1. I upgraded pipewire from stable to backports (I want to know if this is related to my problem why essential packages were removed)
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:02
Commandline: apt install libpipewire-0.3-0/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: libpulsedsp:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), pulseaudio:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), pulseaudio-utils:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), libasound2-plugins:amd64 (1.2.7.1-1, automatic), policykit-1-gnome:amd64 (0.105-8, automatic), pulseaudio-module-bluetooth:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), libspeexdsp1:amd64 (1.2.1-1, automatic)
Upgrade: libspa-0.2-modules:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, 1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), libpipewire-0.3-0:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, 1.2.3-1~bpo12+1)
Remove: pipewire-pulse:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-audio-client-libraries:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), t2-apple-audio-dsp-speakers161:amd64 (0.2.0-1), gnome:amd64 (1:43+1), gnome-remote-desktop:amd64 (43.3-1), pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gnome-shell-extensions:amd64 (43.1-1), gnome-shell:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2), pipewire-tests:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gdm3:amd64 (43.0-3), libspa-0.2-jack:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libspa-0.2-bluetooth:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-jack:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), t2-apple-audio-dsp-mic:amd64 (0.4.0-1), pipewire-audio:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), chrome-gnome-shell:amd64 (42.1-3), task-gnome-desktop:amd64 (3.73), gnome-session:amd64 (43.0-1+deb12u1), gnome-browser-connector:amd64 (42.1-3), gnome-core:amd64 (1:43+1), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), wireplumber:amd64 (0.4.13-1), gnome-shell-extension-prefs:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2), pipewire-alsa:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:35

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:43
Commandline: apt install libpipewire-0.3-modules/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: libconfig++9v5:amd64 (1.5-0.4, automatic), libxml++2.6-2v5:amd64 (2.40.1-3, automatic), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), libffado2:amd64 (2.4.7-1, automatic)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:48

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:57
Commandline: apt install pipewire/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: pipewire:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, automatic), wireplumber:amd64 (0.4.13-1, automatic)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:00:02
  1. I suspended the computer, and after resume, the lock screen was broken:
  • When I clicked on the password field, the text cursor only appeared for a split second, and I could not type in it
  • Clicking on the user switch button on the bottom right corner did nothing
  • A few times, the text “Authentication error” randomly appeared for a split second, probably for 1 frame
  • No way to reboot the normal way, because I could only use the power menu on the lock screen, which only has suspend
  1. I used the power button to reboot, and instead of GNOME, there was darkness
Debian GNU/Linux 12 dullbananas-macbookpro161 tty1

dullbananas-macbookpro161 login:
  1. I downgraded pipewire to stable
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:20:16
Commandline: apt install pipewire/stable
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Downgrade: pipewire:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libspa-0.2-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libpipewire-0.3-0:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:20:26
  1. I ran dpkg --verify and got this output
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
missing     /usr/share/dbus-1/services/io.snapcraft.Prompt.service
??5?????? c /etc/systemd/logind.conf
??5?????? c /etc/tlp.conf
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
??5?????? c /etc/gdm3/daemon.conf
missing     /etc/os-release.debootstrap
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
  1. I reinstalled systemd (not sure if this made a difference)
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:48:58
Commandline: apt install --reinstall systemd
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Reinstall: systemd:amd64 (252.30-1~deb12u2)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:49:02
  1. I reinstalled gdm3, and immediately without me doing anything else, there was GNOME instead of darkness
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:51:49
Commandline: apt install --reinstall gdm3
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: gnome-remote-desktop:amd64 (43.3-1, automatic), gnome-shell:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2, automatic), power-profiles-daemon:amd64 (0.12-1+b1, automatic), gdm3:amd64 (43.0-3), gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, automatic), chrome-gnome-shell:amd64 (42.1-3, automatic), gnome-session:amd64 (43.0-1+deb12u1, automatic), gnome-browser-connector:amd64 (42.1-3, automatic), gnome-shell-extension-prefs:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2, automatic)
Remove: tlp:amd64 (1.5.0-2), tlp-rdw:amd64 (1.5.0-2)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:52:05

  1. End of class

  2. I reinstalled tlp because installing gdm3 removed it

  3. After selecting an app search result, instead of a new window opening, an existing window was focused, and this led to me discovering that my built-in extensions were gone

  4. While writing this post, I got the idea of using the list of removed packages in the apt history log output from apt install libpipewire-0.3-0/bookworm-backports to see what packages to install again, so I did that, then I also had to uninstall firefox-esr again

  5. I rebooted, and my built-in extensions and other stuff were resurrected, so now I have full redemption

  6. Another Window Session Manager restored my windows in a way that pissed me off

(Failed attempts of recovery are not listed)

Edit: actually I made the mistake 1 minute before the start of class

  • flashgnash@lemm.ee
    1261·
    3 months ago

    And this is why you don’t update your system while in the middle of something you need it for

    • littlewonder@lemmy.world
      14·
      3 months ago

      Where’s the fun in that? You’ve gotta raw dog life to get your blood pumping.

      ^Hey, ^why ^are ^my ^prod ^credentials ^revoked? ^Guys?

    • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.comEnglish
      154·
      3 months ago

      Two things to change if you switch from Ubuntu to Debian:

      1. Add the systray icon extension from Ubuntu.
      2. Don’t, please don’t, forget to turn off auto updates
      • sep@lemmy.world
        14·
        3 months ago

        What is wrong with your system that requires disabeling updates?
        Been running debian stable on a few hundred servers for 25 ish years.
        And I always install and enable unattended upgrades. And it have never been a problem. Not even once.

        • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.comEnglish
          71·
          3 months ago

          When you boot up for a meeting and have to wait 10 minutes for updates to finish. Too much like Windows.

        • flashgnash@lemm.ee
          2·
          3 months ago

          I am capable of running updates myself and I’d rather choose when they happen

          Also, Nvidia

    • TurboWafflz@lemmy.world
      7·
      3 months ago

      This is why I love ostree distributions so much for my laptop. Not only can I safely update in class, I once switched distributions twice in one day of classes with only like 30s of total downtime, I just waited for the professor to go off on a tangent I didn’t need to take notes about so I could reboot.

      • flashgnash@lemm.ee
        4·
        3 months ago

        I do the same with nix, unless I’m fucking with the bootloader I’ll do risky updates because I can always just boot a previous generation

        Not everyone has that luxury though

    • electricprism@lemmy.ml
      51·
      3 months ago

      True, I still think it’s fair to criticize the package managers and distros for not anticipating this common scenario and having the ability to roll back easily. How many millions of Linux users have experienced this issue? I’ll bet a few.

      Debian, Gentoo come from another generation and sometimes it shows, I mean snapshots weren’t even a thing yet AFAIK.

      • nyan@sh.itjust.works
        3·
        3 months ago

        Actually, I don’t think you could break a system in quite this way in Gentoo these days. Portage generally doesn’t remove packages during upgrades (certainly not unrelated ones that would break the depgraph!). It would have exited with (in this case) a message about version conflicts before changing any packages and left it for the user to sort out. Modern versions of portage do a pretty good job of keeping you from shooting yourself in the foot by accident, while leaving you with a lot of leeway for doing so on purpose.

      • flashgnash@lemm.ee
        1·
        3 months ago

        This is one of the reasons I love nix. Most of the time if I break it I just roll back, if I really fuck it up I just reinstall, rebuild my config and I’m back

    • Leaflet@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      3 months ago

      I used to update my laptop in class because my school’s WiFi was so much faster than my home internet.

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
    1014·
    3 months ago

    Good person! This is how you learn Linux and gain experience. Trying to understand why something happened and trying to fix it using that understanding. Not “just reinstall” or worse “you should use X distro instead.”

    • 0xD@infosec.pub
      18·
      3 months ago

      And for the full Linux experience do it at the perfect moment, such as when you’re in a lecture or customer presentation!

    • Schmeckinger@lemmy.world
      11·
      3 months ago

      This doesn’t feel like something that should happen. Like at all. I don’t want experience repairing stuff. I want stuff not breaking. I know mos tpeople here treat a OS like a hobby, but for most people its a tool.

    • data1701d (He/Him)@startrek.websiteEnglish
      5·
      3 months ago

      This is why I use Debian 12 with minimal backports on my main college laptop. (I just have backports kernel and firmware for the Wi-Fi card as well as backports smartctl due to a bugfix).

    • flashgnash@lemm.ee
      24·
      3 months ago

      On nixos i managed to uninstall nix (package manager), remove my user account, git, ls, WiFi drivers and basically everything else

      I can’t remember how I rescued it now but managed to get it back without a reinstall

      • Sickday@kbin.earth
        11·
        3 months ago

        I can’t remember how I rescued it now but managed to get it back without a reinstall

        You could’ve booted into a previous generation where you still had all those things on your system. The glory of atomic distros :)

        • flashgnash@lemm.ee
          2·
          3 months ago

          I could have done that had I not deleted all previous generations in an attempt to make space for the update

      • Chewy
        10·
        3 months ago

        I really wonder how you managed to uninstall nix. Editing configuration.nix shouldn’t even allow for removing .nix…

        Anyway, this post made me remember why I used btrfs for my new btrfs system.

      • Lupec@lemm.ee
        2·
        3 months ago

        Damn, I didn’t even realize that was doable lol. At least the nix part, the rest definitely sounds like stuff I might’ve accidentally done myself while learning the ropes.

    • Swedneck
      6·
      3 months ago

      as long as you have access to the boot drive everything’s fine, just varying degrees of painful to rectify.

  • superkret@feddit.org
    351·
    3 months ago

    When you do a dist-upgrade on anything but the stable main repos, you’re on your own.

  • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
    23·
    3 months ago

    yum history undo last

    There’s a colossal amount of work that goes into making that command usable and reliable, and I’m glad to say the yum-adjacent distros are still putting in the effort. That may change, but so far it’s been there to save my bacon when I need it.

  • Boxscape@lemmy.sdf.org
    20·
    3 months ago

    There’s something very appropriate about you using all those (system) tools during an anthropology lecture.

  • Mwa@lemm.eeEnglish
    20·
    3 months ago

    kinda love how you used gnome with macbook it fits soo well

  • cmnyboEnglish
    17·
    3 months ago

    That’s why it’s a good idea to take a btrfs snapshot before updating or changing things. Snapshots are almost instant and sure save a lot of work if you break something.

  • mvirts@lemmy.world
    12·
    3 months ago

    Congratulations 🎉 Nice work figuring it out.

    Gotta love the idea that when you uninstall a package all the packages that depend on it must be removed for consistency.

    Out of curiosity, what were you looking to gain from the pipewire upgrade?

  • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
    10·
    3 months ago
    Debian GNU/Linux 12 dullbananas-macbookpro161 tty1

dullbananas-macbookpro161 login:

    What more do you need?!

    Lol but seriously,

    Remove: ...gnome-shell...

    That’ll do it.

    You should consider setting up btrfs w/ Timeshift.