[12.04] unity-greeter segfault, apt-get dist-upgrade removed ubuntu-desktop and a list of files... (blinking screen with cursor on startup no desktop)

[Manoj Iyer]

installed updates from unity ppa, when I boot all I get is a flashing screen for 10s with a cursor and then blank black screen after that.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: unity (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-12.20-generic 3.2.2
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-12-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.91-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,regex,compiztoolbox,gnomecompat,place,vpswitch,grid,imgpng,session,move,resize,snap,mousepoll,wall,animation,unitymtgrabhandles,fade,expo,ezoom,scale,workarounds,unityshell]
Date: Mon Jan 30 15:19:36 2012
DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-11-23 00:08:18.206559
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (primary) [8086:2a02] (rev 0c) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0209]
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0209]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1330
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-12-generic root=UUID=a9fa06c6-e424-4be9-b994-601a29e097a6 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-01-30 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 12/26/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A15
dmi.board.name: 0N6705
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA15:bd12/26/2008:svnDellInc.:pnXPSM1330:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0N6705:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
dmi.product.name: XPS M1330
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu8
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.30-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.11-0ubuntu4
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.11-0ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.3-0ubuntu9
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.99.901-1ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.17.0-1ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build2

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Manoj Iyer (manjo)]

apt-get dist-upgrade seems to remove a ton of packages, list attached.

[Manoj Iyer (manjo)]

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop to restore everything, after installing ubuntu-desktop I am back to normal working desktop.