How to reinstall a component I accidentally deleted [Solved]

[carturo222]

Hi. This week, I installed MX Libretto for the first time. It worked perfectly until I felt adventurous and started installing programs I wanted and uninstalling some I didn't want. At some point, being the total amateur that I am, I must have deleted something that was important. Next time I tried to turn on the computer, it showed a message saying org.kde.plasma was missing, so it couldn't start.

If I could access the MX package program, I could install that component, but I can't do that if I can't even log in. However, I still have the bootable USB drive. Is there a way I can fix the missing part if I boot from the USB?

[CharlesV]

Welcome In

If you had made any TImeShift snapshots, then yes you could liveusb and then roll the timeshift back.

There may also be a method to 'reset' the KDE de to work, but I am not familiar enough with KDE to suggest on that one. Someone else here can I am sure.

[Eadwine Rose]

Personally.. I'd reinstall, keeping home to keep your files.

[Charlie Brown]

Boot with the live usb, open "Chroot Rescue Scan" from menu, proceed , when you see the prompt:

chroot>

issue:

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apt-history

Then looking at the output install what's missing or install all that were removed that day etc...

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apt install xxx yyy zzz

Yes, no need to sudo.

[Stevo]

Out of curiosity, can you get to the login screen, and then KDE won't start?

If so, it's an argument for having at least one more desktop environment as a backup boot option, such as lxqt or xfce (not much space required for those).

[fehlix]

Boot with the live usb, open "Chroot Rescue Scan" from menu, proceed , when you see the prompt:

chroot>

issue:

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apt-history

May be older installs, but recent MX KDE install don't have apt-history installed, ootb.

[carturo222]

Out of curiosity, can you get to the login screen, and then KDE won't start?

That's right.

[kmathern]

Boot with the live usb, open "Chroot Rescue Scan" from menu, proceed , when you see the prompt:

chroot>

issue:

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apt-history

May be older installs, but recent MX KDE install don't have apt-history installed, ootb.

This should show the apt history if it's not installed (apt-history gets installed with the apt-notifier package)

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zgrep -EH ' install | upgrade | purge | remove ' /var/log/dpkg* | cut -f2- -d: | sort -r | column -t | more -d

[Stevo]

Out of curiosity, can you get to the login screen, and then KDE won't start?

That's right.

If you can then boot to a terminal screen and have a Net connection there, you should be able to install the "kde-plasma-desktop" metapackage, which at least should get the KDE GUI back up.

[carturo222]

boot to a terminal screen and have a Net connection there

How do I do that?