.

Upgrading to Hardy didn't fix the audio problem, and after the smart
install, things went from bad to worse: I tried to do a new install
from the Hardy CD, but that bombed in the middle of the install,
destroying GRUB, and leaving me with no means of logging into to
either Ubuntu or XP (it's lucky I have my data on a second HD, and
this experience has convinced me that I have to back up my HOME
directory often).

So, early this morning, 3:30AM, I wiped out everything and
repartitioned, scapped the XP partition, and now I am totally
dependent on Ubuntu (I still have my dual  boot install on my laptop -
never give up all your insurance policies).

What I did find out is that, despite some really cool features, Ubuntu
needs to figure out a simpler way (probably from the install CD) to
fix and reinstall broken packages. Had there been a sipler reinstall
procedure from the CD, and/or a system fix routine, I could have saved
2 days of aggrevation (but, on the otherhand, it was a learning
experience - where do they hand out the Ubuntu and XP badges for
patience?).

Many thanks again for the feedback.

StevenB
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:04:22 -0400
> From: volksman <v0lksman69 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: ubuntu-ca Digest, Vol 39, Issue 21
> To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Message-ID: <485915E6.6070705 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Two things I would try:
>
>  From a shell run 'sudo apt-get install -f'  this should fix any broken
> packages if they can be fixed.
>
> Or you can try to refresh the ubuntu-desktop package as it should
> contain he X and Gnome packages. (sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop)
>
> Let us know!
>
> Steven Birnam wrote:
>> So far, I have tried all the std solutions...
>>
>> I tried booting from recovery mode, and no gui, so I continued in
>> character mode I followed process to remove xorg.conf file
>> no change
>>
>> I tried sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg, and got response:
>> xserver-xorg is broken or not fully installed
>>
>> I tried to sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg, and got response:
>> The following packages have unmet dependencies - no install
>>
>> I tried to sudo apt-get remove x-window-system, and got response:
>> Package x-window-system is not installed, so not removed
>>
>> I tried sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg=1:7.3+100ubuntu10
>> The following packages have dependencies unmet
>>
>> I tried sudo apt-get install xorg=1:7.3+10ubuntu10
>> The following packages have unmet dependencies:
>> xorg: Depends on xserver which is not going to be installed
>> Broken packages
>>
>> I tried sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-core>=2:1.4-3
>> Broken packages
>>
>> I tried sudo apt-get install x11-common=1:7.3+10ubuntu10.1
>> x11-common is already the newest version (well atleast there is
>> something still on my system!)
>>
>> It seems that X nolonger exists on my system, and there are
>> dependencies that are nolonger installed or broken.
>>
>> Is there any wat, from character mode to install X11, and and all
>> components, fix Broken packages and get Hardy to boot in GNOME GUI,
>> without wiping out present install and losing data and settings?
>>
>> StevenB