Can't Run Terminal

you can launch a terminal with

CTRL+ALT+T

That command does not work for me. Nothing happens.

.

Since you didn't tell which session is on, this is for unity session.
Try login to virtual console (tty, text mode only): ctrl+alt+F1
After login enter:
killall gnome-terminal
compiz --replace
unity --reset

Back to GUI: ctrl+alt+F7

in case it doesn't return to GUI reboot:
sudo reboot

During the process, of the "unity --reset" command I attempted to open a gnome-terminal and got an error message in the xterm terminal. [ compiz (opengl) - Info: Couldn't bind redirected window 0x4400006 to texture compiz (opengl) - Warn: BUg in window 0x4400006 (identifying as gnome-terminal) compiz (opengl) - Warn: This window tried to create an absurdly large window 738 x 18492 compiz (opengl) - Warn: Unforunately, that's not supported on your hardware, because you have a maximum texture size of 8192 compiz (opengl) - Warn: you should probably file a bug against that application compiz (opengl) - Warn: for now, we're going to hide tht window so that it doesn't break your desktop.
The terminal still won't work.

Did you log in to virtual console?
Did you kill gnome-terminal?
Did you reboot?
Did you try to login to Unity-2d session?

Logging into a virtual console by pressing ctrl+alt+F1 did not work for me. I used xterm to complete everything. Yes I killed all gnome-terminal, rebooted but I have not logged into a Unity-2d session. I will give that a try.

I just logged into a Unity-2d session and the terminal does work. What does this mean? Sorry, I'm somewhat of a newbie.

Means that compiz is causing issues.

I'm fairly certain I didn't even have compiz when my terminal started freaking out. I got it after the fact.

> Unity-2d session and the terminal does work. What does this mean?

That there is an issue with 3d acceleration due to outdated or exotic hardware.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DemystifyingUnityGraphicsHardwareRequirements

Which graphics card?
In case you don't know the terminal output will tell:
sudo lshw -C video

This will tell how Unity is supported by your hardware:
/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p

Unity uses compiz as window manager.
When you login to Unity now does gnome-terminal work?

The following was the product of entering the command "sudo lshw -C video": *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: M92 [Mobility Radeon HD 4500/5100 Series]
       vendor: ATI Technologies Inc
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 00
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm pciexpress msi vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=fglrx_pci latency=0
       resources: irq:50 memory:d0000000-dfffffff ioport:2000(size=256) memory:fc000000-fc00ffff memory:fc020000-fc03ffff
I looked at how Unity is supported by my hardware and everything is Yes.
Yes the gnome-terminal does work in the non-2d session, but I'm still uncertain as to what changed and what caused the problem.

> uncertain as to what changed and what caused the problem.

Often the cause
> configuration: driver=fglrx
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

Did you try standard radeon driver?