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eric,
i thought this was a sort of "windows update". such updates are usually good windows, i didn't know that linux would propose me something that could damage my computer.
i thought linux could go for years without even any restart, and i would need to reinstall it all after a few days only??? I'd rather not do that. I don't know how to anyway. And i'd rather not lose time/money to make backups just to reinstall linux.
You really cannot compare Windoze to Linux in any way. Ubuntu is one of the distro's that are considered as 'easy' because they have automated a lot of stuff that the more experienced user likes to keep under his/her own control. It comes with the territory . I advice you to read up on Ubuntu and Linux in general. This way you could 'fine-tune' your Ubuntu to do what YOU want and not like Windows (what IT wants). Furthermore the knowledge you'll acquire reading, learning and trying, will serve you whenever you try out another distro.
i typed alt+f2 and then su and then enter, but the computer is getting all confused.
there's an orange rectangle where there used to be the prompt commande, and some words can't be read anymore (the login name in the top right and the preferences, administration words in the top left)
when i press alt+f2, it still opens the same window, but then when i type alt+f2 and su and enter, the windows closes and there's no other effect whatsoever.
Looks like your thinkpad isn't going to be the only problem you have. Seems like your graphics are all off. Between all the things you have tried have you rebooted your computer? If not, reboot it to see if it comes up with a normal graphic login and a normal graphic screen after logging in.
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. I advice you to read up on Ubuntu and Linux in general. This way you could 'fine-tune' your Ubuntu to do what YOU want and not like Windows (what IT wants). Furthermore the knowledge you'll acquire reading, learning and trying, will serve you whenever you try out another distro. 
