[MrWiffles]

I’ve had stuff like this happen on Linux when using it as a desktop all the damn time. It’s just not good enough for that yet (but server? nothing else comes close).

Reverting an apt install is just apt uninstall packagename. Or maybe it’s remove-typing this from the hospital bed so I don’t remember for sure (going home later today though, doing well!)

I hate to recommend this, but if I were in your shoes, I’d just install another distro or OS in place of what you have just to PROVE whether it’s the hardware itself that’s broken, or if it’s only a software issue. If the hardware really is busted, reinstall the factory os-probably windows-then see if you can get it repaired or replaced via warranty. Just put it back into windows world so they don’t use that as an excuse to weasel out of honoring their warranty.

[DreamWalker1]

Exactly that is what I did. Everything worked again. The driver broke it so. BUT it is kind of a general problem, since it isn't always possible to just format and reinstall everything... Something like git revert would be amazing for apt. But maybe I just want to much.

[MrWiffles]

No, I don't think you're asking too much here at all, and I totally agree with you. Take a look at Nix OS - it's a Linux distro that, if memory serves, comes with those kind of guarantees as to how it handles packages, installations, etc. No idea how useable it is for a desktop environment as compared to Ubuntu, but you might find the general approach appealing (again, if memory serves, please pardon me if not).

[DreamWalker1]

Not sure how user-friendly Nix is for Desktop. But definitely the approach seems to be right.

Anyway my solution right now is using timeshift. Quite happy with it. Already was able to rollback the nvidia driver and get my touchpad back. Seems like a workable approach, but definitely would expect some kind of native functionality.