Xubuntu 13.04 boots to command line instead of GUI. How to get back GUI?

boot command-line xubuntu gui xfce

21,170

So I managed to get GUI back without any command line typing. I did nothing, just hit Enter on Ubuntu option the next boot attempt. Just didn't let GRUB stopwatch to reach 0 and didn't use arrows in GRUB menu, just hit Enter. Very strange.

First of all, I remember when it happened. I turned on the computer and left my room to do other things. Before it I always manually selected in GRUB menu what system to load, either Xubuntu or Windows. I never let GRUB stopwatch to reach 0 and boot itself, I always hit Enter earlier. So when I came back to computer I saw the command line prompt instead of GUI.

I didn't know how to restart Xubuntu safely from the command line, so in this situation I just hit the restart button. The following boot I immediate used arrows in GRUB to go down the menu (up to Windows XP option) and then go up to select Ubuntu again. Just to stop GRUB stopwatch. Then hit Enter. But got command line again. I again reset the computer with the reset button.

This time I switched to Windows, surfed the Internet for answers, wrote this question. Found this 7 pages thread http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1570540. A user experienced the same problem in 2010. The main solution is on page six http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1570540&page=6&p=9935242#post9935242. So I did the same.

I tried to boot again but this time I didn't use arrows. I just immediately hit Enter on Ubuntu option in GRUB. And I got GUI. Xubuntu is installed but GRUB's option is Ubuntu, not Xubuntu.

Xubuntu also fixed some crash when I entered GUI:

execution path:
   usr/bin/Xorg
package:
   xserver-xorg-core 2:1, 13,3 - Oubuntu6
problem type:
   Crash
title
   Xorg crashed with SIGABRT in raise()

So my conclusion is: if you want Xubuntu, immediately hit Enter in GRUB menu. Don't let stopwatch to get 0 and don't use arrows. I you want Windows, choose a Windows option using arrows and hit Enter. Isn't it ridiculous?

21,170

Garri Sumalapao Farol

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

Garri Sumalapao Farol over 1 year
I have Xubuntu 13.04 on my desktop as a dual-boot system with XP. Installed it at first time two days ago and suddenly got this problem. Writing my question from good old trouble-proof Windows XP (long live Microsoft).

The problem:

Xubuntu boots to command line instead of GUI. It prompts for a login and a password and after I provide I get a command line instead of Xubuntu.

Mostly people suggest to type:
```
startx 
```
in command line. But is it suitable for Xubuntu? Xubuntu uses Xfce, not GNOME. What do I need to type to start GUI from command line?

Why does this happen? How can I start GUI again? And what can I do to avoid it next time?
- daiuto almost 11 years
  
  Have you tried startx? What does it do?
- Garri Sumalapao Farol almost 11 years
  
  No, I didn't. Please see my answer.
web.learner almost 11 years

Ah, yeah. Xorg crashed dropping you at a TTY.
web.learner almost 11 years

I'm not sure I understand your answer. Did you get the GUI back on the next boot?
Garri Sumalapao Farol almost 11 years

@Seth, Yes, I got GUI back. I did nothing at all in command line, didn't type any special commands. I just hit Enter on Ubuntu option in GRUB. I didn't let GRUB to automatically start Ubuntu.
No Time about 9 years

Welcome to AskUbuntu! This may be better as a comment. You can expand your answer, if you feel you can explain why this would work.
No Time about 9 years

@karel no I didn't actually. Not unless it's really bad 1st attempt. I upvoted it to 0 now