[EdLUG] Kubuntu Desktop broken after 'apt-get dist-upgrade'

[Alistair]

Last week I updated my Thinkpad T480 (running Kubuntu 22.04) using the command line. During the process the laptop crashed, and I am no longer able to access the desktop.
I can login to console after boot up, but when I try to start the desktop with 'startx' I get a black screen. To get there it asks for a Kwallet password - (never previously used) and a wireless network password. The mouse pointer is a black arrow  with a white outline, which does follow movements of the trackpad but does not respond to right or left buttons.

I tried  'apt-get dist-upgrade' with the '-f' option to no avail.

I think it stated that several packages would be held back before the update. I booted into recovery mode, ran 'fsck', 'clean', enabled network, then ran 'dpkg' which updated 41 packages, but still no proper desktop.

How do I confirm the current state of the system, and then recover / repair the Kubuntu desktop?

Regards,

Alistair