It did run a file check.
Screen still the same I’m afraid.
Although, have I mentioned the login screen is fine? Not sure if that makes a difference.
When you choose “Recovery” in 12.04 … is there a “FailsafeX” option ?
Yes
(just re-read your question)
No, I mean … If you Select “Ubuntu Recovery” … is there THEN an option called “FailsafeX” (in the same place as “Drop to a root shell prompt”) ?
Yes there is
If you boot to FailsafeX … is the screen OK ?
If so, do that now … and let me know when you’re at the desktop.
Chose FailsafeX
Advised that system is running in low graphics mode
Chose to do so and reboot
Rebooted
Screen is blank
I need to disappear for a couple of hours sorry Mark - inconvenient I know.
I’ll come back to you asap.
OK, catch you later.
OK, boot to “Ubuntu Recovery”, then select “Drop to a root shell prompt” … once at the root prompt (#) run:
mv -v /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.broken
then
dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg-video-intel
Then reboot normally to test.
If that doesn’t work … how did you get it to boot to a working desktop before ?
Thank you Mark.
Speak later.
Sorry I’ve not had chance to get back to you sooner, but I turned this box on today and guess what, screen is fine. Do you think I need to input any of those commands anyway or just leave it as it is to save tempting fate? Also, do you think I should test the screen resolution adjustment or again, leave it be?
Thanks Mark
I’d leave well alone … and play by the “if it ain’t broken…” rule 
Then that’s exactly what I’ll do. Frustrating though, when these things just fix themselves and you don’t get to find out exactly what the issue was.
There may have been an update that fixed matters … did you get any updates last night ?
You could always look through the /var/log/dpkg.log file to see what (if anything) was installed yesterday.
I’ll check if anything installed today, I only turned it on this morning. I’ll do an update too,.
Thanks Mark
I’m thinking something may have got installed as an update yesterday, but didn’t become active till after a reboot … which would explain it working this morning.
Check your log file viewer … and look at the dpkg.log
Ah I see what you mean now, although it was completely turned off since we last attempted to fix it, all day yesterday and until this morning when I turned it on and it was fine, which is probably why I don’t have a dpkg.log in /var/log/
Hmm … very strange ??? … Oh well, maybe you just frightened it into submission then
Ha, then I’ll do the Haka at it if it has any future problems