System completely unusable after upgrading to 14.10

Question

I can't use my PC anymore after upgrading from 14.04 to 14.10. The download and upgrade process was good but now when I turn the PC on, I get a black screen with error:

system program problem detected

And two options: Cancel and Report problem.

I can only use the mouse but the desktop is black and there are no icons. I can't activate Terminal. I read various posts on the web and followed different guides, but haven't solved the problem.

I can't even install a new version of Ubuntu starting from a bootable USB. When the system starts instead of booting the live version of Ubuntu, I get the GRUB menu ( ! ) ( I've never used Grub on my system ). When I select Ubuntu, the start-up process starts, but I get the error:

4.129466 i8042: no controller found

What is my problem? And how do I fix it?

Solution

Do you have an AMD graphics card? If so, were you using the fglrx drivers? There has been an issue with them lately on this new update, as some packages needed for the driver to work correctly weren't updated to Utopic. In this case, open up tty1 (Terminal 1) by hitting the keys Ctrl + Alt + F1, log in with an account that has sudo privileges and run:

sudo apt-get remove fglrx-*

This should solve the black screen problem.

Comments

[Daniele Semeraro]

Unfortunately it does not work.

[Daniele Semeraro]

It does work! Now the screen is very large and I can't see my entire desktop, but now it works! I'll let you know if I have any more problems. Thank you very much! (sorry for my previous entry)

[Lucas]

@DanieleSemeraro If you are still experiencing the large desktop, check: If you are not using any workspaces, and that your resolution is set to the correct value.

[Lucas]

I am searching for a solution, for the time being, install up gnome-session-flashback via aptitude and use the Gnome Flashback Metacity in the lightdm screen. Use tty1 if you prefer in the case.

[Daniele Semeraro]

I succeeded in resetting the CMOS. Now I turn my pc on and I only get the Ubuntu 14.10 splash screen (with four white dots). System seems to be freezed. Is there a way to reinstall everything? I tried with a usb stick with two different usb sticks (with 14.10 and 14.04) but every time the system starts I get a grub menu, I go on with Ubuntu and I get the freezed Ubuntu 14.10 splash screen.

[Lucas]

If you really want to reinstall Ubuntu, follow: Do you have a BIOS or OpenFirmware? If so, you could go to the BIOS and boot by the Live USB or Live CD option. Go there, backup your files, format the partitions but do not destroy them, open the installer in the Live CD desktop and it should start.

[DaShaun]

I tried several things. After I rebooted, after running the above line, my system was in the desired state.