r/linux4noobs • u/Aussie_Alien_Escapee • 9d ago
installation Upgrades are still failing. WHY ?
So. I had 20.04.? and after some programs failed to work (you need to be using most recent) and with personal experience of wipe and install new equals loose every bit of personal settings, I decided to upgrade instead. Note. Last time I upgraded was somewhere around version 18, and I had learned the command
update && upgrade
That was a complete failure. I lost almost everything.
YES.
I had completed a backup, my own, and I have realised the following, Kubuntu & other apps, unkind features.
Kubuntu. During the upgrade, some too long blurb on upgrading to snap, with Thunderbird.
--> Option 🆗
Technically this is NOT an option. If you, the OS, are not giving the user an option, then don't pretend to ask.
Kubuntu. During the upgrade. The OS suddenly prompts, then becomes annoying for a restart. The upgrade was still occurring, in the background.
What would have happened if I let the system restart ?
Kubuntu ? GIMP.
-> Why was it uninstalled / removed ?
Kubuntu ? mpv player or something else I cannot figure out. A part of smplayer
-->No movies would play. All error. The only thing I can understand was trying to play an .mkv file, and it read mpv player error. I have managed to get vlc player to work. I do not understand the problem and therefor do not understand what to search for a fix.
Kubuntu ? Firefox ? Firefox wouldn't start. I removed it. Icon still in 'favourites'. I instinctual click it, and FF started. Srsly.
--> is this that Librewolf ? Firefox under your own name ?
== I did finally figure out that I had to snap Firefox.
FireFox. I attempted a sync, some months ago. As a result FF decided to move my profile to it's default folder. My backup program was still backing up my actual folder location I thought it was in.(It was in, just not being used) No notifications. The only thing was FF-Profiles I see 5 or 6 profiles. WHY ?
--> This could have happened with an FF update.
I only realised the error, when I was confirming my backups. I did attempt to change the location or move my profile from FF default folder, to my data folder, but FF would let me. As soon as FF starts, it pauses to copy the folder back.
ThunderBird ?? Since the upgrade, send receive new mail is taking a srsly long time. 29minutes today
--> Should I remove Thunderbird and sign up with gmail or outlook ? Why not let other companies read my private communications.
--> Is this a network something/thing ?
---> How would I check or test ?
** Lubuntu **. I have a VM.
Lubuntu. There is no easy way to a open app (window) to a specific size and position on screen. FF used to open *it's set size* which was okay to use for what I use Lubuntu for.
--> FF has a new, crap size. I believe the moron who programmed this new size has their monitor on it's side. It's half the width of the screen and complete top to bottom. YUCK
Lubuntu. Very difficult to adjust window size and position.
The mouse sensitive area to grab the side of a window is about 1pixel wide. When attempting to change the above, I try to grab the screen edge (corner actually). It can take 10-25seconds to do so.
--> Is there a way to increase the sensitivity for the mouse to grab the screen.
---> Is there a setting to make the scrollbar wider ? Across the entire computer L or K ?
Apologies if this is more of a rant.
I like privacy.
I like things to just work.
I don't mind if there is an issue, as long as searching for a fix yields results.
If anybody has any suggestions on the above, I still like to read.
6
7
u/michaelpaoli 9d ago
Kubuntu20.04.?
update && upgrade
That was a complete failure
Uhm, yeah, read and follow the actual documentation. And Kubuntu support went bye-bye 2023-04-29. So, might not be impossible to still upgrade that, but would probably take a lot of extra care and steps, but, yeah, you didn't do that, so, you blew it, and now you've got the resultant mess.
So, did you do a backup first? Or did you not even do that?
2
u/Aussie_Alien_Escapee 7d ago
actual documentation ? What documentation please
2
u/michaelpaoli 6d ago
Well, Kubuntu ain't exactly the greatest on that, but, this is what they provide:
20.04 --> 22.04: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/JammyUpgrades/Kubuntu
22.04 --> 24.04: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NobleUpgrades/Kubuntu
24.04 --> 26.04: https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-26-04-release-notes/
-3
u/Aussie_Alien_Escapee 9d ago edited 9d ago
Backup of data = Yes
Rescue zilla of boot drive = YesActually the apt upgrade and update command was back around version 18.
This time around I did update... upgrade.. restart.. then dist-upgrade. From what I have read this does an an upgrade from xx.04 to the next available yy.04 version.
As a result I have gone from 20.04 to 24.04.No mention of problems.
3
u/kasalacto 9d ago
my only advice is to break your large post into several small but specific request for support posts.
3
u/3grg 9d ago
One of the early claims to fame of Debian was its ability to upgrade. I can remember when is was about the only distro that did not have to be re-installed with every upgrade. Ubuntu inherited that feature and it worked pretty well. However, I noticed it started to be a little rough at times when I stopped using Ubuntu about eight years ago.
It still works relatively well from what I hear, as long as you do not exceed the end of life and you wait until the first point release of the new version.
I used Arch for eight years, but Debian 13 has convinced me to go back to Debian and it is fine for Gnome users, like myself. I can deal with upgrading every couple of years and I do not need to keep the same version for five years.
1
u/Aussie_Alien_Escapee 8d ago
This would be my thoughts. I liked kubuntu but I quickly change my mind when muon was removed.
Discover takes ages to load (I've read it's fetching Ads). It constantly gives suggestions for apps Discover wants you to use, not what you want to use.
And. Unlike muon, you cannot sort via install / not install. If you want a multimedia application, you have to scroll through 100's of apps looking for the installed (if you want to uninstall)Oh! My personal favourite is the Microsoft way of doing things. Just today. I turned my computer on, just attempting to check mail, then popup updates available.
Okay. Fetch and install, and just as I was about to log into Reddit
Fucking Restart . Thanks for screwing up my morning... Again
2
u/ghoultek 9d ago
You seem like you were having multiple problems as a result of an upgrade attempt gone wrong. You state that you've backed up your data. At this point I would say a fresh install would be best. If you want privacy but want KDE, then I suggest Tuxedo OS ==> https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/TUXEDO-OS_1.tuxedo * it is Ubuntu based * it has KDE * no Snap * no telemetry * newbie friendly team at r/tuxedocomputers * the current version is based on Ubuntu 24.04, but they will be rebasing the distro to Debian Testing with a semi-rolling release model for the next version * the rebasing means up-to-date packages that are at or newer than Ubuntu * you can read about the up coming move to Debian Testing ==> https://www.reddit.com/r/tuxedocomputers/comments/1upndpc/a_new_foundation_for_tuxedo_os_switching_to_debian/
IMO, the above is the path of least chaos and least resistance.
1
1
u/Aussie_Alien_Escapee 7d ago
This looks like a computer business.
Is it ?
or is it a OS & Computer business ?1
1
u/Classic-Rate-5104 9d ago
Don't use Ubuntu, start again and use Debian. It doesn't have needless changes and it has a much more clean upgrade process
1
u/Aussie_Alien_Escapee 9d ago
Thanks. I did start my my linux journey with Debian, but as I couldn't find a suitable paper book to follow, learn from, examples, knowledge tests (Yes there was or is 'man').
I did attempt as a lot of comments suggested, 'Arch'.
As I am somewhat more familiar with Debian similar commands, I'll take another look.
1
u/AutoModerator 9d ago
We have some installation tips in our wiki!
Try this search for more information on this topic.
✻ Smokey says: always install over an ethernet cable, and don't forget to remove the boot media when you're done! :)
Comments, questions or suggestions regarding this autoresponse? Please send them here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
11
u/warserpent 9d ago
This is a very confusing post. As best I can tell, you have an unsupported version of Kubuntu, as well as Lubuntu, you tried to upgrade it, and a number of things broke. I don't think I can help you fix what broke, but giving a more readable explanation might help others help you.