Empower your Netbook using Linux

Netbook has now become a major segment of the computer market. Netbooks are miniature of laptops and less powerful. If you are not a power user, no need to buy a powerful and costly laptop. The price of Netbook is affordable to everybody's pocket; especially for students and research scholars. The users can buy from the price range between Rs. 12000 to 20000. Netbooks are lightweight and convenient to carry while travelling. Renowned brands like Dell, HP, Asus and Acer have Netbook range of products.

Install MATE Desktop Environment in Debian and Ubuntu

The MATE Desktop environment is the fork of GNOME 2. GNOME 2 was seized after the arrival of GNOME 3. Linux users still love GNOME 2 classic desktop due to its simplicity. MATE desktop provide more shining classical desktop and give the same GNOME 2 experience. MATE desktop can install on various Linux distributions. Here is the instructions to install MATE desktop minimal in Debian and Ubuntu. Minimal version of the MATE desktop provide core of the desktop without all default applications.

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Apply following commands one by one;

sudo su
apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/xenial-mate
apt-get update
apt-get install mate-desktop-environment-core

Log out and choose the MATE desktop.

MATE desktop in Ubuntu

Debian

su

apt-get install mate-desktop-environment-core

apt-get install mate-themes

Log out and select MATE desktop.

MATE minimal installation in Debian 9

References
https://mate-desktop.org/
https://www.tecmint.com/install-mate-desktop-in-ubuntu-fedora/

Tasksel: an easy walk tool with Linux

Tasksel is a tool which available with Linux which helpful to install a bunch (related) of packages. If a user wants to install LAMP (Apache, MySQL, PHP) package, need to apply the command to install individual applications. With the help of Tasksel, the user can select and install LAMP package from GUI.

Tasksel is very useful to select and install the desired desktop package while working with Debian/Ubuntu. For example, Tasksel can help the user to install a new desktop like Ubuntu MATE/Xubuntu desktop. Otherwise, the user needs to apply the concerned command to install Ubuntu MATE minimum desktop.

Install Canon MF226DN All-in-One Printer in Ubuntu

1. Install following dependancy packages.

sudo apt-get install libxml2:i386
sudo apt-get install libjpeg62:i386
sudo apt-get install lib32z1
sudo apt-get install libstdc++5:i386 libstdc++6:i386
sudo restart cups

2. Download the Canon driver from following link,
https://in.canon/support/imageCLASS%20MF226dn/model

3. Install the Canon driver.
Extract the package. Find the folder contain the .deb packages suitable for 64 bit architecture. Apply the command to install the .deb packages.

sudo dpkg *.deb

Go to Ubuntu Settings and find that the Printer added in the list.

First-hand experience with Ubuntu 17.04 (Artful Aardvark)

I installed and tried Ubuntu 17.04 (Artful Aardvark) Linux. The main change is the advent of GNOME desktop instead of Unity. Default GNOME desktop seems heavy for low profile computers. Experienced fast performance after the installation of GNOME Classic desktop. Users can sync with various accounts (e.g. Google) from the file manager. This feature is helpful for users to backup files in cloud storage.

Default GNOME desktop of Ubuntu 17.04. The desktop feel heavy for low profile computers.

Install GNOME Classic desktop for fast performance.

User can add various acounts.

Sync with Google Drive in File Manager

Install Epson L380 printer driver in Ubuntu / Debian

Epson L380 is a color inkjet printer. Very suitable for home and office use. Epson has made available Linux driver for the printer L380. Here are the steps to install the Linux driver for Ubuntu.

Bypass "unlock your login keyring" with Chrome browser

Asking password to open Chrome browser is part of security. But it's very annoying for users to enter the password when asking keyring to unlock when start Google Chrome browser.

We can bypass it. I tried this method in Ubuntu MATE.

Install Debian 9 Stretch (Screenshots)

Debian 9, release name 'Stretch' released on June 17, 2017. ISO images are available at https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/amd64/iso-cd/
Here I am used Debian 9 with XFCE Desktop.

Download and burn the iso file in a CD/DVD/pen drive. Change the boot option of the PC and boot into Debin DVD.

Graphical install is good for newbies.

Install HP LaserJet P1108 printer in Debian and Ubuntu

You can find that HP LaserJet P1108 does not work simply adding the printer with Ubuntu 16.04 and Debian 8. Installation of HP driver fails to install plugin file. You will get following error message,

"HP Device Manager - Plug-in Installer(X) file does not match its checksum. File may have been corrupted or altered"




Install HP Printer packages

sudo apt-get install hplip hplip-gui

Format pen drive using command line in Linux

Apply following commands to know the drive name of the USB pen drive.

sudo su
fdisk -l

Unmount the pen drive before the formatting process.

umount /dev/sdb1

Apply the following command to format the pen drive in FAT 32 format.

mkdosfs -F 32 -I /dev/sdb1

Install HP LaserJet P1505 in Ubuntu 16.04

Image courtesy: HP

HP LaserJet P1505 is a popular printer and can be found in most of the offices. Installation of the printer driver is necessary to run.

1. Plugin the printer to the computer.
2. Download and install the HP Printer driver. Apply following commands,

sudo su
sudo hp-setup -i

During the installation process user has to answer many questions.

Install Lineage OS on Asus Zenfone Selfie: a slim guide.

Asus Zenfone Selfie (Build Number. ZD551KL)is a budget smart phone priced below INR 12000. The default Android version is Lollipop with Zen UI. Zenfone Selfie can give good performance, if we install custom ROM.  Lineage OS is the leading custom ROM project and it offers official build for Zenfone Selfie. User can install Lineage OS over default Android. Lineage OS can improve the performance of Zenfone Selfie.

Necessary skill set

Basic knowledge on adb and fastboot, TWRP custom recovery installation, flash packages from TWRP. Finally you need the confidence to take the risk of unbrick phone (Void warranty)!!.

[I will not be responsible to what happens to your device while trying following steps.]

Screen brightness problem with Acer ES1-131 and Debian 8 (Jessie)

I installed Debian 8 (Jessie) XFCE and LXDE desktop on Acer ES1-131 Netbook. I could successfully installed Debian. But problem is that, not able reduce the brightness of screen. Short cut key for brightness control not working.

The real problem with the Linux kernel. Default kernel version could not identify the Intel driver. You can find that /sys/class/backlight will be empty. Brightness control folder and files should be reside here.

How to solve it?
Solution is that upgrade the kernel of Debian.

Enable sudo in Debian

Sudo is a tool default with Ubuntu, which allows users to execute administrative tasks (e.g. installation, remove etc). sudo is not available with Debian default. Ubuntu user may feel difficult while work with Debian without sudo. User has to install sudo tool first.

Open terminal and apply following commands,

su
apt-get install sudo
adduser username sudo

Logout from desktop.
Login again.

Install Linux ISO file in a USB stick

Its easy to write ISO file to USB pen drive. This process erase all data in your USB drive.

Find out the name of the USB drive using the lsblk tool. Apply the following command:

lsblk

The output will look like this:

Here the USB device is /dev/sda, but this may vary on your system. The best way to identify the name is by checking the device's size.

Copy the Linux iso file in the home folder.

Open a terminal and become a root user.

  

sudo su

If your USB drive name is sdb, apply the following command.

cat debian.iso > /dev/sdb; sync

Disable Grub2 theme in Ubuntu MATE

Gurb 2 has GUI theme.

It may lag the boot time. User can remove it to get back legacy Grub theme.
Apply following command to remove Grub 2 theme.

sudo apt-get remove grub2-themes-ubuntu-mate

Then update Grub

update-grub