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 XFCE as this is what our next distro will be based on.
You should inform the user that this is what we intend to do and explain the following.
"We will install XFCE on Ubuntu 12.04 as this is what the next Free Geek distro will be based upon, and it will ensure you continue receiving updates into the future. As you are among the first users of the new system we will extend the software support on your system so that you know that we will continue to support it. With your permission we would like to contact you in future to see what your experience with the new system has been".
If they agree to this please send a note with their name, contact info and system id to paulm@freegeek.
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 Xubuntu in a Ubuntu 12.04 system
The big package is "xubuntu-desktop"
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
This will install the xfce environment with Xubuntu tweaks.
Icon Modification
Extract this file into "/usr/share/icons/" and change the icon theme in the Appearances options to give the user a nice blue power icon on the shutdown panel applet.
File:Freegeek-xubuntu-icon-theme.tar.gz
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: