The System is Running in Low Graphics Mode 14.04 / Intel graphics card

Question

After a software update through the GUI software update tool, my machine always boots into an error screen noting:

The system is running in low graphics mode Your screen, graphics card, and input device settings could not be detected correctly. You will need to configure these yourself.

I did find this thread somewhat useful, but there is not much information on how to fix for Intel graphics. My machine is a Dell Optiplex 9020 with Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600. I am running Ubuntu 14.04.

So far I've tried several approaches, based on things I've read in other threads:

1. sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
2. adding the Xorg-Edgers PPA.
3. sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel
4. sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-lts-trusty
5. sudo apt-get install mesa-utils