If you startup Ubuntu and find that the program icons are missing from the Launcher, and the Launcher itself is also gone, as well as the top-of-screen menu options, this means that something has gone wrong with the Ubuntu Unity desktop. Follow the instructions below to fix the problem. These steps have been tested with Ubuntu 14.04, but should also work with earlier versions.
- Press CTRL+ALT+F1, then enter your username and password to go to the command prompt.
- Enter this command:
- sudo apt-get install unity
- Enter this command:
- unity –reset
- Press CTRL+ALT+Delete to reset the computer.
You should now see the familiar program icons and menu bar at the top of the screen.
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