Ubuntu Essentials Ubuntu 10.10 Essentials 2 Ubuntu Essentials Ubuntu 10.10 Essentials – First Edition © 2010 Payload Media. This eBook is provided for personal use only. Unauthorized use, reproduction and/or distribution strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. The content of this book is provided for informational purposes only. Neither the publisher nor the author offers any warranties or representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of information contained in this book, nor do they accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from any errors or omissions. 3 Ubuntu Essentials Table of Contents Chapter 1. About Ubuntu Essentials ......................................................................................... 13 1.1 Notes from the Author ................................................................................................... 13 1.2 About this Book .............................................................................................................. 14 Chapter 2. The History of Ubuntu ............................................................................................ 15 2.1 What exactly is Linux? .................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Who Created Linux? ....................................................................................................... 15 2.3 The History of Ubuntu .................................................................................................... 16 2.4 What does the word "Ubuntu" Mean? .......................................................................... 16 Chapter 3. How to Download and Try Ubuntu ......................................................................... 17 3.1 Ubuntu Download Options ............................................................................................ 17 3.2 Writing the Ubuntu Image to a USB Flash Drive ............................................................ 18 3.3 Try Ubuntu without Installing it ..................................................................................... 19 3.4 Installing Ubuntu on a Disk Drive Containing Microsoft Windows ................................ 21 3.5 Installing Ubuntu Inside a Windows Installation ........................................................... 21 3.6 Running Ubuntu in a Virtual Machine ............................................................................ 22 3.7 Performing a Clean Ubuntu Installation......................................................................... 22 Chapter 4. Performing a Clean Ubuntu Installation ................................................................. 23 4.1 Beginning the Ubuntu Installation ................................................................................. 23 4.2 Booting Ubuntu for the First Time ................................................................................. 27 4.3 Installing Updates ........................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 5. Installing Ubuntu on a Windows System (Dual booting) ........................................ 31 5.1 Beginning the Ubuntu Installation ................................................................................. 31 5.2 Configuring Time Zone, User and Keyboard Information .............................................. 34 5.3 Booting Ubuntu for the First Time ................................................................................. 36 5.4 Accessing the Windows Partition from Ubuntu ............................................................. 37 Chapter 6. Installing Ubuntu on a Windows Disk with Wubi ................................................... 40 6.1 What is Wubi? ................................................................................................................ 40 4 Ubuntu Essentials 6.2 Downloading Wubi ......................................................................................................... 40 6.3 Starting the Wubi Installer ............................................................................................. 40 6.4 Completing the Ubuntu Installation............................................................................... 42 6.5 Starting the Ubuntu System ........................................................................................... 43 6.6 Removing Ubuntu .......................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 7. Allocating a Windows Partition to Ubuntu ............................................................. 44 7.1 Deleting the Windows Partition from the Disk .............................................................. 44 7.2 Formatting the Unallocated Disk Partition .................................................................... 47 7.3 Updating the Boot Menu ............................................................................................... 48 7.4 Mounting the New Partition .......................................................................................... 49 Chapter 8. Logging into the Ubuntu GNOME Desktop ............................................................. 50 8.1 The Ubuntu Login Screen ............................................................................................... 50 Chapter 9. A Guided Tour of the Ubuntu GNOME Desktop ..................................................... 53 9.1 The Ubuntu GNOME Desktop ........................................................................................ 53 9.2 The Desktop Background ............................................................................................... 54 9.3 The Desktop Panels ........................................................................................................ 55 9.4 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 57 Chapter 10. Ubuntu Screensaver, Desktop Lock and Power Management Configuration ........ 58 10.1 The Desktop Screensaver ............................................................................................... 58 10.2 The Desktop Screen Lock ............................................................................................... 59 10.3 Ubuntu Power Management on Desktop Systems ........................................................ 59 10.4 Ubuntu Power Management on Laptop and Netbook Systems .................................... 60 Chapter 11. Changing the Ubuntu GNOME Desktop Background ............................................. 61 11.1 Changing the Ubuntu GNOME Desktop Background ..................................................... 61 11.2 Selecting a Background from the Wallpaper List ........................................................... 62 11.3 Creating a Solid or Graded Background ......................................................................... 62 11.4 Specifying a Background Image ..................................................................................... 62 11.5 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 63 5 Ubuntu Essentials Chapter 12. Installing and Customizing Ubuntu Desktop Themes ............................................. 64 12.1 What is a Desktop Theme? ............................................................................................ 64 12.2 Changing the GNOME Desktop Theme .......................................................................... 64 12.3 Customizing a Desktop Theme ....................................................................................... 65 12.4 Downloading and Installing a Theme ............................................................................. 68 12.5 Creating a Custom Theme Package ................................................................................ 68 12.6 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 70 Chapter 13. Configuring Ubuntu Desktop Fonts ........................................................................ 71 13.1 Font Options on Ubuntu ................................................................................................ 71 13.2 Changing Font Settings ................................................................................................... 71 13.3 Font Rendering Settings ................................................................................................. 73 13.4 Advanced Font Rendering .............................................................................................. 73 Chapter 14. Configuring the Ubuntu Desktop Panels ................................................................ 75 14.1 What are Desktop Panels ............................................................................................... 75 14.2 Changing the Position of a Panel ................................................................................... 75 14.3 Adding and Deleting Desktop Panels ............................................................................. 76 14.4 Changing the Appearance of a Desktop Panel ............................................................... 76 14.5 Adding Items to a GNOME Desktop Panel ..................................................................... 77 14.6 Adding Menus to a Panel ..............................................................................................