Top 10 things I did after installing Ubuntu 12.04 LTS alongside Windows7

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January 18, 2013 by Kumar Saurav

I installed Ubuntu on my computer a few years ago, and then… I installed it again

I like to have both Ubuntu and Windows on my system (Dual boot). Here is the list of things I usually do to setup Ubuntu, on a computer which already has a Windows OS :-

1. While logged in Windows, create disk space for Ubuntu using EaseUs partition Manager (anywhere between 25-40GB of disk space should be good). The free space will be shown as unallocated space.

2. Create a bootable USB stick for the version on Ubuntu which you want to install. Boot from it  (restart windows and hit ESC or F12 to select USB as your boot device) and select “Install beside Windows7″. (it will automatically detect the unallocated space you had created)

3. Now run the following commands from terminal (launch terminal using ctrl+alt+t):-

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

This updates the Ubuntu repositories.

sudo apt-get install vim

This installs Vim text editor (extremely powerful tool to use while coding)

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ $(lsb_release -sc) partner"
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install skype

This installs Skype

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:vincent-c/nevernote
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nixnote

This installs Nixnote, the open source client for Evernote service.

sudo apt-get install p7zip-full

This installs 7zip (compression/uncompression tool)

sudo apt-get install gparted

The gparted partition tool

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

This allows Ubuntu to play file formats like mp3, avi, etc.

sudo apt-get install lo-menubar

This gives global menu for Libre office

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:diesch/testing
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unsettings

An application to tweak the Ubuntu 12.04 which has Reset to Default option.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install wine1.4
sudo apt-get install winetricks

This installs Wine 1.4 (stable) which allows you to use windows applications.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/thunderbird-stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install thunderbird

Install the Mozilla Thunderbird email client

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair

This installs boot-repair, a handy tool to fix any bootloader problems

sudo apt-get install gedit-plugins

Now you may launch gedit and go to → edit → preferences → plugins → now select the plugins as per your requirement.

Install a weather indicator (I like to have one)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install my-weather-indicator

4. Launch the Ubuntu Software Center from Unity Dash and search and install the following: GIMP Image Editor, VLC media player, Synaptic Package Manager, Wine, Okular (similar to Foxit pdf reader for windows, allows comments and highlighting), redshift.

5. Launch firefox and search and install (using double click) Google chrome since Flash is not supported in firefox.

6. Re-enable hibernate using following commands (note that your swap memory should be equal to RAM):-

sudoedit /etc/polkit-1/localauthority/50-local.d/com.ubuntu.enable-hibernate.pkla

Right click and paste the following in the file opened:-

[Re-enable hibernate by default]
Identity=unix-user:*
Action=org.freedesktop.upower.hibernate
ResultActive=yes

Hit ESC to go into command mode and then type :wq to save and quit. Restart your computer and you should see Hibernate as one of the options.

7. Open your Home folder and then do → view → status bar

8. Modify privacy under system settings, then change Icon size and wallpaper under appearance.

9. Under System Settings select Keyboard → Shortcuts → custom shortcuts → +
Name: Kill Processes     Command: gnome-system-monitor
Click apply. Now click on disabled and then ctrl + alt + k . This is your shortcut to launch the system monitor.

10. (For Acer aspire 5738z) In your chrome browser go to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AspireTimeline/Fixes and apply Touchpad On/Off fix given for 9.10. Then add acpi_backlight=vendor after splash to enable brightness control, change timeout, save and do sudo update-grub.

P.S: Some information drawn from techdrivein and noobslab

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