Ubuntu 12.04

Virtualbox Guest Additions Stop Working after Update

These instructions are for Ubuntu 12.04, with the Unity interface, running under VirtualBox 4.1.12_77218. They should be the same or similar for other version combinations, but no guarantee is made. Sometimes, when Ubuntu updates are applied to your system, the VirtualBox Guest Additions stop working. Symptoms may include: (1) screen resolution reverts back to the […]

Ubuntu 12.04

Installing the Cinnamon Desktop

NOTE: For Cinnamon to work, your system must provide 3D hardware acceleration. If your system does not have 3D hardware acceleration, you will only see the “traditional” GNOME desktop. This is a limitation of GNOME 3 (on which Cinnamon is built). According to gnome.org: GNOME Shell uses relatively primitive 3D capabilities that have been available […]

Ubuntu 12.04

How to Install the MATE Desktop

These instructions are for installing the MATE Desktop v.1.2 or v.1.4 on Ubuntu 12.04 running the Unity interface. Unless otherwise specified, all observations and screenshots are for v.1.2. Installation instructions may be the same or similar for other versions of Ubuntu or for other Linux distros, but no guarantee is made. The MATE website provides […]

Ubuntu 12.04

Failed to download package files

This tutorial is for Ubuntu 12.04 in which the following error appears when trying to install a package using the Ubuntu Software Center: This might work for other Ubuntu versions, or other Linux distros based on Ubuntu, but no guarantee is made. Assumes you know how to open a terminal. Instructions can be found here. […]

Ubuntu 12.04

How to Lock Your Screen / Computer

These instructions are for Ubuntu 12.04 running the Unity interface. They may be the same for other version combinations, but no guarantee is made. Sometimes you have to leave your computer but don’t want to leave your session open for someone else to start using. One option is to log out, the other is to […]

Ubuntu 12.04

How to Display / Show Hidden Files or Folders

These instructions are for Ubuntu 12.04 running the Unity interface and using Nautilus as the default file browser – this is the default Ubuntu 12.04 configuration. It may work for other version combinations, but no guarantee is made. The default settings in the Nautilus file browser prevent you from seeing certain files and folders. These […]

Ubuntu 12.04

Installing VirtualBox Guest Additions

These instructions are for Ubuntu 12.04 running under VirtualBox 4.1.12 on Windows 7 with SP1. They should be the same or similar for other version combinations, but I make no guarantee. These instructions are the same or very similar for many other distros of Linux, however, the VirtualBox Guest Additions don’t work with all distros […]

Ubuntu 12.04

How to Uninstall VirtualBox Guest Additions

These instructions are for removing VirtualBox Guest Additions from Ubuntu 12.04 running under VirtualBox version 4.1.12. They may be the same or similar for other version combinations and other Linux distros, but no guarantee is made. Assumes you know how to open a terminal. Instructions for opening a terminal can be found here. Uninstalling VirtualBox […]

Ubuntu 12.04

Enabling Shared Folders Under VirtualBox

These instructions are for Ubuntu 12.04 running under VirtualBox 4.1.12 on Windows 7 with SP1. They should be the same for other version combinations, but no guarantee is made. It shouldn’t matter on which host VirtualBox is running, but I don’t run it on anything other than Windows. I have not tried sharing folders on […]

Ubuntu 12.04

Adding a Shared Folder Under VirtualBox

This tutorial is for adding shared folders to Ubuntu 12.04 running under VirtualBox 4.1.12 on Windows 7 with SP 1. The instructions should be the same for the same for other version combinations, or even for different OSes on which VirtualBox runs, but no guarantee is made. Assumes you have enabled shared folders for Ubuntu […]

Ubuntu 12.04

How to Install the LXDE-Core Desktop

These instructions are for installing the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment (LXDE) core in Ubuntu 12.04 running the Unity Desktop. Installation instructions may be the same or similar for other versions of Ubuntu or for other Linux distros, but no guarantee is made. The core files give you the basic LXDE desktop environment. There is also […]

Ubuntu 12.04

How to Install the LXDE Desktop

These instructions are for installing the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment (LXDE) in Ubuntu 12.04 running the Unity Desktop. Installation instructions may be the same or similar for other versions of Ubuntu or for other Linux distros, but no guarantee is made. LXDE includes the desktop environment as well as a number of applications. Some of […]