Well, all you guys must be very familiar with the new Unity interface of Ubuntu and some are finding it buggy, unsupportive DE and want to stick to Gnome. Perfect approach ? No, a little wrong coz Unity is now really stable and by the end of April, you will see it as a really good DE to work with. We in this post will cover the basic aspects of Unity and howto get it working on your Ubuntu 11.04 Desktop. Laptops have integrated cards so they might pick it up directly but when it comes to desktops and external Video cards, things get messy. We are going to cover every small bit so that your Ubuntu experience remains better as it was with Gnome 2.32.

Download Ubuntu 11.04 Beta

Installation

There comes the hardest part ! Is it really ? No, Not at all ! People (including most of my friends) believe that installing Linux (Ubuntu) is problematic and hard. We have covered Ubuntu Installation in detail in our previous post. Well, we are doing it again to remind you the actual simplicity and fun involved in the installation. Here it goes -

1. Boot your Ubuntu Live via USB/CD and start the installer. Then choose your preferred language and proceed.
2. Ensure the ’3 requirements’ are satisfied and click forward.
3. At the Installer menu, select ‘something else’ for Manual partitioner setup. (Else you can choose to Erase all your data and install dedicated Ubuntu)
4. Select the rest free space and make a new partition of size 1GB and use it as ‘ext4 journaling filesystem’. Set mount point as ‘/boot’.
5. After that select the next partition and st is as ‘swap area’. It should be double the size of your RAM.
6. The partitioning is done, click forward and installation will start.
7. Now select your TimeZone, Keyboard Layout, Username/Password and then wait for the installation to complete.
8. Reboot your computer and there it is you Ubuntu 11.04.

Update Manager

After rebooting to your dedicated machine, browser to System>Administration>Update Manager, refresh lists and install all the updates listed. The update manager may ask you for an upgrade, run it but make sure you have enough disk space and good connection. After update/ upgrade is over, reboot your system for a better Ubuntu.

Installing Hardware Drivers

Hardware Drivers are very important for Unity as it demands 3D effects to be enabled to run Compiz and give the intended looks. What you need to do is to browse to System>Administration>Additional drivers and install and activate the drivers. After the install is over, reboot the system and Unity will be there to greet you.
If you have Nvidia card and you cannot see any drivers for your card, you can use this PPA to install them right away. (this PPA works on 11.04 also) -

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-current-modaliases nvidia-settings

and restart the system. Everything will be done for sure. We will cover hardware driver installation in detail soon.

Fixing the Bootscreen

Do this if and only if your Ubuntu bootscreen shows up ugly text instead of regular Ubuntu bootscreen. Be careful while doing this :

Method 1 -> Simply install startup manager via terminal ‘sudo apt-get install startupmanager’. Logout and log back in. Now Browse to ‘System>Administration>Startup manager’ and set you preferences. Set color depth at 24 bit and resolution of your choice. Save and reboot. You bootscreen now should be like the one below

Method 2 -> Step 1: Open the terminal and type :

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

- Now, Replace the following line :

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash”

with this one:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1024×768-24,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap”

- Replace the following line :

#GRUB_GFXMODE=640×480

with this one:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1024×768

Save the file and close it!
Step 2: Now, type

sudo gedit /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

When the text window appears, add the following line at the end of the file:

uvesafb mode_option=1280×1024-24 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap

Save the file and close it!

Step 3: Now,

echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash

Step 4: Now update grub using this command:

sudo update-grub
sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot your computer. When the system starts, you should see a better looking Ubuntu boot screen.

Note – You can choose resolution sizes according to your computer capability and screen sizes.

Ubuntu Restricted Extras

Ubuntu Restricted Extras is a package that contains all the necessary codecs and plugins like flashplayer, mp3 and other restricted audio/video codecs  all in one package. Install it from Software Center and Ubuntu is ready at its full power at your service.

Ubuntu Tweak

Ubuntu Tweak as we covered earlier is a very nice system tool for Ubuntu desktops and is now available for Natty too. Download Ubuntu Tweak from HERE and install it via Software Center. . The following PPA can also be used to install tweak on Natty.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Configuring Ubuntu has never been so easy.

Basic Applications

GIMP, Multiget, Bleachbit, Chromium & VLC are the top 5 basic applications to have on Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal.

GIMP - Image manipulation program for Linux systems. Simple search it in Software Center or type ‘sudo apt-get install gimp‘ in the terminal.

Multiget - Multiget is a very nice and easy direct downloads manager for Ubuntu. Software Center is there but terminal lovers can use ‘sudo apt-get install multiget‘ to have it installed.

Bleachbit - Bleachbit is a system cleaner, cleans all the useless packages thereby clearing space in root file-system for better performance. Again it can be installed via Software center or simple ‘sudo apt-get install bleachbit‘

Chromium - Chromium is a faster browser and its a must have application. So, use this PPA to get it -

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chromium-daily/stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

and done.

VLC - VLC is a much have media player; no questions asked !

Time and Date

Since many of our users might not have completely migrated from Windows they probably be facing some time issues when they login into Ubuntu & then login back into Windows.
Well thats because Ubuntu treats your default time to be UTC (Universal Time Coordinated or GMT).

So to adjust the time such that the time remains same in both the cases do the following:

1) Press Alt+F2 (remember the shortcut)
2) Type (else copy paste)

gksu gedit /etc/default/rcS

3) Enter the password and a gedit (almost same as Notepad for windows) window will pop up.
4) Search for UTC and set UTC=yes or UTC=no (or accordingly how you wish)
5) Reboot and you are done..!!!!

Manage Startup Applications

There is a Startup Application manager to set the applications on boot. Check the ones you need and uncheck the ones you dont need This will help you boot your system faster. You can also add applications at boot time using that app.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts will help you getting things in Ubuntu quicker.

Launcher

• Super – Invoke the Launcher.
• Alt-F1 – Put keyboard focus on the Launcher.
• Super-1 or 2 or 3 and so on until 0 – Open or focus an application.
• Super-T – Open the rubbish bin.
• Ctrl-Alt-T – Launch a terminal window.

Dash

• Super (tap) – A tap opens the Dash
• Super-A – Open Applications place
• Super-F – Open Files & Folders place

Panel

• F10 – Open the first menu on the panel

Window Management

• Super-S – Spread mode, zoom out on all windows in all workspaces.
• Super-W – Spread mode, zoom out on all windows in current workspace.
• Super-D – Minimize all windows; hitting it again restores them.

Window Replacement

• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 7 – Place window in top left corner of screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 8 – Place window in top half of screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 9 – Place window in top right corner of screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 4 – Place window on the left side of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 5 – Center/Maximize the window in the middle of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 6 – Place window on the right side of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 1 – Place window in the bottom left corner of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 2 – Place window in the bottom half of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 3 – Place window in the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 0 – Maximize window.

We are sure you will find them useful.

For any queries regarding Ubuntu you can ask us here or our forums are always open for linux problems

Njoy !

We’ll let’s start from where we left i.e. the download part. After the download gets over either burn the CD or you may use your Pen Drive to boot.

To boot using Pen Drive you have to use a freeware called unetbootin which may be downloaded from here. After running this software select the option “Diskimage ISO” & just give the location of the image file you downloaded.

Assuming that you successfully boot into using your CD or Pen Drive you will be welcomed at the language selection screen like this.

Let me tell you that Ubuntu installation is really very simple until you don’t mess it up.

BASIC SETUP

After this point Ubuntu provides a selection option to its users which include Live Mode or directly Install.

Direct Installation is just same as installation from Live Environment so it immaterial whether you choose former or latter. (Just to let users see how Ubuntu looks like we went ahead with “Try Ubuntu without Any Change to Your Computer”).

After a minor loading you’ll be presented with the desktop.

To Install Ubuntu click on Install Icon on the desktop Select the language from the language menu and then click Forward

Then select your time zone and click Forward

Now select your keyboard layout (you may type in test box in order to test it)

PARTITIONING THE DISK

Now we head to the Partitioning of the hard disk to install Ubuntu. Keep in mind that this is the most important thing in our installation. You’ll be needing 3 partitions to install Linux.

One is the root partition which is denoted by ‘/    ‘, second is the Home partition which is denoted by ‘/home’ and third is the Swap partition.

Files of the Operating System are stored in the root partition, files of the users (Documents, Pictures, Music) are stored in the home partition and the Swap partition in Linux is equivalent to the Virtual Memory in Windows. If your RAM is less, then Linux uses the Swap partition as RAM.

The file system of Linux partitions should be either ext3 or ext4.

Select the option ‘Specify partitions manually (advanced)’. Now we may consider following important cases with our Hard Disk

1. New Disk
2. Install in disk having Windows (Dual Boot)(2 or more partitions)
3. Install in disk having Windows (Dual Boot)(Single Partition)

So lets start:

We will be creating 3 Linux partitions in 12 GB of space (you may change as per your needs)

Root or system = 5 GB (ext3/4) (increase size incase no home partition is there)

Home or user = 4GB (ext3/4) (recommended but may be skipped)

Swap = 3GB (swap)(varies according to RAM)

CASE 1

• Right click and format the disk
• Then create a primary partition using right clicking or pressing Ctrl+N
• Although you can create upto 4 primary partitions but its sufficient to have 1
• Remember that to install Ubuntu u have to either use an ext3 or ext4 partition.
• The mount point of one partition should be ‘/     ‘ and the mount point of second should be ‘/home’
• Now you may create rest of your partitions likewise (refer the screenshots)
• Last requisite is to create a swap partition that is used as a swap for Linux (same as Virtual Memory in Windows).
• Just Review the changes you have made & click Apply to commit all changes (If you made any mistake you may change it before committing)

CASE 2

For those in Case 2.

• Just Format the drive into an ext3/4 partition if you don’t want to keep your Windows data.
• Else if you want to dual boot, then you’ll have to resize the partition & create two partitions from the free space (unpartition space which you’ll get after resizing). Mount poof botht the partitions should be ‘/    ‘ and ‘/home’ respectively.
• And don’t forget to create swap partition.
• Note: In these screenshots, I already had one ~38GB ext3 partitoin from my old Linux installation. I chose to delete it and create two 18GB partitions + 1.5GB swap.

CASE 3 (Ideal for people using Laptops)

• Generally laptops these days just have a single partition
• If that is the case then you just have to shrink/resize the partition to get some unpartitioned space and createnew partitions out of it.
• Once the partition is resized or shrunk, create a new partition from the free space. (REFER 1)

ALERT: Check whether you’ve made 1 root partition and 1 swap partition.

Just go ahead, click ‘Forward’ and then enter your details with a password (it’s a must).

You may choose to log on automatically incase you are alone user else don’t

(At this stage if you have another operating system installed you’ll be asked to import settings).

Wow! it’s all done? Just review a bit (not necessarily required) and click INSTALL.

Wait for a while till installation finish and then restart….!!!