Ubuntu 12.04 changed itself to xubuntu and stopped working

[Tony Baechler]

I must take issue with your suggestion below.

On 7/31/2015 2:21 AM, Liam Proven wrote:
> On 30 July 2015 at 12:11, Bret Busby <bret.busby at gmail.com> wrote:
>> How do I reverse this switch to xubuntu, without having to reinstall
>> Ubuntu, if it can be done?
>
>
> If you want Ubuntu with MATE, install Ubuntu with MATE and don't
> clutter your system with other desktops you don't need or use.
>
> https://ubuntu-mate.org/

I have a user who ran Windows for decades.  He ran XP until recently, even 
though it's no longer supported.  He finally realized that he would either 
have to pay for and switch to Windows 7 or not pay for Ubuntu.  Since he 
runs a small business and would have to buy licenses for several computers, 
he decided Ubuntu was the better option.  The problem is he just switched 
from XP and doesn't yet know what desktop he likes.  After trying the 
standard Ubuntu, he tried Cinnamon from a PPA.  I keep trying to get him to 
look at MATE.  Another machine has XUbuntu installed.  The point is he is 
still learning and has no idea what desktop to pick.  It is not practical to 
do multiple installs, especially in the case of Cinnamon.  Once he decides 
what he likes, your suggestion is good and I agree with it, but since 
multiple desktops are supported, it makes more sense for him to switch among 
them without rebooting.  Besides, he doesn't want to install the programs he 
uses multiple times.