Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference

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Contents
About the author ...............................................................ix A brief introduction............................................................xi
What is Ubuntu? ........................................................................... xi GNU.......................................................................................... xi The Linux kernel........................................................................xii Linux distros.............................................................................xiii What makes Ubuntu special.........................................................xiii Focus on desktop users ............................................................xiv Philosophy and community ......................................................xiv Ease of use ................................................................................xv What Ubuntu offers ....................................................................xvii How to read this book .................................................................xvii Typing commands.................................................................. xviii Menu opti
ons ......................................................................... xviii What to click .......................................................................... xviii Ubuntu versions ..................................................................... xviii

CHAPTER ONE: Installing Ubuntu ........................................1
Types of installation....................................................................... 1 #1: Dualbooting........................................................................ 1 #2: Installing within Windows .................................................... 2 #3: Virtual computer .................................................................. 2 Preparing your PC for Ubuntu ........................................................ 2 Ensuring enough disk space is free.............................................. 2 Defragmenting the hard disk...................................................... 3 Checking the Windows filesystem for errors ............................... 3 Getting Ubuntu.............................................................................. 4 Choosing a version ..................................................................... 4 Choosing a release ..................................................................... 6 Downloading Ubuntu ........................
......................................... 7 Creating an install CD..................................................................... 8 Stepbystep: Installing Ubuntu ..................................................... 9 Standard (repartitioning)............................................................ 9 Within Windows (Wubi).............................................................13 Virtual computer .......................................................................15 Problematic installations (alternate install)............................... 16 Getting Ubuntu onto an Apple Mac ...........................................17 iii

CHAPTER TWO: Configuring Ubuntu ................................. 19
Getting started ............................................................................ 19 Keyboard and mouse/trackpad .................................................... 20 Switching keyboard languages ................................................. 20 Mouse...................................................................................... 20 Graphics ...................................................................................... 21 Changing screen resolution ...................................................... 21 Installing proprietary drivers..................................................... 21 Activating desktop visual effects .............................................. 22 Configuring a second monitor .................................................. 23 Changing screen backlighting................................................... 24 Screensaver ............................................................................. 24 Sound ...................................
....................................................... 24 Getting online.............................................................................. 25 Wireless ................................................................................... 25 Wired (Ethernet) ...................................................................... 26 Printers........................................................................................ 27 Printing a test page .................................................................. 27 Setting default print options..................................................... 27 Managing print jobs ................................................................. 28 Installing a network printer....................................................... 28 Removable storage ...................................................................... 29 Scanners...................................................................................... 30 Bluetooth..................
................................................................... 30 Pairing (Ubuntu 8.10) ................................................................31 Pairing (Ubuntu 8.04) ................................................................31 Transferring files .......................................................................31

CHAPTER THREE: Getting to grips with the desktop ............33
Logging in.....................................................................................33 Wubi (Windows install)............................................................. 34 Dualboot................................................................................. 34 The layout of the desktop .............................................................35 Panels .......................................................................................35 Main menus ..............................................................................35 Icons and applets...................................................................... 36 Virtual desktops............................................................................37 Personalizing ............................................................................... 38 Themes.................................................................................... 38 Fonts..........................................................................
.............. 38 Login screen............................................................................. 39 Configuring menus................................................................... 39 Customizing desktop icons....................................................... 40 Useful applications....................................................................... 40 iv

Cutting, copying, and pasting....................................................... 40 Desktop search ............................................................................ 41 Deskbar ....................................................................................... 41 Keyboard shortcuts...................................................................... 44 Adding new users......................................................................... 44 Making programs start automatically........................................... 46 Dealing with crashed programs .................................................... 47 Changing the time & date ............................................................ 47 Rebooting and shutting down ...................................................... 48

CHAPTER FOUR: Users and the filesystem..........................49
How Ubuntu handles files............................................................. 49 Paths ....................................................................................... 49 Mounting ................................................................................. 50 File & folder names .................................................................. 50 Important filesystem locations ..................................................51 Hidden files and folders ............................................................ 52 File extensions ..........................................................................53 Understanding users .................................................................... 54 Root user ................................................................................. 54 File permissions........................................................................ 54 Nautilus: An overview .................................................................. 56 Dayto
day file management ....................................................... 61 Links and launchers .................................................................. 61 Bookmarks............................................................................... 62 Tabbed browsing ..................................................................... 62 Searching for files..................................................................... 64 Special browsing locations ....................................................... 64 File Associations....................................................................... 64 File compression .......................................................................... 65

CHAPTER FIVE: Handson at the commandline ..................67
All about the shell ........................................................................ 67 bashed about ........................................................................... 67 To DOS or not to DOS .............................................................. 68 Understanding the prompt........................................................... 68 Starting a commandline session.............................................. 68 Knowing who you are ............................................................... 69 Knowing where you're browsing............................................... 69 How commands work .................................................................. 70 Arguments ............................................................................... 70 Command options.....................................................................71 Complex filenames ...................................................................... 72 Relative and absolute paths ...............
.......................................... 72 Running programs ....................................................................... 74 v