Ubuntunerd ☠

Posts tagged with "ubuntu"

Ubuntu Tweak

Sunday, 25. January 2009, 19:33:14

If you want to tweak some things in your Ubuntu OS with out having to edit any "configuration files", I recommend "Ubuntu Tweak" a program created by an Ubuntu community member. It brings to the surface usually hidden GNOME desktop settings to allow for good customization.

To install it, click System > Administration > Software Sources, make sure Third-Party Software tab is selected, click on the Add button.

Then type the following into the dialog box:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ubuntu hardy main

then hit reload, next use Synaptic to search for and install the ubuntu-tweak and compizconfig-settings-manager packages.

Once installed, Ubuntu Tweak can be found on the Applications > System Tools menu.

The tweaks are split-up into 5 categories: Applications, Startup, Desktop, Personal, and System

Applications:
This section lets you install and remove some of the most popular Ubuntu software, including adding of third-party APT repositories to add-in useful third-party applications. It’s well worth investigating the lists of software provided because they filter out much of the dross available in the package archives.
you can also edit your software sources in this section to fit your needs

it also has a Package Cleaner which works very well

Here you can control what happens when the Ubuntu desktop appears, such as what programs automatically run, or whether the splash screen appears. Much of the same functionality can be accessed using the System > Preferences > Sessions
program, youy can also add a splash screen jus by dragging a picture to the splash image section.

also under this section is the autostart menu, here you can check off some of the things you don't want starting when Ubuntu boots so it boots a little faster.

Desktop:
This option gives control over the desktop and windows appearance, such as whether desktop icons appear, or what happens when you double-click the title bars of windows.

This option gives control over the desktop and windows appearance/operation, such as whether desktop icons appear, or what happens when you double-click the title bars of windows.

You can also configure some of the desktop effects functions (select the Compiz Fusion option), to see a few of the most popular compiz effects.

next click on Gnome, you can adjust your panels and menus

Personal:
This options are related to your useraccount, you can alter the location of your document folders.

next click on templates, here you can manage your documents templates

scripts can be very useful and time saving.

shortcut commands

System:
Here you can change options relating to how the GNOME desktop used by Ubuntu functions, including the Nautilus file manager and also some specific power management settings.
file type is not available, click on nautilus. here you can adjust all kind of settings

next under power management you can change cpu and power settings
[IMG=http://files.myopera.com/ubuntunerd1/files/blogs/blog2/blog3/blog4/Screenshot-67-1.png
security: This option lets you “lock down” some features of the Ubuntu desktop, such as stopping people hitting Alt+F2 to run programs and others

thats it I recommend exploring all the settings in this program if you like tweaking your system.

19 comments

How to install Ubuntu 8.4

Saturday, 24. January 2009, 23:41:37

ubuntu, hardy, install

How to install Ubuntu

This guide is a straight instalation of Ubuntu only(not a dual boot)
The first thing you need to do is download the iso image from HERE you can choose between 8.4 or 8.10. Im still using 8.4 only because is supported until 2011.
You can also download Ubuntu as a torrent from HERE scroll down until you see

 ubuntu-8.04.2-desktop-i386.iso.torrent

you will need some kind of torrent software to download it this way. I prefer torrents especially after a new distribution comes out and the servers are overloaded. I use "UTORRENT" because is very lightweight you can download it from HERE when you first install it you will need to answer some questions about speed and downloads, if you don't know anything about this just use the default settings.

after you finished downloading the file you need to burn the iso image to a disk, there are many free programs out there that can do this. InfraRecorder is one of them you can download it from HERE and HERE is a good detail guide on How to burn an ISO image.
Personalty I use "Magic Iso" only because Im a long time fan of it and their virtual drives, you can download a copy from HERE and just use the evaluation version it has never fail me.

Once you burned the image and your Ubuntu CD is ready just boot (from the CD instead of your hard drive), and you should be ready to start using Ubuntu.
note: you might have to go into the boot menu and configure it to boot from cd-rom if you have another OS install, if you have no idea how to do this check this guide here
after the cd starts you should see the language screen

when you see this screen the first thing you should do is check the cd for defects if you don't find any errors you can proceed. If you have 512 MB or more of RAM, you may select Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer. This allows you to run a live session without installing, this is actually a good thing this way you can make sure all your hardware works(meaning if you can get on online).

Wait for Ubuntu to get ready for a live session or installation, if you choose to try it out first next you will boot into Ubuntu's desktop and you will see an install icon on the left side.

next click on the Firefox icon to get online and just check things around to make sure you like what you see, if everything looks good and all your hardware works click on the install icon.