gnome does not complete initialization

I installed Ubuntu 19-10 on a slightly-used Dell Optiplex 9020. When I boot normally Gnome does not complete initialization, so I am left viewing the blinking light logo and never get the opportunity to log into the system. I have applied every update to 19-10 as it has become available and the problem persists. The only way I can get the system to come up is to press the ESC key to get to the GRUB menu and then boot from the GRUB menu. In that case the system comes up normally.

Also for some reason when I do get to the GRUB menu I am unable to select Advanced Options. Pressing down skips to Memory Test.

This is only a minor annoyance but I would like to know what documentation to collect to understand why I can boot the system from the GRUB menu but not by default.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.10
Package: ubuntu-release-upgrader-core 1:19.10.15.4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.3.0-46.38-generic 5.3.18
Uname: Linux 5.3.0-46-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8
Architecture: amd64
CrashDB: ubuntu
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Apr 9 15:45:41 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-02-09 (59 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_CA:en
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubuntu-release-upgrader
Symptom: release-upgrade
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)