mint 71.1 crashed OS I lost root access & ability to install software. Mint 17.3 unable to menu shutdown or restart. I was about cmd shutdown

[Fred]

installing hplip-3.16.3
mint 17.1
lost access to software manager (wont launch)
lost root access with dolphin
lost access to hplip-3.16.3 folder (denied)
other system problems as in unable to print anything from anywhere, vlc player crashed

Mint 17.3
from menu nothing happened when I tried to either shutdown or restart computer. I was able to do so using command.
Printer was paused or unavailable.
Fax didn't install

had to manually remove files, reboot, and now I'm trying Linux mint's preferred version (3.15.2) I think

Thanks
Fred