BRICKED my zorin os

Pocket · January 3, 2026, 4:49pm

Hi I wanted to install steam and ended up bricking my system. I install steam via the .deb package from steam website and when is done it shows that libgl.so.1 libdrm.so.2 is missing. So i install it via this command:
sudo apt install libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libdrm2:i386

Then somehow it also remove the setting and other important app that is needed. So i when to repair via the usb bootable drive and follow the instructions on zorin website.

It was successful but now it boot up without any GUI . So now i am stuck as to how to fix this issues and i didnt make any backup.

Thanks

zenzen · January 3, 2026, 5:18pm

Packages labeled as i386 are 32-bit architecture, which your computer most likely doesn't use (64-bit has been around for a long time already). Where did you get the command to install these two packages? I seem to remember things like this causing trouble.

First, try to re-install the desktop environment:

sudo apt reinstall zorin-os-desktop

And restart:

sudo reboot

Pocket · January 3, 2026, 5:34pm

Well i got it via AI gemini when i googled the problem and yeah shouldn’t trust too much.I using on an old laptop like around 2013 i7-5500u to give you an idea.

Anyway I tried to enter that command but it show this error.
I restarted it anyway and still the same.

The following packages have unnet dependencies:

libmutter-14-0: Depends: mutter-common-bin (= 46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.10) but 45.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.13 is to be installed

zenzen · January 3, 2026, 6:11pm

Don't beat yourself up, it's not like you could've known anyway. But yes, don't trust everything you see online (from humans or AI) and try to double check what you're typing into a terminal as best you can (especially if you see sudo prefixed).
So, let's see if we can fix this login issue first, and then we can worry about Steam.

I'm curious to see what else was installed during the install command. You can check the log for that by running:

tail -n50 /var/log/apt/history.log

This will print the last 50 lines (feel free to adjust this as needed) from the file that follows, which as the name suggests logs activity by the apt command. In particular, I'm interested in seeing if there are any recommended packages installed along with the libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libdrm2:i386 libraries.

I ask because that error message suggesting that libmutter cannot be installed sounds a little weird... Let's also check your current package sources:

ls -l /etc/apt/sources.list.d

This will output a list of files that describe where your system is pulling software from. I'm not expecting to see anything unusual, but there just might.

By the way, if you don't have a graphical interface you probably won't be able to copy and paste the output from this commands. If you can, great, just copy it here. Otherwise, it's best if you upload them to a service like https://0x0.st/ and share the link here. You can use these commands, instead:

tail -n50 /var/log/apt/history.log | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

And

ls -l /etc/apt/sources.list.d | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

You'll get two URLs that you can copy (or even type) here directly.

Pocket · January 3, 2026, 6:34pm

Ok i do it once my laptop finish some update.
So just to update on what i just did. I when to the recovery mode and tried fix broken package and check sys file. Reboot nothing works. Then I process to enter these command.

sudo apt update

sudo apt --fix-broken install

sudo apt install --reinstall zorin-os-desktop

Right now is installing some stuff for hours so once available I try to do it and upload the photo of any error(uploading of photo took forever ) keep getting stuck at 10%. Yeah I cant copy and paste as i only got the terminal and I sending all these on my ipad

Aravisian · January 3, 2026, 6:42pm

Agreed, Most likely, all critical packages were switched to 32 bit architecture variants, so removing the libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libdrm2:i386 packages, then restoring the 64 bit components should put the system back to operational 64 bit.

All you need to do to install Steam is:

sudo apt install steam

No need to go to other websites.

Pocket · January 3, 2026, 10:54pm

Hi guy great news. When to sleep afterwards and the last I remembered is still download some stuff but when i woke up, I am greeted with a working GUI. It told me to restart so i did and I also did some recommended software update in zorin setting. However, so far I did realise that some software is removed and i am unable to see or add icon in desktop even if icon on desktop is enabled.I am using GNOME 46.0 DE.

Also, each time I boot up, I am greeted with the option:
Zorin os
Advanced option for zorin os
UEFI firmware settings

How do I skip these and go straight to zorin os ?

Also that steam programme is still there and was thinking of uninstalling it and reinstalling using the method @Aravisian mentioned.

Thank you

Pocket · January 3, 2026, 11:02pm

total 72
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  142 Jan  4 06:45 brave-browser-release.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  142 Jan  4 06:45 brave-browser-release.list.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  105 Jan  4 06:45 mozilla.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  105 Jan  4 06:45 mozilla.list.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  296 Jan  4 06:45 steam-beta.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  296 Jan  4 06:45 steam-beta.list.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  228 Jan  4 06:45 steam-stable.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  228 Jan  4 06:45 steam-stable.list.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  458 Jan  4 06:45 zorin.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  458 Jan  4 06:45 zorin.list.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1748 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-apps-noble.sources
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1748 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-apps-noble.sources.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1751 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-drivers-noble.sources
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1751 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-drivers-noble.sources.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1751 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-patches-noble.sources
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1751 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-patches-noble.sources.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1750 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-stable-noble.sources
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1750 Jan  4 06:45 zorinos-ubuntu-stable-noble.sources.save

Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-commit-packages' sender=':1.161'
Upgrade: libsmartcols1:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), udev:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), systemd-oomd:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), libmbim-utils:amd64 (1.31.2-0ubuntu3, 1.31.2-0ubuntu3.1), mutter-common-bin:amd64 (46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.10, 46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.13), systemd-timesyncd:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu:amd64 (23.0.0-1build1, 23.0.0-1ubuntu0.24.04.1), libpipewire-0.3-common:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), libmbim-glib4:amd64 (1.31.2-0ubuntu3, 1.31.2-0ubuntu3.1), libpam-systemd:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), pipewire-pulse:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), ubuntu-drivers-common:amd64 (1:0.9.7.6ubuntu3.4, 1:0.9.7.6ubuntu3.5), libmutter-14-0:amd64 (46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.10, 46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.13), libdrm-nouveau2:amd64 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), libinput10:amd64 (1.25.0-1ubuntu3.1, 1.25.0-1ubuntu3.2), libsystemd0:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), libsystemd0:i386 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), libmount1:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), libnss-systemd:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), gnome-remote-desktop:amd64 (46.3-0ubuntu1, 46.3-0ubuntu1.1), pipewire:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), mutter-common:amd64 (46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.10, 46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.13), util-linux:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), systemd:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), libudev1:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), gnome-settings-daemon-common:amd64 (46.0-1ubuntu1, 46.0-1ubuntu1.24.04.1), libfdisk1:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), systemd-dev:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), eject:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), gir1.2-nautilus-4.0:amd64 (1:46.4-0ubuntu0.1, 1:46.4-0ubuntu0.2), gir1.2-nm-1.0:amd64 (1.46.0-1ubuntu2.3, 1.46.0-1ubuntu2.4), gnome-settings-daemon:amd64 (46.0-1ubuntu1, 46.0-1ubuntu1.24.04.1), libspa-0.2-bluetooth:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), libuuid1:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), uuid-runtime:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), systemd-resolved:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), gir1.2-mutter-14:amd64 (46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.10, 46.2-1ubuntu0.24.04.13), libmbim-proxy:amd64 (1.31.2-0ubuntu3, 1.31.2-0ubuntu3.1), gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), uuid-dev:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), pipewire-audio:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), pipewire-bin:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), rfkill:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), mount:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), libspa-0.2-modules:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), libdrm-amdgpu1:amd64 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), libdrm-amdgpu1:i386 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), libdrm-radeon1:amd64 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), libdrm2:amd64 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), libdrm2:i386 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), libwhoopsie0:amd64 (0.2.77build3, 0.2.77ubuntu0.1), libsystemd-shared:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), libpipewire-0.3-0t64:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), systemd-sysv:amd64 (255.4-1ubuntu8.11, 255.4-1ubuntu8.12), libblkid1:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), whoopsie:amd64 (0.2.77build3, 0.2.77ubuntu0.1), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), libgtk-4-media-gstreamer:amd64 (4.14.5+ds-0ubuntu0.5, 4.14.5+ds-0ubuntu0.7), bsdutils:amd64 (1:2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 1:2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), libdrm-intel1:amd64 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), libdrm-intel1:i386 (2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.1, 2.4.122-1~ubuntu0.24.04.2), bsdextrautils:amd64 (2.39.3-9ubuntu6.3, 2.39.3-9ubuntu6.4), pipewire-alsa:amd64 (1.0.5-1ubuntu3.1, 1.0.5-1ubuntu3.2), libinput-bin:amd64 (1.25.0-1ubuntu3.1, 1.25.0-1ubuntu3.2)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  06:42:17

Start-Date: 2026-01-04  07:27:17
Commandline: packagekit role='remove-packages'
Requested-By: jw (1000)
Remove: broadcom-sta-dkms:amd64 (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.1), dkms:amd64 (3.0.11-1ubuntu13)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  07:30:03

Start-Date: 2026-01-04  07:30:38
Commandline: packagekit role='install-packages'
Requested-By: jw (1000)
Install: broadcom-sta-dkms:amd64 (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.1), dkms:amd64 (3.0.11-1ubuntu13, automatic)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  07:31:28

Start-Date: 2026-01-04  07:42:31
Commandline: /usr/sbin/synaptic
Requested-By: jw (1000)
Install: module-assistant:amd64 (0.11.11ubuntu1, automatic), broadcom-sta-common:amd64 (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.1), broadcom-sta-source:amd64 (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.1, automatic), bcmwl-kernel-source:amd64 (6.30.223.271+bdcom-23ubuntu1.1), b43-fwcutter:amd64 (1:019-11build1)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  07:43:19

Start-Date: 2026-01-04  08:01:52
Commandline: /usr/sbin/synaptic
Requested-By: jw (1000)
Install: firmware-b43-installer:amd64 (1:019-11build1), firmware-b43legacy-installer:amd64 (1:019-11build1)
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  08:02:13

Start-Date: 2026-01-04  08:11:45
Commandline: apt purge steam steam-launcher
Requested-By: jw (1000)
Purge: steam-launcher:amd64 (1:1.0.0.85)
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  08:12:03

Start-Date: 2026-01-04  08:23:15
Commandline: /usr/sbin/synaptic
Requested-By: jw (1000)
Remove: totem-plugins:amd64 (43.0-2ubuntu4), totem:amd64 (43.0-2ubuntu4)
Purge: grilo-plugins-0.3-base:amd64 (0.3.16-1.1ubuntu6.1~24.04.1)
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  08:23:20

Start-Date: 2026-01-04  08:42:59
Commandline: apt reinstall zorin-os-desktop gnome-shell-extension-zorin-desktop-icons
Requested-By: jw (1000)
Reinstall: zorin-os-desktop:amd64 (1.7.8), gnome-shell-extension-zorin-desktop-icons:amd64 (49.0.5)
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
End-Date: 2026-01-04  08:43:14

As requested and I think it might not help with it anymore because I done some changes already.

Now the only problem is icon not appearing on desktop and the boot option menu which i mentioned previously.

Pocket · January 4, 2026, 7:23am

Just an update i managed to skip the GRUB menu and straight boot to zorin os by these command:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Change : GRUB_TIMEOUT=5 to 0

Ctrl+x then y then enter

afterward run this command: sudo update-grub

With that said I now left with the desktop icon issue.

zenzen · January 4, 2026, 11:28am

Let's try something simple first: head over to Zorin Appearance → Layouts, and switch to another layout (you can then go back to the one you like afterwards if you want). Does that fix it? Sometimes these things need to be a little "push" to load back up properly.

Pocket · January 4, 2026, 11:53am

hi unfortunately no, I even tried to toggle on and off the icon on desktop afterwards. Still the same

Pocket · January 4, 2026, 1:35pm

Does zorin os have something like window sfc /scannow or dism command to fix sys file easily?

Ponce-De-Leon · January 4, 2026, 1:41pm

Because of the Desktop Icons:

You could first simply to reinstall the Zorin Extension for it with sudo apt reinstall gnome-shell-extension-zorin-desktop-icons and then reboot and look if it works.

Shouldn't that work, I would suggest the Following: Install the Extension Manager if not already done. You can find it Gnome Software:

When intsalled, open it and go to the Browse Tab. Search there for Desktop Icons NG and install that. Then go to the Installed Tab and disable the Zorin Desktop Icons and set up the Desktop Icons NG Extension and look if it works.

Because of Steam, I saw something in Your Sources:

Pocket:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  296 Jan  4 06:45 steam-beta.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  296 Jan  4 06:45 steam-beta.list.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  228 Jan  4 06:45 steam-stable.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  228 Jan  4 06:45 steam-stable.list.save

You have here Steam Beta and Steam Stable. I would suggest to only use Steam Stable.

zenzen · January 4, 2026, 2:19pm

There's the fsck command (short for file system check) but I'm not sure if this applies in your case. It looks like something is badly configured rather than file corruption.

For situations like this, another tool that you might want to use is Timeshift. This allows you to create snapshots of your system and roll back your configuration whenever something goes wrong. For instance, take a snapshot, install some app, and if you experience any errors restore from the snapshot. It's like a checkpoint, going back to that point in time as if nothing every happened.
Unfortunately, this is something that must be done in advanced. I still recommend you install it afterwards, for good measure. There are a few threads already in the forum on how to set it up, and some caveats, if you're interested.

Pocket · January 4, 2026, 2:51pm

Yeah i not even sure how I installed the beta version.

Anyway I installed desktop icons NG(DING) by rastersoft and disable icon in the zorin appearance but still doesn't work. Just to be sure under desktop in file managed there is steam so I should at least see the steam icon.

Pocket · January 4, 2026, 4:23pm

2398:26

[93.1190991 UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in src/el/sys/wl_cfg88211_hybrid

93.119115) index 1 is out of range for type 'uint8 [1]'

93.2276493 UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in src/el/sys/wl_linux.c:1939:4

[FAILED

93.2276881 Index 2 is out of range for type 'ether_addr [1]'" ] Failed to start gdm.service GNOME Display Manager.

[FAILED] Failed to start gda.service GNOME Display Manager.

[FAILED) Failed to start postgresql@16-main.service PostgreSQL Cluster 16-main.

Just when I thought I am finally done I rebooted and this error show up

All I did was to do some cleanup command:
sudo apt clean

At this point I might be done with Linux for good.

Pocket · January 4, 2026, 4:37pm

Regarding this backup I tried but unfortunately I don't have enough space on my 120GB HDD and I don't have an external storage on hand.

Ponce-De-Leon · January 4, 2026, 6:03pm

I would ask for the Steam Issue if You can create other Desktop Icons but now ... I would suggest to do a fresh Installation.

If You have any Data to save, You could use the Bootstick with Zorin and start it in Live Mode. Then open Nautilus, go to 'Other Places'' and then choose the Drive where Zorin is installed on and copy Your Data to save them.

zenzen · January 4, 2026, 10:44pm

The first backup with Timeshift will take a little more space, but those are incremental, meaning that each subsequent snapshot will be much more lightweight.

But in any case, I'm inclined to agree with @Ponce-De-Leon in that a fresh re-install might actually be the easiest option here. The trouble with bad package installs is that the damage is not always immediately obvious. I can't say what happened in this case, to be honest, but whatever was changed seemed to mess things more than it seemed at first.

Pocket · January 5, 2026, 12:51am

I tried other options like using different doc and folders but none of them worked. At this point, I’ll probably reinstall the entire OS or switch to Win 10 LTSC altogether. Linux just isn’t for me yet.It’s too easy to break core functionality and there aren’t enough proper, user-friendly tools to fix things when they go wrong.

Thankfully, I don’t have any data to back up since this was only a testing environment for getting used to Linux, but that didn’t work out very well. I agree that a fresh installation is the best option. Thanks for your help anyway, everyone. @zenzen @Ponce-De-Leon @Aravisian