After the Install: setting up a desktop Ubuntu box (Gutsy 7.10)

This is roughly the procedure I use to set up a box for someone new to Ubuntu who'd like to use it right away.
Estimated time: 1 hour on fast DSL connection. Anyone who knows automation procedures would be my friend.

Software Sources:

• Ubuntu Software tab: Untick CD as a source
• Tick all other sources
• Third Party tab: Tick partner
• Updates tab: change Automatic updates to Download all updates in the background
• Statistics tab: tick Submit statistical information

Add/Remove:

• ubuntu-restricted-extras
• kubuntu-restricted-extras
• Amarok
• DeVeDe
• Xine
• VLC
• Flickr Uploader
• Gmail notifier
• Audacity
• Bluefish (Quanta Plus installs confusing extras into other menus)
• Mplayer
• Streamcast
• Scite text editor
• KmyMoney
• Inkscape
• Scribus
• Dia
• Wine

The above will take care of multimedia plugins, KDE, msttcorefonts, and enabling any other necessary repositories beyond Canonical.

Medibuntu:

Peripherals:

• System → Administration → Restricted Drivers Manager
• Check monitor settings in System → Administration → Screens and Graphics
• Check wireless if applicable
• Set up any nearby printers, print test page
• test nearby USB devices
• Make sure System → Preferences → Keyboard is configured for proper keyboard

Themes:

sudo apt-get install blubuntu-look peace-look tropic-look

Appearance:

• Change Theme to Blubuntu (note ramifications for OpenOffice)
• Change Application/Document/Desktop/Window title fonts to DejaVu Sans Condensed
• If monitor known, alter Rendering accordingly
• Test Visual Effects

Time and Date Settings:

• Set Time Zone
• Configuration: Keep synchronized with Internet servers (install NTP)

Wine:

• In Firefox, find vcredist_x86.exe on microsoft.com and install
  (this 2Mb download adds a handful of runtime libraries not handled by Wine)
  

OpenOffice:

• View: change icon set back to Human
• Java: make sure OOo finds JVM
• Fonts: substitute the following:
• Helvetica → FreeSans
• Bookman → URW Bookman L
• Avant Garde → URW Gothic L
• Century Gothic → URW Gothic L
• Optima → MgOpen Cosmetica
• Zapf Chancery → URW Chancery L
• Palatino → URW Palladio L
• Palatino Linotype → URW Palladio L
• Book Antiqua → URW Palladio L

GRUB:

• If dualboot, edit /boot/grub/menu.lst accordingly to correct default boot, hiddenmenu on

File Sharing:

• Create temp folder on desktop, turn on sharing and install both NFS/Samba sharing

Passing it on:

• Go to ubuntuforums.org and bookmark it to toolbar
• Use CD burning app to copy install disc to desktop, check MD5 sum:
  9a4ae3cfd68911a861d094ec834c9b48 *ubuntu-7.10-alternate-i386.iso
d2334dbba7313e9abc8c7c072d2af09c *ubuntu-7.10-desktop-i386.iso

Final checklist:

• GRUB hides menu
• Firefox (internet works)
• Sound card plays
• Audio CDs autoplay in correct player
• Audio CD burning app works
• DVDs autoplay in correct player (may have to be changed to VLC)
• Trash emptied

Getting Wine to run some of those pesky Windows apps

If you've seen this error when trying to run some Win apps you've installed...
err:module:import_dll Library MSVCP80.dll (which is needed by L"C:\\windows\\system32\\daz-qt-mt.dll") not found
err:module:import_dll Library MSVCR80.dll (which is needed by L"C:\\windows\\system32\\daz-qt-mt.dll") not found
Download and install this to make things all better.

Notes to myself on laptop hacks necessary after Gutsy upgrade.

/etc/acpi/suspend.d/55-down-interfaces.sh had to be edited to move the pccardctl eject line to the end of the file, otherwise resume after suspend doesn't bring the wireless back up.

In general, the update worked pretty well. In the car this afternoon, it occurred to me that it would be a good idea for config files to be flagged in such a way that editing them triggered a 'diary' dialog which encapsulated a diff between it and the previous version, and requested a comment explaining it.

The idea is that after an upgrade or reinstall, you'd be able to track the hacks and customizations you've made.

Bringing new users to Linux: An Experiment In Progress

In the previous post I mentioned that the Dell Dimension that had been my original Myth master backend had outlived its usefulness. Since our home already has four desktops and two laptops (and an ancient PowerMac in mothballs), it was time to decommission the Dimension and find it a new home.

The Myth hardware (500Gb HD, Hauppauge tuner card, Atheros wifi card) were swapped out into the newer PC, and the original extra cards (Sound Blaster, modem) were put back into it, and after a few glitches it was able to have Gutsy Gibbon installed on its internal 8.5Gb HD. The original intention was to put it up for the taking on the local Freecycle board, but I remembered a friend of ours had had her desktop fried in an electrical storm a year ago and still hadn't replaced hers. When I suggested she take this one, she agreed.

• The goal: get a non-power user Windows user comfortable with using Ubuntu Linux in her home for web browsing, media playback, etc.
  
• The parameters: an ancient PC with a 450MHz PIII, 512Mb RAM, 8.5Gb HD, TNT nVidia graphics card predating most OpenGL extensions, Sound Blaster card, and a CD burner. Gutsy Gibbon.
  
• What I preinstalled: Flash, Java, media codecs, VLC, XMMS, Streamcast, MSTTcorefonts, GnuCash, Gimp, Inkscape, Flickr Uploader, Gmail tickler, XGalaga, a user account for me and a user account for her (both with sudo access). If her kindergartener/1st grader need accounts they can get non-admin accounts.
  
• What else I did: I uninstalled the nvidia-glx-legacy driver, because it disables resolution above 800x600 on the monitor I was using. Added OpenOffice quicklauncher to top bar and ensured OO was aware of the JVM installed.
  

Observations: Gutsy was less problematic than I expected for something built for Windows ME in 1999, given Ubuntu's habit of dropping the ball on backwards compatibility with some kinds of hardware. Still, this hardware is running the latest Ubuntu Linux whereas the latest release of Windows would be impossible.

Assuming she's happy with basic usage, this should be a decent workstation for a while longer. Updates as they occur.