Extract control and post/pre files from Deb

dpkg-deb -e installer.deb

Fix xsplash not displaying on Ubuntu 10.04

For OpenSource Drivers
sudo su
echo FRAMEBUFFER=y > /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash
update-initramfs -u
exit

For Proprietary Drivers

Step 1: we must edit the /etc/default/grub file.

Open a terminal and paste this:

$ sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

On line #18, uncomment (uncomment = remove the “#” in front of the line “#GRUB_GFXMODE=640×480” and change the resolution to whatever you want (in my particular case, I changed it to 1680x1050). Here is how it should look:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1680x1050

Step 2: edit the /etc/grub.d/00_header file.

$ sudo gedit /etc/grub.d/00_header

And find the following line: “gfxmode=${GRUB_GFXMODE}” (it’s line 103 on my computer) and under it, paste this:

set gfxpayload=keep

Step 3: update Grub 2:

To update the GRUB, simply run the following command:

$ sudo update-grub

Importing keys from a .pfx file

Export the private key
openssl pkcs12 -in filename.pfx -nocerts -nodes -out key.pem

Create a public key from the private key
openssl rsa -in key.pem -out public.key

Export the certificate
openssl pkcs12 -in filename.pfx -clcerts -nokeys -out cert.pem

Android SDK on Ubuntu 9.10

To be able to connect to repositories the androidtool.cfg file needs to be created in ~/.android with the following info:
sdkman.force.http=true

Install VMWare 6.5.3 on Ubuntu 9.10

Taken from http://linux.aldeby.org/vmware-workstation-6-5-3-on-ubuntu-karmic-9-10.html/comment-page-1

chmod u+x VMware-Workstation-6.5.3-185404.i386.bundle
while true; do sudo killall -9 vmware-modconfig-console; sleep 1; done
in a separate terminal run:

sudo ./VMware-Workstation-6.5.3-185404.i386.bundle --ignore-errors
when the installer has finished, terminate the previous command (while true…) with a CTRL+C or simply close the terminal window.

vmware-modconfig --console --install-all

edit file

/etc/vmware/bootstrap
add at the bottom

VMWARE_USE_SHIPPED_GTK=force

If you cannot use any more modifier keys (CTRL ALT SHIFT INS etc.) first check if you have a residual fix from previous setups which is no more needed now. (If this is the first time you install VMware you can skip this step).

Notice, however, that randomly you could still lose modifier keys, typing in any terminal or ALT+F2 field setxkbmap restores them. Furthermore the xkeymap.nokeycodeMap = true is still needed if you are willing to install VMware Workstation 7 beta.

edit file

$HOME/.vmware/config
ensure the following text is not present or commented out with a #

xkeymap.nokeycodeMap = true
as an alternative temporary fix you can simply type

setxkbmap
in any terminal window. This would resume the modifier keys function.

Downloading Kernel Source

Fedora:
yum install yum-utils rpmdevtools
yumdownloader --source kernel
yum-builddep kernel-.src.rpm
rpm -ivh kernel-##.src.rpm
rpmbuild -bp --target=$(uname -m) /usr/src/redhat/rpmbuild/SPECS/kernel.spec

Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get install linux-source

Fix Missing GPG Key for Ubuntu 9.10

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 40976EAF437D05B5

Useful Commands

lshw - detail list of hardware

Misc-Fixed Font on Ubuntu

Download ucsfont from http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/ucs-fonts.html

mkdir ucs
tar -xzf ucs-fonts.tar.gz -C ucs
cd ucs/submission
make

# for Ubuntu
sudo mv -b *.pcf.gz /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc
cd /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc
sudo mkfontdir
cd /etc/fonts/conf.d
sudo rm 70-no-bitmaps.conf
sudo ln -s ../conf.avail/70-yes-bitmaps.conf
sudo dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig

Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft: AIGLX & Beryl

AIGLX Setup:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CompositeManager/AIGLXOnEdgy

Added under Section "Module":

Load "dri"
Load "dbe"
Load "glx"

Added in "Device" section:

Option  "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"

Added in "ServerLayout" section:

Option         "AIGLX" "true"

Added sections:

Section "DRI"
        Mode 0666
EndSection
        
Section "Extensions"
        Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection


Beryl Composite Manager:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CompositeManager/InstallingBeryl

Make sure that you have the proper repositories configured. Enable the "universe" and "multverse" as well as either one of the following third-party repositories:

deb http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/ edgy main

If you are using the AMD64 platform, add main-edgy-amd64 at the end of the line, like so

deb http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/ edgy main-edgy main-edgy-amd64

Add the appropriate gpg key for the repository you are using by typing one of the following commands into the Terminal:

wget http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/root@lupine.me.uk.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - 

Now update the package list:

sudo apt-get update

Install the following packages:

sudo apt-get install beryl emerald-themes

Note: Beryl is a metapackage that will install all the dependencies (beryl-core, beryl-plugins, beryl-manager, beryl-settings) and also the decoration themes (emerald but not emerald-themes).

Launch Beryl:

beryl-manager

Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy-Eft) Upgrade from Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper-Drake)

Performed upgrade through network using the command:

gksu "update-manager -c"

Issues:

• Booted but no usplash screen. Tried booting with 'vga=791' but some wierd grey box on upper left hand corner. (Fixed: by running `sudo aptitude reinstall usplash-theme-ubuntu` and then `sudo dpkg-reconfigure linux-image-$(uname -r)`. Solution from Ubuntu Forums http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=288200&highlight=usplash)