Ubuntu 11.10 – OnericOcelot – ubuntu does not start after upgrade, new kernel not installed, lightdm not installed

Seems like it is more and more difficult to upgrade Ubuntu (especially if you do not want to use Unity or Gnome Shell).

Last weekend I was to update 4 computers to new Ubuntu 11.10

  • netbook (Asus EeePC 1000H) – no problems
  • HP Laptop – no problem
  • PC – problem with new kernel  (did not install)
  • HTPC – problem with display manager (lightdm did not install, gdm stopped working)

On all computers (except for HTPC) I have switched from Gnome 2 to Xfce  (not to get trapped in Unity or Gnome Shell after upgrade).

Kernel problem (nvidia drivers)

After PC upgrade, I have rebooted and new Ubuntu started. For some reasons it used old kernel 2.6.38 . I do not know why new kernel 3.0.0 was not upgraded and installed. I decided to install new kernel vith synaptic, which went smoothly. After reboot, X-Window did not start (even in recovery session).  Luckily, I was able to get to the command prompt with networking enabled. The fix was to un-install Nvidia driver, install new kernel headers and install Nvidia driver back.

apt-get remove nvidia-current nvidia-settings
apt-get install linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic
apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings

After that, Ubuntu started OK.

Lightdm problem

After HTPC upgrade, I have rebooted and found  the  X-Window did not start (again!). Luckily, I was able to get into command prompt. Reinstalling Nvidia driver (like in previous case) did not help. After some investigation I was able to start X-Window with startx command. I have installed lightdm, rebooted and everything was OK.

Looking forward to 12.04 :-).

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 at 20:38 and is filed under it, linux, ubuntu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to Ubuntu 11.10 – OnericOcelot – ubuntu does not start after upgrade, new kernel not installed, lightdm not installed

  1. Frankiewizard (@Frankiewizard) says:
    October 20, 2011 at 13:01

    I will be doing an install this week-end 10.10 to 11.10 on a Toshiba Qosmin G20 & thats never easy.

    Do you use a calendar with 11.10 ?

    Reply
  2. Gary says:
    October 27, 2011 at 17:30

    One wonders just how much testing goes into these releases.

    I can’t be the first person to try and upgrade from Maverick on a Netbook – but it’s not possible because the ‘Start upgrade’ button is inaccessible – off the bottom of a Netbook screen because the ‘Do you want to start the upgrade’ dialogue box is too big and doesn’t include a vertical scroll bar.

    Reply

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