Configuring Ubuntu

After upgrading from Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) to 12.04.2 (Precise Pangolin), I couldn't make my original account log in to gnome. So I had to copy over all the settings to a new user account. Also, a number of things are different in Ubuntu 12.

• To bypass Unity, select 'Ubuntu classic' window manager at login screen
• In Synaptic package manager, find overlay-scrollbar and uninstall it, then reboot
• There is no top-level settings menu like 11.04, instead look under the Applications menu
• Gedit: Set tab width to 4, insert spaces instead of tabs, and use automatic indentation
• Nautilus: Edit | Preferences | Views (tab) | View new folders using: List View
• Increase terminal buffer to 'unlimited'
• Copy over SSH keys:
• cp -rp ~olduser/.ssh ~newuser/
• Install chromium, copy settings from chrome:
• sudo cp -Rp ~olduser/.config/google-chrome/ ~newuser/.config/chromium/
• Install Thunderbird 24 + Lightning calendar plugin, copy user profile across
• mv ~newuser/.thunderbird/axhtibx7.default{,.backup}
• sudo cp -Rp ~olduser/.thunderbird/sw5u8ylf.default ~newuser/.thunderbird/axhtibx7.default
• The 'Accept' button is missing for some event invites
• "This message contains an event that this version of lightning cannot process"
• This is a bug (reported and fixed via developer's patch)
• Sort by 'Received' and 'Threaded' to get threads ordered by last received message
• Install Firefox, copy user profile:
• mv ~/newuser/.mozilla/firefox/ce3ut43x.default{,.backup}
• cp -rp ~oluser/.mozilla/firefox/ra129tce.default/ ~/newuser/.mozilla/firefox/ce3ut43x.default
• Install Pidgin for IRC, copy config across:
• cp -rp ~olduser/.purple/ ~newuser/
• Error, Pidgin crashes with "SIGSEGV in pthread_mutex_lock()"
• So, re-set up pidgin for all networks
• Disable smileys as they intefere with pasted code:
• Tools | Preferences | Themes | Smiley Theme | None
• Install VirtualBox, go to "Machine | Add", and browse to your VM on disk
• Install Skype 4.0.0.8, because 4.2.x crashes on incoming calls:
• Type Ctrl-O to reach the options screen to set the proxy in 4.2.x (source)
• Disable 'contact online' and 'contact offline' notifications because of this
• Skype has no sound, in fact Ubuntu has no sound:
• killall pulseaudio (source, source)
• restart Skype (may need to "kill -9 skype")
• To find the exact version of Ubuntu I'm running:
• This only shows 12.04: Applications | System Tools | System Settings | Details
• This command tells you the exact version (12.04.3):
• lsb_release -a
• Configure multiple workspaces:
• Right-click in the bottom-right-hand corner and edit preferences (source)
• Still can't actually switch workspaces though without the screen freezing up.
• Hold Ctrl-Alt-Del for 5 seconds to get back.
• Fix Alt-tab:
• sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
• Scroll to bottom, check 'Static application switcher' (source)
• Fix the date display:
• Use dconf-editor | com | canonical | indicator | appmenu | datetime (source)
• I get "Ubuntu internal error" sometimes, that never happened under 11.04.
• Beware of cancelling a logout. An application preventing the logout may eventually crash or close, and the logout will happen at that point without further warning.
• Problem: Sound comes out of both the laptop speakers and the headphones at the same time.
• Problem: Workspaces don't work properly. Cannot right-click on window's title to send it to a new workspace. Clicking on a new workspace in the bottom right doesn't work.
• Problem: The top and bottom taskbars are visible even when the screen is locked, when using multiple monitors (bug report).