I have recently installed ubuntu on my pc as a dual boot however i am a noob when it comes to linux and dont know how to install beryl or fluxbox. If I install these can i make my pc look like osx or vista? Are there any good sites which have guides to basic linux commands and/or programming? Thanks
Fluxbox will make your PC look like neither OSX nor Vista, Beryl is vista like... Beryl: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-install-beryl-with-latest-nvidia-drivers-in-ubuntu-feisty-fawn.html http://www.howtoforge.com/ubuntu_feisty_beryl_ati_radeon
ubuntuforums.org will be the best source for troubleshooting and installing stuff. Unfortunately it is the habit of linux users (myself included if I'm not thinking) to finally figure out how to do something, and never post about how. I hear the newer versions of ubuntu actually have compiz-fusion in their repositories, meaning you can use Synaptic Package Manager (under the System menu) to install it. Compiz-Fusion is a fusion of compiz and beryl, or something like that.... I forget what the specifics are, but it appears as though Beryl will not be updated as much as compiz-fusion, and compiz-fusion is based on a lot of beryl code. (possibly even just a fork) With Compiz-Fusion I was able to get my old linux laptop looking like OS X, then I realized I didn't like it (people actually thought I was running OS X on my laptop), so I tweaked it to look like what I wanted it to look like. (as opposed to looking and feeling like windows, linux, or os x, I just had it look like OneSeventeen's laptop) Your first step will be to write down your computer specs (make & model, video card manufacturer, etc) then start searching for things based on that. Like: "Compiz-fusion on ATI in Ubuntu". Searching the Ubuntu forums for things like that is your best bet. Another great resource is IRC. #compiz-fusion on freenode has tons of intelligent guys that were helpful back when I tried figuring this out. Currently there are over 100 people in that channel. (a few of which are actually active) Hope that helps as a good starting point! Feel free to keep posting questions here, or at least post your progress if you get help elsewhere, so other bit-tech'ers will learn what you learn.
i just installed compiz but when i try and enable visual effects it says desktop effects could not be enabled ?????
have you got your gfx card installed correctly with 3d acceleration? i just installed gusty gibbon on my macbook and was looking into Beryl too, I did have a few minutes playing around with tying to install it but it wasn't playing ball... i'll have another go and see what happens
i have a ati saphire 2500 but i dont know anything about the drivers as i thought it automatically loaded them from my hd? as you can prob see i new to linux.
Linux and Windows need completely different drivers. Download the Linux drivers from ATI's site. It's a bit trickier to install drivers for Linux than Windows but I think you can do it.
Ubuntu's 'Restricted Driver Manager' does the hard work really. You only need to do a manual install if you're stuck needing a newer version that's yet to be added to the repos.
Okay, first off, you really should head over to UbuntuForums, they'll be able to give a lot more specific help. Now, which version of Ubuntu did you install? I'm going to assume 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, the latest version, but if not, just correct me. First, go to the Restricted Drivers Manager. It should be in System->Administration. Make sure it says that the driver for your ATI card is enabled and in use. Otherwise, check the box and click okay and it should install and/or enable the driver. This means you have full 3D acceleration enabled. Now, go to System->Preferences->Appearance Preferences, go to the "Visual Effects" tab, and click "Extra". If it still gives you an error, tell me and we'll get to work fixing it, otherwise, continue. Go to Applications->Add/Remove, and in the search box, type "Advanced Desktop Effects Settings", check the box next to it, and click "Apply Changes". This will install CCSM, which controls all the advanced Compiz effects. (Ubuntu already has Compiz-Fusion installed) Now you can go to System->Preferences->Advanced Desktop Effects Settings and change the settings to make it behave how you want. Now, to change themes, you can just use Ubuntu's default theme manager in System->Preferences->Appearance, or you can install Emerald to get access to a lot more, including OSX and Vista-esque themes (though personally I think they suck). Also, for the record, Beryl is discontinued for the most part. Originally, there was Compiz, then Beryl Project forked off from it. Now, Beryl has re-merged with Compiz to form Compiz-Fusion, which is the standard now. So you don't want Beryl, though you could install it, it doesn't offer anything not offered by Compiz-Fusion.
You need the latest version of the catalyst for linux (ati) driver, older one will not work with compositing (in fact, the november and + will work, but they are buggy, ubuntu use the septemeber one by default if you enable it)
i have compiz and everithing installed but the only thing that is stopping me is that i cant ennable it, in the System->Preferences->Appearance Preferences, "Visual Effects" tab it gives me "desktop effects could not be enabled" error what do i do?
I believe if you try the following it should work (don't use ubuntu so I can't test it): Code: sudo update-rc.d gdm remove Edit: Oh and it might have been better to start a new thread instead reviving this one.
