How to Tweak Ubuntu after your first installation

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Purpose: Create a basic all-in-one-guide for new ubuntu users to solve a few of the most important questions. The information below is also found on these forums and the official ubuntu wiki. I hope this small 9 step howto will be information for new ubuntu users.

If you have any thoughts or would like to see an essential item added let me know.

Now that you have Ubuntu installed lets tweak a few things to make your experience even better.

1. Getting the latest updates
2. Setting up Nvidia/ATI video drivers (only if you have Nvidia/ATI video cards)
3. Enable Universe in Synaptic
4. Installing Java systemwide / Firefox
5. Installing XMMS music player
6. Enable MP3 support in Rhythmbox
7. Installing basic development tools
8. Turn off ipv6 so firefox loads pages faster
9. Installing a CPU specific kernel.

1. Getting the latest updates.

Quote:

From your desktop select Computer > System Configuration > Synaptic Package Manager you will be asked to enter your password. Click the Reload button then select Mark All Upgrades and finally click Apply this will ensure your system is running the latest updates. You can follow this every few weeks to ensure you get new updates as well.

2. Setting up Nvidia/ATI video drivers (only if you have Nvidia/ATI video cards). For ATI Video Drivers:

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1. sudo apt-get install linux-686 if you haven't already.

or -k7 or -686-smp or -386... whatever matches your kernel.

2. sudo apt-get install fglrx-driver
3. echo fglrx | sudo tee -a /etc/modules

This command won't have any effect until you reboot. To load the kernel module immediately, run sudo depmod -a ; sudo modprobe fglrx, but this will only work if you have already rebooted since upgrading the kernel. If it doesn't work, perform the next step (below) and then reboot.

4. sudo sed -i -e 's/"ati"/"fglrx"/' /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

Note: If you are going to compile 3d applications, you will want to install the fglrx-driver-dev package
Note: You might want to install the fglrx-control package, which provides a control panel to configure graphics card options such as dual-head display (two monitors)

For NVIDIA Video Drivers:

Quote:

1. sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx
2. sudo nvidia-glx-config enable
3. sudo reboot

Note: (optional): If you are going to compile 3d applications, you will want to install the nvidia-glx-dev package, like sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-dev
Note: (optional): the nvidia-settings package provides a control panel to configure graphics card options such as gamma correction. Install: sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings

3. Enable Universe in Synaptic.

Quote:

From your desktop select Computer > System Configuration > Synaptic Package Manager you will be asked to enter your password. Goto Settings > Repositories you will see (2) grayed out boxes click both of them, then click the Reload button.

4. Installing Java systemwide / Firefox.

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Download Java: http://java.sun.com/webapps/download...?BundleId=9718

1. chmod a+x j2re-1_4_2_05-linux-i586.bin
2. ./j2re-1_4_2_05-linux-i586.bin
3. sudo mv j2re1.4.2_05 /usr/local/
4. sudo ln -sf /usr/local/j2re1.4.2_05/bin/java /usr/bin/java
5. sudo ln -sf /usr/local/j2re1.4.2_05/bin/java_vm /usr/bin/java_vm
6. cd /home/username/.mozilla/plugins

If you do not have a plugins directory you can create one.
mkdir -p /home/username/.mozilla/plugins

7. ln -s /usr/local/j2re1.4.2_05/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so libjavaplugin_oji.so
8. sudo ln -s /usr/local/j2re1.4.2_05/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/plugins/

That should give you working firefox java and systemwide java support.

5. Installing XMMS music player.

Quote:

1. sudo apt-get install xmms

If you are running a Nvidia video card you need to add this package as well:
2. sudo apt-get install libmikmod

6. Enable MP3 support in Rhythmbox.

Quote:

1. sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.8-mad

7. Installing basic development tools.

Quote:

1. sudo apt-get install build-essential

8. Turn off ipv6 so firefox loads pages faster.

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The latest version of Mozilla includes support for "IPv6" a new form of addressing things on the Internet.

The problem is: Mozilla tries to use IPv6 before it uses IPv4 (IPv4 is the old version). When your Internet connection doesn't support IPv6, Mozilla fails to connect on the first try. In the current version of Mozilla, you can't change this, because of a bug.

To fix this issue follow these steps:
1. sudo nano /etc/modutils/aliases

Look for this line:
# alias net-pf-10 off # IPv6

Change the line to: (remove the #)
alias net-pf-10 off # IPv6

2. sudo update-modules

Thanks to http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=3713 for this how-to.