Ubuntu

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Fixing the Default Editor

Ubuntu defaults to using nano over Vi. To correct this sacrilegious behavior, use the following command:

sudo update-alternatives –config editor

Enable 32-bit code on 64-bit install

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

Fixing the Boot-up Splash

On some notebook LCDs the splash screen will fail to display unless the resolution is manually configured. The resolution is specified in /etc/usplash.conf

# Usplash configuration file
xres=1024
yres=768

After making the adjustments, run the following:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure usplash

Enabling DVD Playback

sudo apt-get install libdvdread3
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh 

Enabling Desktop Icons

• ALT+F2
• Enter gconf-editor in the Run Application dialogue box.
• Navigate to apps -> nautilus -> desktop
• Toggle the desired _icon_visible booleans

Rebuild X11 Configuration

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Building a Custom Kernel

See How To Compile A Kernel - The Ubuntu Way on HowtoForge for complete details.

Summary:

apt-get update
apt-get install linux_source kernel-package libncurses5-dev fakeroot wget bzip2
make-kpkg clean
fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version=-custom kernel_image kernel_headers

Installing Modules to an Alternate Path

make modules_install INSTALL_MOD_PATH=/home/denis/tmproot/

Reinstall GRUB

1. Pop in the Live CD, boot from it until you reach the desktop.
2. Open a terminal window or switch to a tty.
3. Type "grub"
4. Type "root (hd0,4)", or whatever your harddisk + boot partition numbers are (my /boot is at /dev/sda5, which translates to hd0,4 for grub).
5. Type "setup (hd0)", ot whatever your harddisk nr is.
6. Quit grub by typing "quit".
7. Reboot.

Theme Goodness

apt-get install murrine-themes
apt-get install gnome-backgrounds
apt-get install community-themes

Enable Remote Desktop via the CLI

$ gconftool-2 -s -t bool /desktop/gnome/remote_access/enabled true