Ubuntu 12.04 Desktop Issues

People are getting prompted to install 12.0.4.1, doing it and then either it breaks or they are totally lost.

Resolution

If its completely broken:

backup and reinstall 10.04

otherwise: install Mate and Gnome Classic .

Recovery Mode in 12.04

The recovery mode in 12.04 is a little bit different. By default it mounts the root (/) filesystem as READ ONLY. This means you will not be able to back up the password, edit files, etc.

To fix just make sure that you select the networking option from the recovery menu. This will set everything up for you.

There is a command that will remount / as "rw" (read-write): mount -o remount,rw /

Installing Mate and Gnome Classic

Note: to open a terminal in Unity, press the windows key, or click on the Ubuntu symbol top left ("dash home"), then type term and click on terminal when it appears below.

Mate

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://packages.mate-desktop.org/repo/ubuntu precise main"
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-archive-keyring
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-core mate-desktop-environment


http://mate-desktop.org/install/#ubuntu

Make sure you put a shutdown button (and a logout button), on the top panel.

On Mate make sure you put a shutdown (and optionally a log out button), on the top panel, on gnome classic put a link to firefox (and evolution) there.

Gnome Classic

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

Then put a link to firefox (and evolution) on the top panel. IIRC you need to press alt + right click to add things to the panel in Gnome Classic.

We should install both but select Mate as the default.

Tweaking

sudo apt-get install mate-indicator-applet mate-notification-daemon

This will allow you to add the notification icon (i.e. the envelope in 10.04) on the panel and enable popup ballon notifications in Mate.

sudo apt-get install gnome-themes-extras community-themes shimmer-themes gtk-clearlooks-gperfection2-theme mate-icon-theme-faenza

This brings in extra themes. Faenza is a well regarded square icon theme. There are lots more aptitude search theme

System -> Preferences -> Appearance allows the user to tweak the theme, selcting custom allows you to change the icons, controls window border, fonts as well.

Selecting the Default Session

You switch between sessions on the log in screen by clicking on the Ubuntu logo/circle next to the username. This is non-obvious. Once you have selected a session once it will remember your choice.

Don't forget to do this for every user.

You will need to backup the password file (cp /etc/shadow /etc/shadow.bak) so you can change the password ehern doing this in Tech Support. Don't forget to copy the password file back over. (You don't need to do this if you have the password)

Antelope in Tech Support (on the left) has a 12.04 virtual machine with Mate and Gnome Classic on them. Mate has been set up with shutdown added.

Using the Unity Desktop

There is a basic tutorial on how to use Unity here, if you are interested:

http://complete-concrete-concise.com/ubuntu-2/ubuntu-12-04/ubuntu-12-04-basic-unity-interface-desktop-tutorial