You could install xubuntu-desktop which should pull in missing apps. If you don't want X to autostart then remove /etc/init.d/lightdm On Nov 28, 2012 3:46 PM, "Tim" <<a href="mailto:tim@xendistar.co.uk">tim@xendistar.co.uk</a>> wrote: > > On 28/11/12 20:55, Ralf Mardorf wrote: >> >> On Wed, 2012-11-28 at 20:43 +0000, Tim wrote: >>> >>> I had xubuntu 10.04lts which I upgraded to 12.04 lts. The server was set >>> to boot to cli and then startx if I needed a gui. Now when I type startx >>> and press return a couple of seconds later a small box appears in the >>> middle of the screen with a large red no entry sign and the words Failed >>> to load session "gnome" the only option is to click a button that says >>> log out. >>> >>> Can anybody please advise >>> >>> Tim >> >> Tim, I'm not sure, but I suspect that such an update will cause a >> mess-up regarding to a switch from GNOME2 to GNOME3 and from init to >> upstart. I'm not aware when there were the transitions and if this can >> be handled by a version upgrade, but I suspect this as a possible risk. >> >> Regards, >> Ralf >> >> >> >> > Well I found my way into xfce but it is not happy. > > After some more googling somebody wrote (they had a similar problem) that typing startxfce4 at the cli allowed him into xfce. I tried it and I am in to my desktop but it is not happy, I have clicked on a couple of program in the main menu and the program has opened but hung with a spinning mouse cursor, one of those programs is the user manager which I know is a gnome program. Looks like I will be wiping it and starting again :( > > Tim > > > -- > xubuntu-users mailing list > <a href="mailto:xubuntu-users@lists.ubuntu.com">xubuntu-users@lists.ubuntu.com</a> > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-users">https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/xubuntu-users</a>