Ubuntu new user FAQ

How do I get started?

Store box first time use

What software is included?

The Free Geek Ubuntu box has a full complement of useful software. The list below is not exhaustive.

• The Gimp - Image processing software roughly equivalent to Adobe Photoshop
• OpenOffice - Word Processing, Database, Spreadsheet, Drawing, Presentation Manager
• Firefox - Internet browser
• Evolution - Email, Calendar, Personal Information Manager
• Nautilus - File Manager and CD/DVD creator
• gThumb - Photo archive and Camera reader
• XSane - Scanner Software
• Lots of games
• Many utilities such as a calculator, screenshot taker, dictionary

How do I create new users?

New users are created by going to System>Administration>Users

How do I change my password?

Your password can be changed in System>Preferences>About Me.

Alternatively, all user passwords can be changed in System>Administration>Users

How do I add a printer?

Make sure the printer is cabled to the computer and turned on. Go to System>Administration>Printers. Double-click on "New Printer". You will need to enter your password at this point. A dialog box will pop up. The large box in the middle should have the name of your printer in it, and if you press "Forward", reasonable defaults should already be filled in.

How do I connect to the internet?

Dialup

We recommend using gnome-ppp instead of the Ubuntu "Network Settings" dialog. On the Free Geek boxen, it is in the Internet menu, It is not part of the default Ubuntu installation, so if you install from CD, you will need to use the Add/Remove application to install it. When you first use the program, you should go to "Setup" and click on "Detect" to detect the modem. This should only have to be done once. Otherwise, most users should leave all the defaults alone and only put in the username, password and phone number in order to be able to connect. Make sure to check the "Remember password" box. Do not put anything in the "Dial prefix" box on the settings page, unless you need to dial an extra number (like 9) to access an outside line.

Broadband (cable or dsl)

For most cable and dsl modems, once the modem is set up, your ubuntu box will be able to connect without any extra configuration. If you are not able to connect, then check the following:

• The ethernet connection may need to be enabled. Go to System>Administration>Networking, highlight the ethernet connection and then click on properties. There should be a check mark in "Enable this connection". The Configuration should be DHCP unless you know it should be otherwise.
• The modem may need to be rebooted or reset.
• If the modem has not been configured, try browsing to the web interface of the modem. This can be found by checking System>Administration>Network tools. Change the network device to show the ethernet connection. If the IPV4 IP address starts with 169, or is absent, you are not connected. Otherwise, click on the Netstat tab. and check the routing information. The gateway address is the address of the modem. Just put that address in to firefox and you should see the administrative interface for the modem.

My menu and icons are messed up. How can I fix it?

The gnome panels (the strips containing menus, icons and buttons on the top and bottom of the screen) are very easy to customize, and so are very easy to mess up. The following tips can help you recover them.

missing panel

It is easy to delete one of the panels. To replace it, right-click on the remaining panel, and choose "New Panel" from the menu. This will give you a new blank panel. You will need to replace the menus and other features of the panel.

missing menu or other feature

You can add most features of the panels by right-clicking on the panel and choosing "Add to Panel". You will be presented with a large list of features to be added. Try them out. You can always delete them by right-clicking on the feature and selecting "Remove from Panel". Note that the Menu which was there originally is "Menu Bar", not "Main Menu".

Application icons are added by clicking on the menu and then right-clicking on the application icon in the menu and selecting "Add this launcher to panel"

panel in the wrong place

Panels can be moved to different sides of the screen by clicking and dragging.