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after having ignored the new Ubuntu version for a while now I finally decided to upgrade my 14.04 to 16.04 using the automatic system update. Unfortunately during the update I got to a point where I was asked to agree to an EULA from Microsoft (!?), but regardless of my actions it was not possible to either agree to the statement (no key or anything would work) nor to abort the update. After an hours wait I decided to try and restart ubuntu, however again nothing happened for a while (nor was it possible to do anything else at this point) so eventually I had to pull the switch manually. Unfortunately now I can't start ubuntu any longer, instead the boot process is followed by a command centre in which I can log myself in using my username and password. I tried the most common commands apt-get update and apt-upgrade to get ubuntu running again but not a single command works. Instead I'm being told I need root access. Is there anyway I can get my system running again? Thanks for any kind of help.

Nik
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1 Answers1

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  1. The EULA from Microsoft pertains to the package ttf-mscorefonts-installer (installer for MS TrueType fonts) that you may have installed as part of ubuntu-restricted-extras or standalone.

You need to accept it otherwise the fonts won't be installed (or reinstalled). In order to navigate the options use TAB and cursor keys to select and ENTER to confirm.

  1. You need to be root indeed to install software or perform other changes in the OS. The Debian/Ubuntu way is using sudo.

The commands you tried need to be:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

However, since you already started and aborted a release upgrade, this may not have any effect, depending on how far the process was when aborted. Go a step further and do:

sudo apt-get install -f
sudo dpkg --configure -a
  1. Last resort: If everything else fails, boot from a Ubuntu 16.04 live media media and proceed to install as usual up to the point of selecting how and where to install. Press "something else" and make sure to select all your (Ubuntu) partitions for use - at least / and swap - but do not tick "Format".

This preserves all your user files and settings but not the software you installed before.