Ubuntu 9.10 boot problems after automatic update

[Nils Kassube]

valhalla2100 at comcast.net wrote:
> I got another automatic update tonight.  After the update was
> completed I got the screen of death.  Attempted to reboot and
> I got a message that certain files were missing and I had to
> so a reinstall.

I don't think I ever saw that message but was there some info which 
files were missing? Maybe they could be copied from a LiveCD.

> Will this re-install delete the files of the previous 9.10
> environment?  Will I be able to access them?

Yes, a reinstall usually deletes everything of the previous install. 
However your personal files can be preserved if you select the manual 
partitioning during the installation dialog. There you select the same 
file system you have now (probably ext3 because yours is an upgrade from 
9.04) and don't select to format the partition. You will get a warning 
with an explanation that system directories will be removed but the 
/home directory will be preserved. However I would recommend to backup 
your important files to an external drive anyway. You can do that from a 
LiveCD before you start the installation.


Nils