Wendell,
I'd be happy to help -- Sounds like a fun puzzle. :-)
But you can probably succeed with a few hints.
Do you get a grub prompt?
Have you tried booting to single user mode from the grub prompt?
http://askubuntu.com/questions/132965/how-do-i-boot-into-single-user-mode-from-grub
Do the Alt-SysRq magic keys work?
http://tazbuntu.blogspot.com/2008/05/magic-sysrq-key.html
Gerry
On Wed, 21 Jan 2015, Wendell Bell wrote:
> I have been using Ubuntu for over 4 years and it has been good. I was running 14.10
> on a Toshiba R835 P56X--until December. Then, there was a new kernel, and something
> went badly wrong. Ubuntu seems to load, but what is shown on my laptop's screen is,
> seemingly, only the center of what there really is. The result is that there is
> nothing shown--or clickable--on the left side with Unity, and nothing shown--or
> clickable--on the top. (Shutdown is done by removal of the battery.)
> I've done everything I could think of: tried recovery mode, tried earlier versions,
> went onto the Ubuntu forums seeking their counsel, tried what they suggested etc. It
> looks like, from what they said, I will have to reinstall Ubuntu, and just hope that
> existing files (I don't have a lot) will come across. The problem is that I don't
> have a live CD and can't seem to create a USB stick on the Windows side of this
> Toshiba (it was recommended that I go back to, and stick with 14.04 LTS).
>
> So, HELP! I'll pay whatever's fair, up to about $100. And I'll bring the computer to
> you, at a date and time convenient to you (I'm retired, so pretty flexible as to
> timing). But I would like to have Ubuntu on this computer, and, again, have
> it--usably--up and running. Is there anyone here who can help me? Thanks in advance.
> [cleardot.gif]
>
> Wendell Bell
> wendell dot bell--gmail dot com
>
>