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Setting Up Your System.
These pages are for assistance with setting up a Debian system.Debian is the 'Universal Operating System' and is the Linux flavour of choice by Linuxfx Computing.
Here we shall putting together information that has been accumulated from many areas of the Internet and articles, saving you much time in the technical attributes of Debian. The installation and configuration sections are for assistance in getting 'stuff' to work and also to further the 'Debian Way' of doing things within Linux.
The following guide assumes you have a fresh, unadulterated install and are ready to 'get down and dirty' with the command terminal.
All commands are as root.
There are no pretty pictures, just commands and guidance.
Be warned 'Here there be Dragons' - stick to the scripts, or end up doing a reinstall.
If you are using NVIDIA, please go to Part 2 first to install the drivers.
There are many guides used to create this guide, I shall list all links etc. on a separate page.
First and foremost, edit your /etc/apt/sources.list to look like the following:
Please note, this is for the United Kingdom and is mainly using a repository in Manchester.
############################################################
deb http://debian.man.ac.uk/debian/ lenny main
deb-src http://debian.man.ac.uk/debian/ lenny main
deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny-proposed-updates contrib non-free main
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny-proposed-updates contrib non-free main
deb-src http://volatile.debian.org/debian-volatile lenny/volatile main
#added extras
deb http://debian-multimedia.fx-services.com/ stable main
deb-src http://debian-multimedia.fx-services.com/ stable main
deb http://www.backports.org/debian lenny-backports main contrib non-free
###############################################################
Terminal time:
Download this -
http://www.debian-multimedia.org/pool/main/d/debian-multimedia-keyring/debian-multimedia-keyring_2008.10.16_all.deb
cd into your download directory and then type:
dpkg -i debian-multimedia-keyring_2008.10.16_all.deb
Then:
wget -O - http://backports.org/debian/archive.key | apt-key add -
We now have multimedia and backports.
Now do apt-get update
To update the rather older version of Open Office, type the following:
apt-get -t lenny-backports install openoffice.org
You now have Open Office 3.1
Before issuing the following commands, go to:
System > Administration > Software Sources
Ensure that Main, Contrib, Non-Free, Proposed and Security are all checked.
apt-get update
You are probably better copying and pasting the following into your terminal:
apt-get install f-spot flashplayer-mozilla filezilla icedove icedove-beagle icedove-gnome-support nautilus-sendto amule
amule-utils-gui vuze xchat xchat-gnome amarok audacity banshee w32codecs mozilla-mplayer mplayer gtkpod-aac dvdrip libdvdcss2
gxine gxineplugin xineplugin brasero gdeb gdebi usplash usplash-theme-debian libusplashO
This will drag in some extra packages with it, this is okay.
To use the graphical package manager, go to:
System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager.
Reload and mark all packages for update, if any.
From here, recommended downloads are:
* Elisa
* msttcorefonts
* vlc
* mutt, mutt-patched, abook (Mutt start-up kit will be on a separate page shortly)
* Enigmail
There are multitudes of software in here, it is up to you to choose the packages you want.
Now we have some packages, we can update the old Shockwave Flash in Iceweasel.
1. Go to tools > Add-ons > Plug-ins.
2. Right click on Shockwave Flash entry and then click 'disable' and close Iceweasel.
3. Back in the terminal type: cp /usr/lib/flashplayer-mozilla/libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/
4. Back in Iceweasel, type in: about:plugins
5. you should now have the following entry:
File name: libflashplayer.so
Shockwave Flash 10.0 r42
Don't like the fonts? - neither did I.
The following worked well on both a PC and laptop.
System > Preferences > Appearance.
Go to the 'fonts' section and ensure subpixel smoothing (LCD's) is checked.
Change all the fonts to Liberation Sans, Liberation Sans Bold and Liberation Mono where applicable and set all to size 9 from 10.
In the terminal type: dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig-config
In the dialog choose these options; Autohinter, Automatic and No
Now do: dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig
In Nautilus, show hidden folders and open up the .fontconfig folder (ctrl+h)
Delete any files within and right click to create a new empty document.
In the new document, copy the following:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">
<fontconfig>
<match target="font" >
<edit mode="assign" name="autohint" >
<bool>true</bool>
</edit>
</match>
<match target="font" >
<edit mode="assign" name="rgba" >
<const>none</const>
</edit>
</match>
<match target="font" >
<edit mode="assign" name="hinting" >
<bool>false</bool>
</edit>
</match>
<match target="font" >
<edit mode="assign" name="hintstyle" >
<const>hintnone</const>
</edit>
</match>
<match target="font" >
<edit mode="assign" name="antialias" >
<bool>true</bool>
</edit>
</match>
</fontconfig>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Save as fontconfig within the .fontconfig folder and close file.
Now we need a fresh looking desktop.
A good thing about Ubuntu, is that they do like their 'shiny' - so do we, and you can get it here.
Starting with a standard 'Glossy' we then install through Synaptic:
murrine-themes, gnome-art, gnome-themes, gnome-themes-extras, gtk-engines-ubuntulooks and any others that take your fancy.
Gnome art can add extra window borders, icons etc.
System > Preferences > Art Manager
Controls = MurrinaCandy
Window Border = Shiny-Tango
Icons = Humility
System > Preferences > Appearance > Theme
Choose Glossy and then 'customise'. Try the above for a neat looking desktop.
If you like Debian wallpaper, then below are a few sites worthy of putting here:
http://www.wallpaperpimper.com/wallpaper/computer-wallpaper-Debian.htm
http://www.glatozen.org/wallpaper/wallpaper.php?variable=debian
Restart x and enjoy.
>>>>>>>Next - Install and configure NVIDIA drivers.
