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This is my first time asking help on this forum.

I was messing around with keyboard shortcuts and accidentally hit ctrl+alt+f12. My screen turned black. Then i hit ctrl+alt+f2 to get to shell mode and rebooted the system. When the computer turned back on, the grub menu didn't show up like it always does, but instead there was a black screen. My question is: How can i get it back to normal? I am using Kubuntu 20.10 if that helps! Help appreciated

Kaur Pajula
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You are hitting one of the rough edges of Linux. Ctrl+Alt+Fx keys move to different virtual consoles. On F12, no virtual console is set up, so you see just a blinking cursor.

On standard Ubuntu, your running desktop is on tty2. You can return to it hitting Ctrl+Alt+F2 or simply Alt+F2. Alt+F1 would bring you to the login manager GDM, running on tty1.

Kubuntu may still be set up the traditional way, because you indicate Alt+F2 gives you a console. Formerly, also on standard Ubuntu, the graphical session was running on Alt+F7. So next time, try that combination: it should bring you back to your graphical desktop.

I called this a "linux rough edge" because this is obviously very obscure and highly confusing for new users. It is of course not anymore a problem once you know what that is and how it works.

vanadium
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  • When i first searched about my problem on the internet, i found the same suggestions that you wrote. But i had already force rebooted the computer, and even the grub menu didn't show up(i had the grub menu to show up for 3s). i forgot to mention, that the next day i installed kde neon on my computer, but thanks to your help. Now i know and i am sure someone else finds your suggestion useful. – Kaur Pajula Mar 16 '21 at 15:30
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On newer UBUNTU flavors (18.04+) the way to come back to the GUI is Alt+F2 (or Ctrl+Alt+F2). Alt+F1 (or Ctrl+Alt+F1) moves you to the login screen.

When back to the GUI it appears to be frozen for some seconds, mouse cursor moves but nothing happens. Just wait a while and all is good again soon.

The Darkness
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