[xubuntu-users] How to diagnose loss of X/GUI after latest kernel upgrade in 8.10?

[David Curtis]

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:24:22 +0100
Chris G <cl at isbd.net> wrote:

> I just did the latest kernel upgrade on my xubuntu 8.10 system (to
> kernel (to 2.6.27-14) and now the X GUI doesn't start up.
> 
> I still have virtual consoles working (fortunately, I'm mailing from
> one) so most of the system is working, all that's missing is the GUI.
> 
> On reboot I get the xubuntu splash screen with the moving bar but
> that's my lot, when it disappears I get no login screen or anything
> more at all.
> 
> There don't seem to be any errors in /var/Xoef.0.log.
> 
> Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?  How can I set
> about diagnosing the problem?

>From the USN (Ubuntu Security Notice) for this security upgrade:

"ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change for Ubuntu 8.04 and 8.10,
the kernel updates have been given a new version number, which requires
you to recompile and reinstall all third party kernel modules you
might have installed. If you use linux-restricted-modules, you have to
update that package as well to get modules which work with the new
kernel version. Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel
metapackages (e.g. linux-generic, linux-server, linux-powerpc), a
standard system upgrade will automatically perform this as well."

I would guess that you need to upgrade the module that runs your video
card, a 'sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade' should work,
if you've compiled the module by hand you will have to do that over
again with the new kernel packages.


-- 
David Curtis <dcurtis at uniserve.com>