Ubuntu

Installing Ubuntu 11.04 Natty on a ASUS EEE PC 1101HA

Drivers

Taken from: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Netbooks#Asus_Eee_1101HA

Most things work well, except for the video card, Intel GMA500 (Poulsbo) not being supported out-of-the-box. It requires installation of binary drivers that needs to be reconfigured after every kernel update. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsVideoCardsPoulsbo/ Other known Issues: * Wireless works out of the box, but connection is flaky. To fix, open a terminal and type 'sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-wireless-karmic-generic' * Some users have experienced problems with audio disappearing.

GMA500 Graphic card

Out of the box 11.04 Natty does not support the 1366x1024 resolution. No correct that:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gma500/emgd 
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xorg-emgd emgd-dkms emgd-xorg-conf
sudo emgd-xorg-conf

More info: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsVideoCardsPoulsbo

Extras

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

Add the Following: Should fix the Brightness Key

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="acpi_osi=Linux acpi_backlight=vendor"

If you have 1GB Of Ram Add this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="mem=896mb"

If you have 2GB of Ram Add this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="mem=1920mb"

Now Run

sudo update-grub

More info: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1229345

Change from Unity interface to Classic

Unity is displaying the top bar blurred, not displaying it correctly. The rest is ok. You have to change to the old Classic interface to avoid it.

More info: http://www.madtomatoe.com/how-to-switch-from-unity-to-the-classic-interface-in-ubuntu-11-4-natty-narwhal/

Super Hybrid Engine

To take advantage of the SHE, is needed to install Jupiter, a program that works on many laptops. You can extend the battery with it.

Add repository

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/jupiter
sudo apt-get update

The main Jupiter package - works on any netbooks:

sudo apt-get install jupiter

Support for EeePC - required for SHE (Super Hybrid Engine)

sudo apt-get install jupiter-support-eee

More info: http://www.webupd8.org/2010/07/jupiter-ubuntu-ppa-hardware-and-power.html http://www.webupd8.org/2010/06/jupiter-take-advantage-of-asus-super.html

Useful application indicators

More info: http://www.techdrivein.com/2011/05/10-useful-application-indicators-for.html

Weather

sudo apt-get install indicator-weather

System Load

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:indicator-multiload/stable-daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install indicator-multiload

Useful apps

Gnome Do

To quickly start programs or find bookmarks, files, etc.

Once installed you press WinKey + Space to search. You can personalize everything you want to search, even to Chrome, using plugins in preferences.

Guake

Press F12 and you get a drop down terminal, like the one in QUAKE.

http://www.ubunturoot.com/2010/08/drop-down-terminal-for-ubuntu.html

Nautilus Terminal

Nautilus is the standard file manager in Unity. To add an integrated terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:flozz/flozz
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nautilus-terminal

More info: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/09/nautilus-terminal-gui-meets-cli/

Ubuntu-Tweak

Ubuntu Tweak is a must have application for Ubuntu and LinuxMint, it is an application to config Ubuntu easier for everyone. It provides many useful desktop and system tweakoptions that the default desktop environment doesn't provide.

Using Ubuntu Tweak you can install all needed applications with a simple click, you can change the window buttons from Left to right...etc.

Install Ubuntu Tweak in Ubuntu via repository:

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

Install Medibuntu repositories

Install Medibuntu using command Line (Ubuntu 9.10 and above including 11.04 Natty):

sudo wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list && 
sudo apt-get --quiet update && sudo apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get --quiet update

Medibuntu's repository is deactivated by upgrading to a newer Ubuntu release, so you should run this command again after the release upgrade. Now you may also wish to add the following packages. The first (APP-INSTALL-DATA-MEDIBUNTU) will cause many apps from the Medibuntu repository to appear in Ubuntu Software Center (Ubuntu 9.10+) or Add/Remove Applications (versions prior to 9.10). The second will allow users to generate crash reports against Medibuntu packages and submit them to the Medibuntu bugtracker.

sudo apt-get install app-install-data-medibuntu apport-hooks-medibuntu

Taken from: http://www.unixmen.com/linux-tutorials/linux-distributions/linux-distributions4-ubuntu/1656-how-to-add-medibuntu-repository-in-ubuntu-via-terminal-and-gui

Sharing folders in Natty Narwhal

In order to share folders in Natty Narwhal with other Linux and windows machines in your network, you will need to install and configure samba share, for instructions how to configure samba in Ubuntu see this Post Installing samba can be from buntu software center or via terminal :

sudo apt-get install samba

Taken from: http://www.unixmen.com/linux-tutorials/linux-distributions/linux-distributions4-ubuntu/1540-top-things-to-do-after-installing-ubuntu-1104-natty-narwhal

Install Media Utilities

Unless you can use mplayer perfectly yourself, I recommend installing the vlc media player.

VLC is the best media player for Linux it play almost everything , he has many features that you can not find in any other media player , read this post to know more about vlc : Things you didn’t know VLC media player can do

You can install VLC from Ubuntu software center or via terminal by using the following command:

sudo apt-get install vlc

Codecs

Perhaps installing a few common codecs might give you better sensibility of your system.

sudo  apt-get install non-free-codecs libxine1-ffmpeg gxine mencoder  libmpcdec3 libquicktime1 flac faac faad sox ffmpeg2theora libmpeg2-4 uudeview flac libmpeg3-1 mpeg3-utils mpegdemux liba52-dev mpeg2dec  vorbis-tools id3v2 mpg321 mpg123 libflac++6 ffmpeg libmp4v2-0 totem-mozilla icedax tagtool easytag id3tool lame  nautilus-script-audio-convert libmad0 libjpeg-progs

Enable DVD support

To play encrypted DVDs, the libdvdcss2 package is essential. libdvdcss is a simple library designed for accessing DVDs like a block device without having to bother about the decryption. If you already added Medibuntu repositories above, you can Install from software center or using the terminal by entering the following command:

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 && sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/./install-css.sh

Enabling Flash support on your browsers

For Ubuntu 32 bit & 64 bit : To be able to watch videos and see flash website in your browser (firefox/ Chrome..), you need to install flash plugin, go to ubuntu software center and search word "flash" and install it. Note: For 64 bit OS you can install flash square using the following commands :

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sevenmachines/flash
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install flashplugin64-installer

Taken from: http://www.unixmen.com/linux-tutorials/linux-distributions/linux-distributions4-ubuntu/1540-top-things-to-do-after-installing-ubuntu-1104-natty-narwhal

Installing the latest Java run time JRE

JRE stands for ‘Java Runtime Environment’. It’s an essential application that many applications ‘depend on’.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ferramroberto/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts

Backup

Déjà Dup is a simple backup tool. It hides the complexity of doing backups the 'right way' (encrypted, off-site, and regular) and uses duplicity as the backend.

Deja Dup features :

• Support for local or remote backup locations, including Amazon S3
• Securely encrypts and compresses your data
• Incrementally backs up, letting you restore from any particular backup
• Schedules regular backups
• Integrates well into your GNOME desktop

sudo apt-get install deja-dup

PlayOnLinux windows emulator

It's a backend for WINE app.

PlayOnLinux is a piece of sofware which allows you to easily install and use numerous games and softwares designed to run with Microsoft®'s Windows®. You can install many windows games like callofduty, doom ,.... Msfonts ,Itune ,Microsoft office 2007 (see our howto install MS office 2007 in Ubuntu using playonlinux )

You can install playonlinux via Ubuntu software center or via command:

sudo apt-get install playonlinux

More info: http://www.playonlinux.com/en/manual.html

Other apps

• Filezilla
• Rhythmbox (for music)
• (XMBC)
• Opera
• Google Earth - to correct the fonts type:

sudo apt-get install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

Installing Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot on a ASUS EEE PC 1101HA

Booting Live CD image

The installation image of 11.10 does not boot by default. It seems to be a common problem with some graphic cards. Info: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1860359

I personally repaired it by upgrading using the Ubuntu 11.10 Live-CD on a USB stick. The problem is that it didn't even boot the GUI due to my graphic card. So I had to follow the following procedure writen by prince_of_death:

• Step 1: boot from the live usb and as soon as it displays the ubuntu color screen press 'F6'. this will take u to a boot option page where a pop up bar will appear due to F6 being presses. press 'Esc' key and go up to "try Ubuntu Without Installing" and edit the kernel string to add "poulsbo.asd=1 psb_gfx.asd=1" to the end then press enter.

• Step 2: the live usb will then boot to the desktop GUI where you can start the installation.

(I selected here the second option "Upgrade from 11.10 to 11.10")

• Step 3: after installation reboot your system and at the GRUB menu press 'e' to edit the first kernel. (this is needed or it wouldn't boot to the desktop GUI)

• Step 4: modify the kernel string after 'quiet splash' and add "poulsbo.asd=1 psb_gfx.asd=1" then press 'F10' to boot with the modified kernel

• Step 5: it will now boot to the desktop GUI were you will now install the EMGD driver with :-

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gma500/emgd-1.8
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xorg-emgd emgd-dkms
sudo emgd-xorg-conf

(once the EMGD driver is installed you no longer need to edit the kernel at boot)

• Step 6: this step might also be needed to prevent session from not being started.

sudo mv /etc/init/plymouth.conf /etc/init/plyouth.conf.disabled

More info:

• http://superuser.com/questions/346723/ubuntu-11-04-is-not-starting-after-update-to-11-10/347604#347604
• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1859890
• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1860089
• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1818866

Disable Login Sound in Ubuntu Oneiric

gksudo gedit /usr/share/gnome/autostart/libcanberra-login-sound.desktop

• change the “NoDisplay” from “true” to “false”
• go to the Startup Application (from the power icon at the top right corner) and you should see the Gnome Login Sound entry. Uncheck it

More info: http://maketecheasier.com/disable-login-sound-in-ubuntu-oneiric-quick-tips/2011/09/15

Return to Ubuntu Classic Desktop in Ubuntu 11.10

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

gksudo gedit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf

Content:

[SeatDefaults]
autologin-user=<USERNAME>
autologin-user-timeout=0
user-session=ubuntu
greeter-session=unity-greeter

user-session:

'Ubuntu' (regular Unity) :    'ubuntu'
'Ubuntu 2D' (Unity 2D) :      'ubuntu-2d'
'GNOME' (Gnome Shell) :       'gnome-shell'
'GNOME Classic' :             'gnome-classic'
'GNOME Classic (No effects)': 'gnome-fallback'

More info:

• http://www.tuxgarage.com/2011/09/setting-lightdm-to-auto-login-oneiric.html
• http://www.liberiangeek.net/2011/08/return-to-ubuntu-classic-desktop-in-ubuntu-11-10/

Sound problem: Choppy, Glitches, skips or crackling sound

Glitches, skips or crackling

The PulseAudio sound server uses a timer-based audio scheduling instead of the traditional interrupt-driven approach. Timer-based scheduling may expose issues in some ALSA drivers. To turn timer-based scheduling off, replace the line:

load-module module-udev-detect 

in /etc/pulse/default.pa by:

load-module module-udev-detect tsched=0

Then restart the PulseAudio server.

Choppy sound

Choppy sound in pulsaudio can result from wrong settings for the sample rate in /etc/pulse/daemon.conf. Try changing the line

; default-sample-rate = 44100

to

default-sample-rate = 48000

and restart the PulseAudio server.

If you experience choppy sound in applications using openAL, you should also change the sample rate in /etc/openal/alsoft.conf:

frequency = 48000

Restart or:

Restart pulseaudio to apply the new settings

pulseaudio --kill
pulseaudio --start

More info:

• https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PulseAudio#Glitches.2C_skips_or_crackling
• https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/825709