UbuntuFAQ

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||<tablestyle="float:right; font-size: 0.9em; width:40%; background:#F1F1ED; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" style="padding:0.5em;">'''Contents'''[[BR]][[TableOfContents(2)]]|| This FAQ has been moved to the [http://www.ubuntu.com/support/faq main website]. Feel free to add new qustions and answers on this page.
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== General ==
        
=== What does "Ubuntu" mean? ===

Ubuntu is an African word, which has been described as "too beautiful to translate into English". The essence of ubuntu is that "a person is a person through other people". It describes humanity as "being-with-others" and prescribes what "being-with-others" should be all about. Ubuntu emphasises sharing, consensus, and togetherness. It's
a perfect concept for Free Software and open source. Here's a [http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Afri/AfriLouw.htm great article] that describes Ubuntu, which may help define it. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu Wikipedia] also has a good definition.

=== How do you pronounce Ubuntu? ===

Ubuntu, an African word from Zulu and Xhosa, is pronounced "oo-BOON-too". See
the other FAQ on its meaning, it's a worthwhile read. And no, you're
not the first person to wonder :-)
          
=== Do you support KDE? ===
Why does Ubuntu install Gnome by default? Do you support KDE and KDE applications?

The default desktop environment on Ubuntu is Gnome. However, Ubuntu recently launched another project, [http://www.kubuntu.org/ Kubuntu] which uses the same base as Ubuntu plus KDE. The Kubuntu release was
made simultaniously with the latest Ubuntu release. Kubuntu is not a
fork or a separate distribution, the packages for both releases are in
the same archives.

To install Kubuntu from an already-running Ubuntu distribution you can either select to install the kubuntu-desktop package from Synaptic, or run ''sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop'' from the command line. For more information on Kubuntu and KDE applications you can see the [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/Kubuntu Kubuntu wiki entry].

=== Is there a relationship between Ubuntu and UserLinux? ===

UserLinux and Ubuntu are different projects.
Both Ubuntu and UserLinux are aimed at building a community
distribution that is up-to-date and easy to use. We both send our
changes and improvements "upstream" and since we share a couple
important upstreams (Debian and GNOME to start with) there may well be
scope for collaboration between the projects. At this stage we haven't
had any extensive discussions on how the projects might work together.

=== What international user resources are available? ===

There are a number of international user resources available for Ubuntu, and various surprises are to come.
Please check the [https://www.ubuntulinux.org/support/supportoptions/local Local languages page] page which the central poing that is continuously updated with what is available.


== Release information ==

=== Why does your first release have a version of 4.10? ===
Why does your first release have a version of 4.10? And what does the version of an Ubuntu release mean?

Our version numbering scheme is based on the date we release a version of
the distribution. Our first release is in October 2004 so the version
is 4.10. Our next release, sometime early 2005, will be roughly 5.04.
So the version number comes from the year and month of the release
rather than being an indicator of a specific piece of software in the
release.

Each Ubuntu release has a unique combination of component versions -
kernel, X, Gnome, GCC, libc... so an aggregate version number does not
make much sense. We prefer to give you an idea of when that release was
pushed to the wires.

=== What happens with the version number in 2100? ===

Our grandchildren should be able to figure that one out. At the moment we're just focused on the next release :-)

=== Once I have installed Ubuntu, will I be able to upgrade to the next release? ===
Once I have installed Ubuntu, will I be able to upgrade to the next release?

Yes.

We fully support upgrades from one release to the next. For example, if you installed [http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/WartyWarthog WartyWarthog], you will be able to upgrade to [http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/HoaryHedgehog HoaryHedgehog] when it is released, and from [http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/HoaryHedgehog HoaryHedgehog] to [http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/BreezyBadger BreezyBadger], and so forth in perpetuity.

Note that this does not necessarily extend to certain situations involving unsupported software, such as packages in the universe repository, or software which you obtained from a third-party source.
          
=== Which packages are available in Ubuntu? ===

Ubuntu contains essentially all of the packages available in the Debian
repositories, as well as many packages from third-party sources. Many
packages are customised to integrate smoothly with the Ubuntu system,
to fix bugs, and to provide newer versions of software.

The software in Ubuntu is divided into various [https://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/components/ components]. Information about the process of selecting software can be found on the [http://wiki.ubuntu.com/SeedManagement SeedManagement] page.

In the future, a website will be provided which lists all of the available software.
          
=== Sounder ===
What does "Sounder" mean? Why is the mailing list called the "sounder" and the test CD called a "Sounder CD"?

The Warty Warthog testing team goes by the name of The Sounder. Ross Burton
worked it out - "sounder" is the collective noun for a group of warthogs.

=== Sounder CDs ===
Those of you who've joined us since the Warty preview release may not
have encountered the Sounder CD series.

These are milestone CD images that we release once every two weeks
or so, as images that are known to be reasonably free of showstopper
CD-build or installer bugs (although of course there may still be
bugs!), while representing very current snapshots of Warty. Before the
preview release we took eight such snapshots.

The most current Sounder CD on the UK download site.To download, visit our [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/download download page].
          
== Community ==

=== Editing the wiki ===
Can I edit the Ubuntu wikie?

Sure you can. Create an account by registering on the site, then log
in.

On the wiki, there are some areas, such as the seed lists, that
should not be changed without confirmation from Matt Zimmerman or Jeff
Waugh on the sounder mailing list. We'll put a note on special pages
such as these.
          
=== How do I become a beta tester? ===

Thanks for your interest in helping us test Ubuntu.

You need to install the [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/download/ Warty Warthog release] and then install Array CD#1 and test it.

We appreciate your time and effort in finding and helping to fix bugs in the distribution. You can file bugs right away in [http://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/ Ubuntu bugzilla] and send patches and fix suggestions to the same place.

There are many ways in which you can participate and shape the progress of Ubuntu. Please visit our community area on the site, [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/community/participate Participate page] and get involved.

=== I'm not a programmer: how can I help? ===

If you don't code, there's still plenty of ways to get involved with Ubuntu.

You can:

 * Use Ubuntu.
It's always surprising what you can find during a normal usage of a
pre-release distro that, while nowhere being major bugs, are still
worth reporting in the bugzilla for this or future releases. That's the
whole point of beta and pre-releases: so that things are tested in
thousands of different ways by many different users. What at first
appear to be a simple bug can turn into a major vulnerability/problem
worth patching as soon as possible.
 * Answer questions on mailing lists, forums and IRC
 * Have a look at the [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/community/participate participate] page to find out more ways of turning your free time into more Ubuntu
 * Spread the word. Order cds from [http://shipit.ubuntu.com/ Shipit - the Ubuntu CD Distribution System] and give them away to friends, family, complete strangers.

== Obtaining Ubuntu ==
          
=== Does the Ubuntu LiveCD include everything in the normal installed version? ===

Yes, it does. The packages installed on the Live CD are identical to those
installed in the normal default installation of Ubuntu. During the
preview release, there might be a difference in the version of the
packages, as we build new releases of the Live CD and Install CD at
different times so the packages might be slightly different versions,
but once we release they will be the same.
One difference we can't improve at this stage is the way the Live CD
and Install CD handle their auto-detection. Because they use slightly
different systems for auto-detection, things that work perfectly on one
might not work on the other, like sound or X resolution guessing. In
general, the installation system gives you more room to tweak your
config to work exactly the way you want it.
          
=== Can I use both Ubuntu and Debian packages together? ===
Can I use both Ubuntu and Debian packages together, in the same sources.list?

In general, it's not a very good idea. While Debian and Ubuntu are
compatible to a large degree, and share many of the same source
packages, the binary packages are not identical due to having been
built independently. This causes unexpected effects in the package
management system.

However, in general, this is not an issue, for one simple reason:
essentially all of the software in Debian is also available in Ubuntu
repositories, so there is no reason to mix the two.

          
=== Can I automatically turn my Debian testing/sarge into Ubuntu? ===
Is it possible to upgrade from Debian Sarge to Ubuntu Warty Warthog simply
by adding the "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu warty main
restricted universe" lines to /etc/apt/sources.list?

This is not supported, though a few brave souls have done it and reported
mixed results. Sarge and Warty froze at similar times, so some of the
code in Warty is newer than code in Sarge, and vice-versa. For example,
Warty includes Gnome 2.8, while Sarge is Gnome 2.6. Just trying to
switch sources in sources.list will have interesting and undefined
results. Please feel free, if you are also feeling brave, to try it and
update this answer or the wiki with your results.
          
=== Can I upgrade directly from Debian Woody to Ubuntu? ===

Yes, you can upgrade directly from Debian Woody to Ubuntu 4.10 (Warty Warthog). See [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/WartyUpgradeNotes http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/WartyUpgradeNotes] for notes and caveats about the upgrade process.

=== Do you provide packages compiled with processor-specific optimisations? ===
Do you provide packages compiled with processor-specific optimisations? Where can I find them?


 * Optimised kernels can be obtained by installing the {{{linux-686}}}, {{{linux-k7}}}, etc. packages. Search for "linux" with Synaptic, aptitude or apt-cache.
 * An optimised C library is installed by default, in the {{{libc6-i686}}} packages.
 * Optimised cryptography routines for i586- and i686-class systems are included with the OpenSSL library and used automatically
 * Ubuntu packages are generally built with nearly all generic
compile-time optimisations which do not involve increasing code size ({{{gcc -O2}}}),
except where the package maintainer deviates from this (for example,
packages intended for debugging are often less optimised, as this eases
debugging). Smaller code allows better utilisation of cache memory.
 * Ubuntu packages for the i386 architecture are compiled using the i486 instruction set ({{{-march=i486}}}), with instruction choices based on the Pentium 4 processor ({{{-mcpu=pentium4}}}). This combination provides benefits for modern processors without sacrificing compatibility with older and embedded devices.
A comprehensive experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of
more aggressive processor optimisations for all Ubuntu packages is a
prerequisite for any global change in compiler optimisations.
          
=== Where can I find new versions of packages? ===
I need newer versions of some Ubuntu packages, such as I am accustomed to receiving in Debian unstable. Where can I find them?

Soon
after the Warty release, updated packages will be available in our
development branch on an ongoing basis, similar to the pace of Debian
unstable.
          
=== What kind of software does the multiverse repository contain? ===

Software in the "multiverse" component has not been determined to be Free Software.

Please make certain that you verify your rights to use this software
and comply with the licensing terms of the copyright holder. This
software receives no support and usually cannot be fixed or updated.
Use it at your own risk.
          
== Questions About Shipped CDs ==
Will you really ship CDs free of charge, and where can I get one?

If you cannot download CDs, or would simply like more attractive
pressed CDs, we can send you pressed copies of the Install and Live
CDs free of charge.
You may request CDs at [http://shipit.ubuntu.com - the Ubuntu CD Distribution System].

=== What Is On The CD? ===
All CDs contains version 5.10, codenamed "Breezy Badger". For every CD you
order, we will send you one package that contains ''both'' an Install CD
and a LiveCD in a single cardboard folder. There is no need to specify
one or the other: You will get both. This is true for all architectures.
Between October 2004 and February 2005, all CDs shipped were Ubuntu
4.10, codenamed "Warty Warthog." From March 2005 to September 2005 it was
Ubuntu 5.04, codenamed "Hoary Hedgehog".


=== How Many CDs Can I Order? ===
You should use your judgement and limit yourself to a reasonable number
of CDs for yourself and to give to your friends and co-workers. If you
order a large number of CDs, your order needs to be approved by Canonical staff.
Please supply a clear *reason* for ordering, this will help the process of approving.
If you are stopped from placing an order by Shipit or experience any problems, please:
 
  * Email info@shipit.ubuntu.com

=== How Long Will It Take? ===
Short Answer: ''4-6 Weeks''
Shipment time can vary considerably in relation to a wide range of
factors (when you order CDs; where you are located in the world; the
speed of your local mail delivery; etc). That said, a good rule of
thumb is to allow at least 4-6 weeks for delivery although in some
cases they will be delivered substantially more quickly.

=== CD Request Status ===
We send out CDs on a weekly basis.
You can check to see if your request has been sent to the factory by
logging into [http://shipit.ubuntu.com. Unfortunately we do not have
additional information and can not track individual orders.
We're sorry but we cannot provide information on individual orders, unless
it was sent High Priority.

=== Deadline To Order CDs? ===
If and when we decide on another final deadline for Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy Badger CDs, we will notify people here and on the website.

=== How Do I Order More CDs? ===
You can order a second time once your first order was shipped. Please keep in
mind that we have limited resources, and that we cannot send out multiple orders
to one individual. Please think carefully about the QTY's you order.

=== Can You Send Me Kubuntu CDs? ===
Unfortunately, we cannot offer Kubuntu CDs at this time and currently
have no plans to offer these for free shipping through our
website. We'll update the page if things change.

=== Can You Send me Source CDs? ===
We do not normally distribute source CDs and you cannot order them
through shipit. That said, in order to comply with the GPL, we are
happy to distribute source code on CD to anybody we give a binary
CD. More information is written in fine print on the back of each
CD. Source for everything on the CD is ''always'' available at
[http://archive.ubuntu.com/ http://archive.ubuntu.com] or can be ordered from Canonical for the
cost of the media plus shipping.

=== Can You Send DVDs? ===
We are currently working on plans to allow people to purchase DVDs
images that contain the Live CD, the install CD, and the complete set
of supported packages for Ubuntu including Kubuntu. We'll update the
shipit site and this page when that becomes a reality. We currently
don't have a time frame but we expect it to be very soon.

=== Will I have to pay taxes/duties? ===
While the CDs and the shipping are completely free of charge, taxes
and duties that customs in your country decide to charge you is not
within Canonical's control. The larger the order, the larger the
chance of the shipment being stopped and the larger the duty that
could be demanded.
For the vast majority of shipments (including the vast number of small
or relatively small shipments), duties have not be charged and CDs
have passed through borders without problems. In several countries
(e.g., Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and others), even
small shipments of CDs have been stopped.
Currently, because most shipments are passing customs untaxed, we do
not include a list of the values for the CDs on each package. However,
in some situations, this has made customs officials suspicious. In the
future, we will list a value on shipments to the most problematic
countries in regards to customs and all of those shipments will be
taxed. That list will be posted here.
At the moment, here is our advice in regards to taxes/duties:

 * Anyone ordering a large shipment of CDs should first check with
their local customs officials before they place an order in the
database. Explaining that the CDs are free ''before'' could save a
huge headache in the future.
 * If your CDs have been stopped, download the [http://people.ubuntulinux.org/~mako/ubuntu_cds-customs_letter-generic.pdf generic letter to
customs officials].
 * first If you need a personalized or signed copy of the letter or if you
need a letter FAXed directly to customs officials, email info@shipit.ubuntu.com directly.
There is also now the following other version of the letter:

 * [http://people.ubuntu.com/~mako/customs_letter-danish.pdf Translation into Danish]
 * [http://people.ubuntu.com/~mako/customs_letter-german.pdf Translation into German]
 * [http://people.ubuntu.com/~mako/carta-canonical-aduanas.pdf Translation into Spanish]
 * [http://people.ubuntulinux.org/~mako/ubuntu_cds-customs_letter-generic-swedish.pdf Translation into Swedish]

=== Can You Provide Localized Boxes or CDs? ===
Unfortunately, no. Canonical is only able to send CDs because we get
bulk discounts. As a result, we cannot print seperate or different CDs
or boxes as we would not be able to keep our bulk discount. If your
local community team wants to fund the production of a localized CD,
we are happy to transfer you the necessary artwork.

=== Can I Get Additional Help? ===
If you need help or have questions, email info@shipit.ubuntu.com.

=== How much does Ubuntu cost? ===

$0.00. Ubuntu is, and always will be, 100% free.
                
=== CD does not boot ===
I downloaded the Warty .iso file and burnt it to a CD, but can not get it
to boot. When I reboot, the system says "Booting from CD..." then
"failure" and proceeds to boot from harddrive.

You probably have recorded the .iso file to CD as a file, not as a CD
image. The .iso file is a CD image and needs to be recorded as such. If
you burn it as a regular file, the resulting CD will not work.
Try opening the CD in any computer. You should see a few files and
directories. If you see "ubuntu-warty-xxxxx.iso" as the only file in
the CD instead, you haven't correctly created the CD. Look for the
'Write CD image' or similar option of your favourite CD creation
program and use it to record the .iso file to CD. Reboot and enjoy :)
          
=== Shipit To Brazil ===
Hello, I've ordered Ubuntu 20 CD's. I don't know if is too much, but me and my
friends are supporting a Pro-linux program... We hope that, until the
midle of the next year, the brasilian government will install the Linux
at the federal propieties. Our independent program is helping new Linux
users, based in the Ubuntu. We really need this CD's, to make the
program run... Somebody knows if we'll can get this?
          
=== Does Ubuntu include complete multimedia support? ===
Does Warty Warthog / Ubuntu include complete multimedia support?

We're still working out some of the difficult legal / policy issues involved
with multimedia support. Warty Warthog includes some basic multimedia
support, but limited by what we can safely and freely do. Specific
information is available for some multimedia issues in the [http://wiki.ubuntu.com/RestrictedFormats RestrictedFormats wiki page].
          
=== How come there is no Trashcan icon on the desktop? ===
Where are the icons on the desktop? I want my Trashcan, Computer and Home icons on the desktop!

In Warty Warthog, we decided to try out a new way of getting to all the
important locations on your computer and across the network, which
complements the spatial design behind Nautilus very nicely.
Icons on the desktop are almost always obscured by windows when
you're getting work done, and it's often a pain to move them out of the
way or switch to a different workspace to get at them. So, we've turned
all of the {{{special}}} desktop icons off, and provided access
to them in the Computer menu. No more window tidying when you just want
to open your file manager!
We've included {{{trashapplet}}}, which provides a working
trash icon on your panel, so it's always accessible. In the future,
we'd like to make it so that you can delete anything - not just files -
by dragging to the trash.
If you want to turn some of the special desktop icons back on, run
Applications > System Tools > Configuration Editor, navigate to
/apps/nautilus/general, and choose the icons you want to appear.

          
=== How can I do Flash, Java or mp3 ? ===
Where are Flash / Java / mp3 support? Is there a Free and working DVD player or video player?

There are a number of commonly used formats and tools that we are unable to
support because they have restrictive distribution rights, require
special licenses, or are patent encumbered. We may be able to provide
support for some of these in {{{restricted}}}, but in general, we would prefer to support Free software and Free formats.
If you add the debian-marillat repository to your Ubuntu
sources.list (use testing/main), you can use Synaptic or apt-get to
install MPlayer, lame, and other tools to deal with non-free formats
like DVD and MP3.
A relatively clean way of getting Totem to work with all the
proprietary file formats is to install totem-xine rather than
totem-gstreamer. Then you can download the win32 codecs from elsewhere
and install them in ~/.gnome2/totem-addons/ and everything works fine.
Of course, this isn't as cool and integrated as using GStreamer for
handling all the media, but it works well.
If you wish to use the Java SDK/RE, see [http://wiki.osuosl.org/display/DEV/Java+on+Debian Java on Debian ]for an installation guide (it's also valid for Ubuntu).
As an alternative to the above mentioned Java on Debian tutorial,
you may wish to install some pre-packaged packages. The website
http://z42.de/debian/ lists an apt source that lets you install for
example Sun Java2 v1.5 with a single command:{{{apt-get install sun-j2sdk1.5 sun-j2sdk1.5debian}}}
          
=== How do I get Firefox to open a new tab when I click a link? ===

Edit the file {{{/etc/mozilla-firefox/mozilla-firefoxrc}}}
and change the line that reads FIREFOX_OPEN_IN="window" to be
FIREFOX_OPEN_IN="tab". There is a comment about this on the line above.
          
=== How do I connect to a wireless LAN with WEP encryption? ===
My wireless network uses WEP encryption for better security. How can I set up Ubuntu to connect to it?

Ubuntu's Network Settings dialog has support for wireless network cards.

Network configuration is in 'Computer -> System Configuration -> Networking'
          
=== How do I make folders open in the same window? ===
How
can I configure the system so that when I open a folder, its contents
are displayed in the existing window rather than opening a new window
(disabling "spatial" mode)?

Open Computer->Desktop Preferences->File Management, select the
Behavior tab, and check the box next to "Always open in browser
windows".
          
=== Does Ubuntu come with a firewall installed? ===

Since Ubuntu doesn't run any daemons that listen to the outside world by
default (the postfix install only listens on localhost) there's no need
for a default firewall.

The rationale is that if a user's got a need for installing a
world-facing daemon, they'll be aware that they should configure a
firewall/ACL for it too.
          
=== Where is gpdf? ===

GNOME 2.8's version of gpdf is available in universe. We decided to ship xpdf for [http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/WartyWarthog WartyWarthog] instead, as gpdf doesn't support text searching and Type3 fonts. It should do, by the time we release [http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/HoaryHedgehog HoaryHedgehog] with GNOME 2.10.
          
=== Does Ubuntu include Mono and applications based on Mono? ===

Mono is not included in our Warty Warthog release, but may be included in future releases.
          
=== What background images are available for widescreen laptops and displays? ===

The Ubuntu Default Desktop and Ubuntu Monthly Calendar images are also
available in a 16:9 aspect ratio for those with widescreen laptops and
displays.
          
=== What is the Ubuntu Monthly Calendar background? ===
What is the Ubuntu Monthly Calendar background?

It's an image in the Human theme that will be changed once a month to give you a fresh desktop background.

All months seen so far are also selectable so you can go back and
select an older background that you liked without it changing at the
end of the month.

          
=== I upgraded to Hoary, and the desktop and most applications now appear in English. ===

If you have upgraded from Warthy to Hoary and did not have English
as your default language, you might have noticed that most applications
and the desktop now use English (partially or completely) as their
language. The reason is that, to enable the support for another
language, you must install a few additional packages which may have not
been updated along with the rest of Ubuntu.
For instance, if you want to add support for the Spanish (''es'') language, you should install (with Synaptic, apt-get or whatever method you prefer) the packages '''language-pack-es''', '''language-pack-es-base''' and '''language-support-es'''. Substitute ''-es''
for the abbreviation of the language of your choice. Then, log out and
back in and you should be able to enjoy Ubuntu in the language you want
again.
          
=== I am experiencing problems with the official nVidia drivers. ===

Installing the nVidia drivers in Ubuntu using the official installer
(ie. not using the Ubuntu packages) may give rise to a few annoyances.
Specifically, you may find that all OpenGL applications (such as
''glxgears'') segfault on start. This usually happens across reboots,
ie. when you install the nVidia drivers using the official installer
everything works as expected, but when you reboot you may no longer use
OpenGL apps unless you reinstall the driver.
This problem is caused by the ''nvidia-glx'' script being run at
startup. It will notice that the nVidia OpenGL libraries present on the
system are not those of the current Ubuntu package and delete them. To
correct the problem, do the following.

 * Uninstall all Ubuntu packages having to do with nVidia:
kernel-modules-restricted-'yourarch', nvidia-glx, nvidia-common,
nvidia-kernel-source come to mind.
 * In a terminal, execute the command: 'sudo rm /etc/rc?.d/S??nvidia-glx'. This will stop 'nvidia-glx' from running at startup.
 * (Re)install the official nVidia drivers. You will have to exit your
session, switch to another VT (Ctrl-Alt-F1), login and issue the
commands:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
cd /path/to/nvidia/installer
sudo sh NVidia-Linux-x86-1.0-xxxx-yyyy.run
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
If it's your first time installing nVidia drivers, you may have to modify your X configuration according to the nVidia README.
That's it. You should have working OpenGL graphics, preserved across reboots.

 * Note to editors: please edit to give it a better layout.

          
=== Why do I get "Cannot move file to trash" when deleting files on other (non-root) filesystems? ===
When
deleting files (moving them to trash) on filesystems other than the
root filesystem (/), I get "Cannot move file to trash" with the
question to delete the file immediately. Can't I tell the Gnome Trash
applet to use my userhome trash for certain drives?

The trash mechanism of Gnome is written down here: http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xdg/2004-August/004539.html

When you move a file to trash from a filesystem that is not root
(like another harddisk on /mnt/hdb1 for example), Gnome looks for
$MOUNTPOINT/.Trash-$USER, where $USER is the username trying to use the
trash. Since the filesystem of harddisks is usually not writable by the
user (only by root), Gnome can't create that .Trash-$USER directory.

So the solution is: Create a directory
<mountpoint>/.Trash-$USER for each user that will be working on
this disk. Change ownership to $USER using chown, change permissions to
700 using chmod. After that, using the trash will be possible on this
filesystem.

Example:

Assume the new harddisk is mounted on /mnt/hdb1. The user is
"ubuntujoe". He has a directory /mnt/hdb1/ubuntujoe that he can use the
way he likes, but he can't use the trash because his Gnome session
doesn't have permissions to create /mnt/hdb1/.Trash-ubuntujoe.

 * Open a terminal
 * sudo mkdir /mnt/hdb1/.Trash-ubuntujoe (create directory)
 * sudo chown ubuntujoe ubuntujoe /mnt/hdb1/.Trash-ubuntujoe (change ownership to ubuntujoe)
 * sudo chmod 700 /mnt/hdb1/.Trash-ubuntujoe (change permissions so ubuntujoe is the only one able to access it)
 * You're done. ubuntujoe should now be able to use the trash in /mnt/hdb1/ubuntujoe now.
            
== Support ==

 
=== Where are the Ubuntu forums? ===

There are ubuntu forums! You can find information about them at the [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/community/forums Web forums] page.

=== How do I right-click with an Apple one-button mouse? ===
I have an Apple system with only one mouse button. How can I perform actions which require right-clicking or middle-clicking?

The F11 and F12 keys can be used to simulate these actions.
          
=== How come I can't use more than 900 MB of RAM? ===
I have more than 900 megabytes of RAM, but the system only sees the first 900. Why is that?

The
default generic i386 kernel only has support for 900 megabytes of RAM.
After installation, you can select a different kernel as appropriate
for your hardware. If you are running on a P4, for example, you might
type:
sudo apt-get install linux-686
Otherwise, if you are on a dual-processor workstation, you might type:
sudo apt-get install linux-686-smp
Choose from the list of linux packages the one that best suits your hardware.
          
=== How do I connect to Windows 2003 servers? ===
When
I browse my network using the "Windows Network" method I can see all of
the machines, but only connect to XP workstations. When I try to
connect to Windows 2003 Servers, I get a permissions error. Now, when I
try "Connect to Server" method, I fill out the details and enter my
password when asked, it responds by asking for the password again. I
have also added a computer account to Windows server for my Unbuntu
machine then repeated these steps with the same results.

It
seems entering 'servername' in the server field and 'sharename' in the
share field is not sufficient. Try putting 'servername/sharename' in
the server field and leaving the share field blank. We understand this
is very counter-intuitive, but it works, we're working to improve this
user interface.
          
=== fsck on vfat filesystem ===
How can I stop fsck on my vfat filesystem?

If
you want to prevent fsck from checking Windows (vfat) partitions on
boot (sometimes this seems to cause many error messages), then edit
/etc/fstab and change the pass argument (6th column) to 0.

          
=== Hardware detection ===
How do I rerun hardware detection (prob/probing/re-probe)?

During
second stage install Ubuntu probes your hardware and sets up X. If you
change your Video Card, Sound Card or even Monitor, you may need to
redo this.

This can be done with:- 'apt-get --purge remove xserver-xfree86'
 
          
=== The panel disappeared! What do I do? ===

My
desktop started up one day with no panels at all (i.e. no
"applications, computer" menu at the top, and no task list at the
bottom). I don't know why.

The fix was to start a terminal (right click on desktop, "open
terminal") and run the command "gnome-panel". They started up again
fine ... I checked "Computer|Desktop Preferences|Sessions|Current
Session" and scrolled down to confirm that "gnome-panel" has the Style
"restart" ... so I stopped the command-line panels (by hitting ctrl-C
in the terminal) and the panels vanished, and restarted happily.
          
=== How do I make Ubuntu work in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004? ===

You just need a quick manual hack.

Ubuntu currently auto-configures XFree86 during the installation
process, asking the user only what resolutions they'd like to enable.
The default color depth is automatically set to 24-bpp, and Microsoft
Virtual PC 2004 does not support 24-bpp color depth. In practice, this
results in garbled graphics output when the X Server starts and the
login screen is displayed. To fix this problem, you may manually change
the default color depth setting in the XFree86 config file.

Read the [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/HowToConfigureUbuntuForMicrosoftVirtualPC2004 How-To - Configure Ubuntu for Microsoft Virtual PC 2004] for further information.
          
=== What's the root password after I install? How do I use the root account? ===

The
root account is disabled when you first install Ubuntu. The first user
created during the installation has administrative rights on the
system, and can run programs as root with {{{sudo}}}, using only their normal user password. For example: {{{sudo apt-get update}}}.
If you wish to use the root account in more traditional UNIX fashion, you can set the root password by typing {{{sudo passwd root}}}. This will allow you to use {{{su}}} or login as root on the console.
If you need a shell with root privileges, run {{{sudo -s}}}
.
All uses of {{{sudo}}} will require the user's password.
Some additional comments about sudo can be found in the wiki [http://wiki.ubuntu.com/RootSudo here].
          
=== Development tools ===
What is the simplest way to install the development tools so that I can compile programs?

sudo aptitude install build-essential

Development tools are included on the CD, and so do not need to be downloaded.
          
=== Custom or Server Installation ===
The
default installation is for a graphical desktop environment, but I'd
like to install a server or other minimal system. How can I do this?

Type "custom" at the initial CD-ROM boot prompt. This will install only the
base packages, after which you can install only what you need, using
'aptitude' or 'apt-get'.
          
=== Compiling a kernel module ===
I have installed Ubuntu, but I need to compile a kernel module (for example, in order to connect to the network). What do I do?

First,
check whether the module you need is already present. Many additional
drivers are included in the default Ubuntu kernel. If you still need to
compile a module, the following command will install everything you
need:
# sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
All of the packages needed are available on the Ubuntu CD.
          
=== Space for Ubuntu? ===
What is the recommended RAM and how much hard drive space does Ubuntu need?

To install Ubuntu you should have at least 32MB of RAM.

You should have space on your hard disk to create a new disk
partition of at least 1.8 GB for a standard Ubuntu desktop system, or
at least 350 MB for a minimal custom installation.

          
=== Sound preview in Nautilus ===
How can I enable sound preview in nautilus?


Install "sox" via synaptic.

Note: You might need to enable universe.

          
=== Gnome session stops working ===
After upgrading all the packages from apt, my Gnome session stops working
(panel doesn't show, session doesn't start, etc.) How can I fix this?

Try to reboot the system.

Some upgrades can be more intrusive than others, and in my most
recent upgrade, Gnome experienced these problems. I tried to create a
new user directory to no avail. Restarting the computer totally fixed
the problem. [http://wiki.ubuntulinux.org/OwenMarshall OwenMarshall].
          
          
=== The computer clock becomes wrong everytime I dual boot to Windows. How do I solve this? ===
Everytime
I dual boot to my Windows partition, my computer clock become X hours
ahead/behind my local time. How do I solve that problem with Ubuntu?


 * Edit the file /etc/default/rcS. in there is a setting for time ("UTC=").
 * Set it to no ("UTC=no")
      
          
=== Configuring NFS service ===
I
am trying to set up an NFS server. I think I've done everything right,
but it doesn't seem to work. I get an error "mount: RPC: Remote system
error - Connection refused". What have I missed?

By default, the portmap daemon listens only on the loopback interface
(localhost). You can change this by editing
{{{/etc/default/portmap}}} and removing the "-i
127.0.0.1" option from the command line arguments. After making this
change, run {{{sudo /etc/init.d/portmap restart}}}.
=== Development tools ===
How can I install software development tools?


A default Ubuntu desktop installation includes a full-featured Python
development environment, so if you want to develop in Python, you
should already have everything you need.

If you want to develop in C or C++, install the {{{build-essential}}} package.
The choice to exclude C/C++ development tools from the default
desktop install was an explicit one. The discussion is archived here:
http://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/sounder/2004-September/000524.html
          
=== How do I remove the black "X" in the middle of my screen in addition to the normal mouse cursor? ===
I have a black "X" in the middle of my screen, in addition to the normal mouse cursor.

This
is caused by problems with hardware acceleration of the cursor. You can
work around this problem by editing /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and adding
the following line:

Option "HWCursor" "false"

or

Option "SWCursor" "true"

to the Device section of the file.

Note that the option is specific for each video card driver.

To be sure to enter the proper information check the man page for your driver.

Examples:

man radeon

for ati cards or

man nv

for nvidia cards.

The result section should look like:

{{{Section "Device"
        Identifier "nVidia Corporation NV25 [Geforce4 Ti 4600] 0"
        Driver "nvidia"
        BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
        Option "HWCursor" "false"
EndSection
}}}
          
          
=== What is DocBook ? ===
What is the DocBook standard, and how is it related to the documentation project?

Christoph Haas has written a nice introductory document about DocBook - read it [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/DocBook here]
=== Reprobe Monitor ===
How can i reprobe my monitor?

Let's
say that you installed you Ubuntu box with a 15'' 1024x768 monitor and
than you move it and use it with a 19'' 1600x1200 monitor. You can
easily reprobe you monitor freq and resolution:

- Identify the driver you are using for you video card (let's say radeon)

- Type, with root privileges (i.e. using sudo)

xresprobe radeon

of course instead of radeon use the appropriate driver
          
=== How do I register for an account to edit wiki ===

Select '''Join''' in the top right hand corner of the www.ubuntulinux.org site. You will be presented with the [https://www.ubuntulinux.org/join_form Registration form].
'''Full name'''
Please fill in your full name - this will be used as your display name in the website and on the wiki.
'''Email address'''
Please enter a valid and current email address, that you have
already set up. If this is not a current email address of yours, we
will be unable to send you a password. You will then not be able to log
in to the website or wiki, so please check it carefully.
Please note: We do not issue you with an email address when you register.
'''Changing your password'''
Once you receive your password, please login. You are then able to change your password to a more memorable one in '''my preferences'''.
'''If you've forgotten your password'''
You are able to reset your password at [https://www.ubuntulinux.org/forgottenpassword Forgotten password]. Please remember to use the email address you entered when you registered on the site.
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This FAQ has been moved to the [http://www.ubuntu.com/support/faq main website]. Feel free to add new qustions and answers on this page.


UbuntuFAQ (last edited 2008-08-06 16:23:30 by localhost)