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Zorin 6 & 9/10 Post Install Guide Tips & Tricks

Wolfman

Tue Oct 13, 2015 7:40:36 am

THIS IS A RECOVERY VERSION OF THE POST INSTALL GUIDE AND THE PICS ARE MISSING, WE HOPE TO RESUME NORMAL SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!.

Sorry but the hyper links don't work in this window so you will have to scroll down manually to the section you want to view!. See the 2nd post in this thread from Swarfendor437, he has created downloadables with hyperlinks!.

List of topics covered by this guide:

Free Ubuntu User Manual and Adobe Reader for Linux here:
General: Which includes "DVD" codecs and Graphic card drivers and a link for Zorin Lite Users.
Security and Firewall:
Change the language settings:
Sound:
How to work as "root" (make yourself root):
Silverlight Clone (Pipelight) & native Windows Flash for Linux:
Tweak Tools and single package manager: Which includes Dconf-Editor, Tweak Tool (AKA: Advanced Settings), Ubuntu Tweak and Gdebi single package installer.
Extra Desktop Themes and themes in general:
Recommended Reading:
Open items with "Single Click":
Desktop Screenlets:
Add 32 Bit support on 64 Bit systems:
Adding Printers:
Adding other user accounts:
Extra wallpapers:
Gnome Shell:
Adding icons to the Gnome 2 top panel including links for those that don't have a "Super (Windows) Key":
More info about the AWN panel (Avant Window Manger)
Unity privacy:
Upgrading your installed system:
Disable Ubuntu Apport error messages
Free AntiVirus protection for Linux from BitDefender and Avast:


Free Ubuntu User Manual here:

https://ubuntu-manual.org/

You will need a PDF reader, the Adobe Linux version is available from here. Download: > Linux > Your language > .deb version!:

https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/otherversions/


General:

IT IS IMPORTANT YOU FOLLOW THE UPDATE PORTION OF THIS GUIDE BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR SYSTEM, MAKE SURE IT IS FULLY UP-TO-DATE BEFORE YOU START!!!. CLICK ON THE LINK DIRECTLY BELOW THIS ADVISORY.

(See this link: http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=6&t=2247 )

THIS IS NOT FOR ZORIN LITE USERS, FOR THE POST INSTALL GUIDE FOR ZORIN LITE, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4835

Hi all,

this How-To (guide) is for people who have successfully installed Zorin 6 Final and wish to do some post install configuration, these are my preferences, you must decide whether you wish to use the same settings/method as mine!. (Please do not confuse Zorin 6 Final with Zorin 6 Lite!!!. Zorin Lite users please go here for tips about the Lubuntu desktop: http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=5&t=4835 and: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Documentation ) You can also use this guide for Zorin 8 as there are very few differences in the systems!.


If you do want to use the Windows 7 desktop; make sure you add another AWN panel (or install and use Docky!) and set it to the top of your desktop, if you don't, when you minimize an open prog, it may well disappear and you won't be able to access it again!!. It happened to me in a test version of Zorin 6RC in Windows 7 mode!!. Also you might want to add the package "awn-applets-all" which is a meta package for AWN but only for Zorin 6; NOT Zorin 8 !!!.)

To install the meta package I was referring to, open a terminal and paste this command:

Code:
sudo apt-get install awn-applets-all


For Zorin 8 if you cannot find the meta package in the repositories, please download the .deb packages you want from here:

http://pkgs.org/

Make sure you download the correct package for your system, from the available packages listed under the Ubuntu OS, either 32 or 64 Bit, or you can download the all.deb packages which work on both systems!. (Ubuntu 12.04 = Zorin 6 and Ubuntu 13.10 = Zorin 8)

2 links for the Avant Window Navigator (AWN) but I am not sure as to whether or not these links are still supported!:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1714111

http://wiki.awn-project.org/FAQ

For more info about the AWN (Avant Window Manger), please see below.

You might get a message about language support pop up, you can ignore it for now.

Your current desktop should have the panel at the bottom, (When you start after first boot, your desktop will have the Win7 look!) click on the left button and type “look” in search, the Zorin Look Changer will appear, open it and select Gnome 2, your desktop should change automatically and you should now have a Gnome 2 desktop, log out and back in again just to make sure it works!!.

Click on “Applications” > “Accessories” and then drag “Terminal” to the top panel beside “Places”, Go to “Applications” “Internet” and drag “Google Chrome” to the top panel. Click on “Applications” > System Tools > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager and drag it to the top panel, start Synaptic and go to “Settings > File > Delete files after download so you don't have any rubbish (trash to the Yanks) in your cache after the installation of software.
Now go to “Settings > Repositories > Zorin Software and mark all available boxes and make sure that the download location is set to “Main”, move to the next window “Other software, and do the same tick thing, now go to "Updates" and do the same again. Close the Software Sources window and click on “Reload” > “Mark All Upgrades” > “Apply” and let it do its thing, restart your PC after the updates have finished. (Updates may remain blank but are already listed in "Other Software")

Now install your graphic card drivers via the System Settings menu, right click on the top panel Computer Icon > “System Settings > Hardware > Additional Drivers" and select the “Recommended version for your card, install them (“Activate”) and restart your PC. (ATI and Nvidia only!)

In Zorin OS 8, the additional drivers tool is now intergrated in Synaptic, open Synaptic > Settings > Repositories > Additional Drivers and select the recommended driver, older ATI card drivers may not be available and I advise you to use the onboard drivers if you have an older ATI graphics card!.

For those who wish to use WiFi (Wlan), you may find that there are drivers listed in the tool if your WiFi adaptor was not automatically configured during install!.

Attention Nvidia card owners, there might be a problem with pages going blank on you, please see this link:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=5&t=2490

For the latest recommended Nvidia drivers, use the link above for deciding which driver to use!.

It is important to restart your PC in "Recovery Mode" after installing the drivers and select "Network" (Cable Only!!) and then run "DPKG" and after you have done the updates (Mesa, Xorg etc!), restart your PC with Ctrl + Alt + Del, don't click on "Resume" !!.

If the above doesn't work for whatever reason, as soon as you reboot your PC, start Synaptic > Reload > Mark All Upgrades > Apply and then restart your PC again!. (Yes! I know!!)

See more about Nvidia and the AWN menu below!!.


Amd/ATI graphics cards:

For Radeon card owners only:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RadeonDriver

All other AMD/ATI cards look here but be very careful when reading through it all:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=4&t=6951


Intel Graphic Card Drivers:

Anyone who has an Intel card, might be interested by this/these link(s):

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=5&t=4723


Codecs for DVD playback:

Should you require a codecs pack for DVD playback, you can visit this site and download the necessary package "libdvdcss2", this package is already installed in Zorin by default!!.

All codecs you may possibly need are in the package "ubuntu-restricted-extras" and is also pre-installed in Zorin!.

That said, you might want to install this package:

Code:
sudo apt-get install libavformat-extra-53


http://download.videolan.org/pub/libdvdcss/1.2.10/deb/

(The 3rd or 4th package in the list, according to whether you have a 32 or 64 Bit system!. Do not download the "dev" packages as you will most likely get error messages!)

Once downloaded, you can install the package using "Gdebi" (see below) and then any DVD's you wish to play, should work with no problems!.

Swarfendor437 has also added a PPA link if you want to add the full PPA to your software sources list.

http://gauvain.pocentek.net/node/61


Security and Firewall:

The default setting for the firewall is "OFF" (yes! I know), to switch it on, open System Settings > System > Firewall and simply throw the switch (password required!) to the "On" position, when you reboot, it will (should ) be active:

Firewall_022.jpg


See also:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gufw

AntiVirus software:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Antivirus

Easy terminal (Ctrl + alt + t) install for ClamAV:

Code:
sudo apt-get install clamtk


which will also install a GUI despite this old info:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ClamAV

List of security topics:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CategorySecurity


Change the language settings:

please see this link:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... 5927#p5927


Sound:

I suggest you install the following packages for good sound/playback:

Code:
sudo apt-get install libsox-fmt-all faac flac paman


If you want to install a slighty better sound manager than the normal Ubuntu one, install the package "paman". You will find paman (Pulse Audio Manager) under the sound and video menu. Make a link on your taskbar (panel) or desktop!!.

See also:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=6&t=2023

Read Me:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PulseAudio


How to work as "root" (make yourself root):

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... 7345#p7345


Silverlight Clone (Pipelight) & native Windows Flash for Linux:

If you require Silverlight , please see this thread, Moonlight is no longer supported!.

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=6&t=6437

See also:

http://www.webupd8.org/2013/08/pipeligh ... linux.html


Tweak Tools and single package manager:

Now you need to install a few packages which you will need to adjust settings on your PC, open Synaptic and type “dconf-tools” and mark it for install, do the same with “gdebi” and then click on “Apply”, once the packages are installed; close Synaptic. (gdebi is installed now by default!) (dconf-tools is the new configuration editor for Gnome 3 and gdebi is a single deb package install tool) In Zorin 8, "Tweak Tool" (Aka: Advanced Settings) is pre-installed and "Ubuntu Tweak" has been dropped but is still there in Zorin 6!!.

Dconf-Editor Settings:

Click on Applications > System Tools > Dconf Editor and drag it to the desktop (see below for info about adding icons to the desktop) and then double click it to open it. Once dconf has started you might want to make a couple of changes, the following are some important ones I used:

Show date and day in clock:
Dconf Editor > Com > Canonical > Indicator > Datetime > Show Date/Show Day

Change global font size:
Dconf Editor > Org > Gnome > Desktop > Interface > Text-scaling-factor 1.0 (1.0 = font size 10. and 1.1 would be font size 11 and so on) (Mine is set to 1.2 = Font size 12)

Change icon size on desktop:
Dconf Editor > Org > Gnome > Nautilus > Icon-View > Default-Zoom-Level = Small

Show/Hide buttons:
Dconf Editor > Org > Gnome > Gnome Panel > Layout > Toplevels > Top Panel

Show/Hide Desktop icons = Trash/Computer/Home;
Dconf-Editor > Org > Gnome > Nautilus > Desktop

Stop/Start Media Auto Mounting:
Dconf Editor > Org > Gnome > Desktop > Media-Handling > Automount/Automount-open/Autorun Never

Adjusting Background/Wallpaper options:
Dconf Editor > Org > Gnome > Desktop > Background

Change default cursor size:
Dconf-Editor > Org > Gnome > Desktop >Interface > Cursor-size (default is 24, you can change it to suit you).

To move the "Minimize-Maximize-Close" buttons to the right of the top window panel should you need to do so, paste the following command in a terminal and hit enter then your password:[b]

Code:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout ':minimize,maximize,close'


You can check out this link too:

http://handytutorial.com/move-window-bu ... -10-12-04/

[b]Set scrollbar to norm mode:


Code:
gsettings set com.canonical.desktop.interface scrollbar-mode normal


Tweak Tool:

Tweak Tool is a useful tool allbeit with limited usage outside of the Gnome 3 DE, it can be used to adjust the font size and change the desktop themes but will not do much else unless you are using the G3 DE. If you really want to customise your desktop; you would be better off with Dconf-Editor or Ubuntu Tweak!. The "Enable Dark themes Button" does not do anything in Win 7/Gnome 2 Look!!!.
Tweak Tool_006.jpg


Gdebi:

gdebi lets you install local deb packages resolving and installing its dependencies. apt does the same, but only for remote (http, ftp) located packages. To install a ".deb" package using gdebi, simply right click the downloaded package and "Open with" > Gdebi and let it do its thing, it will require your password unless you have made yourself "root".
Package Installer - picasa_007.jpg


Ubuntu Tweak:

To add Ubuntu tweak via the terminal; paste the following commands; one after the other:

Code:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak


Ubuntu Tweak_012.jpg

For more information about Ubuntu Tweak, please see their homepage: http://ubuntu-tweak.com/

You can use both Ubuntu Tweak and Tweak Tool to change the themes in Zorin!!.

See more about Unity and the Unity Tweak Tool below.


Extra Desktop Themes:

Great colection of themes here:

http://www.noobslab.com/2011/11/themes- ... unity.html

Theme editor:

http://www.webupd8.org/2012/09/customiz ... using.html

If you want a couple of extra themes, type “gnome themes” in Synaptic and install some or all of the available themes packages, make sure that the themes you are installing are labelled with gtk3 as gtk2 is the old gnome 2 system and won't work unless the theme says gtk2/gtk3. This will give you a few more desktop and window themes which you can change using Ubuntu Tweak or Tweak Tool. Remember that “Gnome Shell” themes/extensions won't work with Zorin 6/7 because “Gnome Shell” is only really for the Gnome 3 desktop!. You can install 3rd party themes from Webupd8 using the following command in a terminal:

Code:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/themes


Then:

Code:
sudo apt-get update


For 3rd party themes:

http://www.webupd8.org/2012/01/spice-up ... -cool.html

and:

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/05/zonc ... for-ubuntu

and:

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/05/zonc ... for-ubuntu

and :

http://www.ubuntuthemes.org/

and:

http://gnome-look.org/

and:

https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/department/themes-tweaks/

and:

http://ubuntu-art.org/index.php?xcontentmode=100

Datek1 has written a guide for theming the AWN panel:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... 568#p23568

For anyone interested in their own theming:

http://www.color-hex.com/color/ffffff

http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_colorvalues.asp

(Above links are from private websites so please don't ask me how to do it!!)


Recommended Reading:

For Zorin 6 users (Ubuntu 12.04 LTS):

http://debianhelp.wordpress.com/2012/11 ... -pangolin/


Open items with "Single Click":

If you want to open files/apps with a single click, you can do it one of 2 ways, for Zorin 6, open Nautilus (Your home folder) > Edit > Preferences > Behaviour > Single click to open items.
For Zorin 8, open Nautilus (Your home folder) > Location options (The cogwheel at the very top right corner of your home folder) > Preferences > Behaviour > Single click to open items.

The 2nd way is to use Dconf Editor:
Dconf-Editor > Org > Gnome > Nautilus > Preferences > Click Policy > Double/Single:
dconf Editor_019.jpg



Desktop Screenlets:

If any of you want to install a desktop screenlet; the best way to do it is to use the screenlets package with which you can select several screenlets for your desktop, paste the following command in a terminal to install the full screenlets range:

Code:
sudo apt-get install screenlets-pack-all


Once installed, you will find "Screenlets" under > Zorin Main Menu > Accessories > Screenlets. Select a screenlet and tick the box "Start/Stop & Auto start on login".

Screenlets Manager_015.jpg


Add 32 Bit support on 64 Bit systems:

If you intend to use packages which require 32 bit support on a 64 bit system, please install this package via a terminal:

Code:
sudo apt-get install ia32-libs-multiarch:i386


The above should add extra support for some hardware for 32 bit systems even if your system is 64 bit!.


Adding Printers:

Make sure that the printer is connected to your PC and is switched on and powered up!.

Adding an HP Printer:

firstly, update your system fully per this guide if you haven't already done so and this applies to all printers linked here!:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=5&t=2247

Secondly, install the package (after finishing updates!) "hplip-gui" and make sure your printer is connected and powered up.

Open the app "HPLIP-Toolbox" which you will find under Systems Tools > Preferences and start the app, it will guide you though the set-up process, there are a couple of similar icons so watch out for that!!.

HP Device Manager - No Installed HP Devices Found_004.jpg


HP Device Manager - Setup_006.jpg


HP Device Manager - Setup_007.jpg


HP Device Manager - Setup_008.jpg


HP Device Manager - HP Deskjet f4500 Series_009.jpg


See manual setup here:

http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/in ... setup.html


For Canon Printers, please see this:

http://ubuntuportal.com/2011/12/how-to- ... buntu.html

and :

http://supportdrivers.info/canon-pixma- ... mac-linux/

Install the PPA using the terminal commands provided then update your software sources list and choose your drivers from the list.

(I only have an HP printer so I cannot be sure if the above will indeed work but assume it does!!)

For direct downloads from Canon, go here as Canon Asia is the best place as Aisa are big time Linux users!:

http://support-asia.canon-asia.com/?personal

For Samsung printers:

See this thread:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... 615#p26615

Deb package PPA is from here but I don't know whether it is still actual, it worked on my test: 04 Oct 2013 but I don't have a Samsung printer so cannot test it fully:

http://www.bchemnet.com/suldr/

Or:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/170880/h ... ng-printer

For Lexmark printers:

http://support.lexmark.com/index?page=c ... &locale=en

See also:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Hardw ... rkPrinters

Brother Printers:

Open Synaptic package manager and type "brother" in search and mark all the packages that you can see and install them:
Synaptic Package Manager _010.jpg


then open System Settings and add your printer in System Settings > Hardware > Printers > Add.

See also:

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-retail-deta ... 31276.html

For Epson printers:

http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/search/01/search/

(You need the .deb packages for either 32 or 64 bit depending on your operating system!. The .alldeb packages work on both systems should they be available!)


Adding other user accounts:

you should also install the package "gnome-system-tools" which will add an icon in the main menu under "Users and Groups", armed with this tool you can setup accounts and how the guest accounts react with the OS, you can select how much access the guest has with regards to network or printing and other areas of the PC!!.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/66718/ho ... and-groups

Extra wallpapers:

If you want extra wallpapers, open Synaptic and type “wallpaper” in search and mark all the packages that contain the word “wallpaper”, don't mark packages that say “Artwork” otherwise your splash screen will change!!.
Afterwards, right click on desktop > Change Desktop Background and select your pic!!.

Gnome Shell:

If you want to install "gnome-tweak-tool", you must also install "gnome-shell", please be advised that ZorinOS 6 Core (you're okay with Zorin 8) was not designed with Gnome shell in mind although it works fine; with it installed. Please note that you use it (Gnome shell) at your own risk!!.

Now you can check to see if the language packs updated, open > System Settings > Language Support, if a message doesn't appear straight away, you are okay for language support, you can of course add or remove languages too.

See guide:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=6&t=1699

Now you can continue adding your progs and favs.....done!!.

Adding icons to the Gnome 2 top panel:

I did mention about adding icons to the top panel by simply dragging them, this is how to do it in one hit.

Press Alt +Super (Windows key) then right click on top panel > Add to panel > Application launcher > then add the icons you want from the list.

To remove icons: Alt + Super > right click over icon you want to delete then on "Remove".

Adding icons to the desktop:

In Gnome 2 look: Press Alt +Super (Windows key) then right click on top panel > Add to panel > Application launcher > then drag the icons onto the desktop and once done, right click the desktop and on "Organise Desktop By Name" to tidy them up.
(If your PC doesn't have a "Super (Windows) Key", please see the following:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/24916/ho ... rtain-keys

http://askubuntu.com/questions/34964/th ... -super-key

To put all icons on the desktop in more or less one hit:

Open > nautilus > computer (or file) > usr > share > applications (open the folder) > right click the icon you want > copy to > (new window opens) > desktop > select. Repeat op for all the icons you want!.
Select Destination_005.jpg


If you add icons to the desktop by dragging them or right click and add to desktop, you may only have a white blank icon, right click on the icon and then on properties and permissions, then put a tick in the box "Execute". This will allow you to run the app directly from the desktop.

More info about the AWN (Avant Window Manger)

If your clock is not showing correctly in the bottom right of the AWN panel, open Tweak Tool > Theme > Gtk+ Keybinding Theme and change it to "Emacs":

Tweak Tool_002.jpg


With regard to AWN (Avant Window Manager) in Win7 look, it may crash the "Clock" panel (Indicator 3 Applet) on a restart after an update and all you need to do is right click the panel > dock preferences > applets then add (or make sure) that the following applets are showing in the bottom section window (Active Applets), you should take it slow as some of the applets have similar names:

Zorin Menu ...Seperator...DockBarX...Expander...Seperator...Indicator 3 Applet
Awn Settings_008.jpg


See also:

"Whoops! the applet crashed. Click to restart it", if you see this message and a grey icon on the left, and the applet doesn't restart; you can simply right click on the bottom panel and select "Dock Preferences" > "Applets" > "Available Applets" > then look for the icon "Zorin Menu" which is all the way down at the bottom, simply double click it or drag it to the "Active Applets" box at the bottom of the window, if you double click it, it will automatically be set on the right, if you want it on the left, left mouse click it and drag it over to the left hand side of the Active Applets box, done!!.
Awn Settings_021.jpg


Adding a second AWN panel to your Window7/XP desktop:

Right click the bottom panel > Dock Preferences > Preferences > Add Dock > Orientation > Top > Behaviour > Intellihide (assuming you want it hidden when not in use!) Also click on Start AWN automatically.
Awn Settings_022.jpg


For a top panel should you want one, the only item you need to add to the active applets box is "Launcher/Taskmanager" then you can drag any icons to the top panel that you need.
Awn Settings_017.jpg




Changing default start button icon:

Right click > Start Button > Preferences (not Dock Preferences) > Button Selection > Install > then point it to the image. (or use the ones in the small list when you click on the right hand button in "Button Selection").
Zorin Menu Settings_020.jpg


Adding applets to the taskbar:

Right click AWN panel > Dock Preferences > Applets and select the applet you want with a double click or mark it and click on the down arrow beneath the right window pane.
Awn Settings_023.jpg


For adding missing objects in the main menu, right click on the Zorin button > Edit and you can edit entries to the menu at will. Clicking on the list on the left of the menu will show each sub group and you just need to add a tick in the box!.
Main Menu_019.jpg


There is no edit option in Zorin 8, install the package "alacarte" and once installed, to start it simply open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + t) and type:

Code:
alacarte


and the menu editor will open!.


Changing AWN themes:

Right click the panel > Dock Preferences > Themes > Customise and select your settings there. If you want the same colour as your desktop theme, select "Use GTK theme colours":
Awn Settings_004.jpg


You can also select from the available themes in the main theme window:
Awn Settings_003.jpg



If you quit AWN and cannot restart it:

press Ctrl + Alt + t which will open a terminal and paste this command:

Code:
avant-window-navigator


Then right click on the bottom panel > Dock Preferences > Start Awn automatically

If you close the terminal afterwards, AWN will close again, press Ctrl + Alt + Del and then log out and back in again and it should be there assuming you set it to start automatically as I described above.

Re-install AWN:

if your AWN panel is completely screwed up, open a terminal with Ctrl + Alt + t and paste the following command:

Code:
sudo apt-get purge avant-window-navigator && sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator


This should remove and reinstall AWN to a bog standard new one.

You should restart with Ctrl + Alt + Del; then log out and Restart and see if it fixes the problem!.

See also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABgdJdux ... e=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwsruXqd ... e=youtu.be


Nvidia X Server Settings menu in AWN on Zorin 6:

If for some reason you have a blank menu in Zorin 6, this is most likely caused by the Nvidia X Server Settings menu, right click the Zorin button > Edit > System Tools > Administration and take out the tick for the Nvidia menu. This has not happened to me using Zorin 7!!.
Main Menu_002.jpg



Login sound settings for Avant Window Navigator:

To enable login system sounds for AWN, right click the Zorin menu button > Preferences > Sound Theme > Default:

Zorin Menu Settings_003.jpg



Unity privacy:

If you use the Unity DE you in Zorin Ultimate; you might consider wanting to keep all your PC usage private, open:

System Settings > Personal > Privacy

and set the switches to "OFF" and this will stop Dash sending loads of info to Amazon & Co.

Privacy_010.jpg


Also, for more tweaks to the Unity DE, you might consider installing the "Unity Tweak Tool", paste the following command in a terminal:

Code:
sudo apt-get install unity-tweak-tool


Unity Tweak Tool_011.jpg


If you don't like "Dash"; you can install the "Classic Menu Indicator" which gives you the old Gnome 2 look menu in the top right of your panel:

http://lifehacker.com/5922344/classicme ... u-to-unity

Enter the following command in a terminal to install package:

Code:
sudo apt-get install classicmenu-indicator


A few more tips for the Unity DE can be found here as posted by swarfendor437:

http://www.techdrivein.com/2013/06/30-t ... aring.html

and:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content ... u-1204.htm

and:

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/04/7-unity-changes


Upgrading your installed system:

If you want to upgrade and keep your previous settings and data, follow this guide:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=6&t=4848


Disable Ubuntu Apport error messages

To disable the annoying Apport error message that Ubuntu has a problem and needs to contact Ubuntu, simply paste the following terminal command:

Code:
gksudo gedit /etc/default/apport


Gedit will open up and you need to change this:

# set this to 0 to disable apport, or to 1 to enable it
# you can temporarily override this with
# sudo service apport start force_start=1
enabled=1

to this:

# set this to 0 to disable apport, or to 1 to enable it
# you can temporarily override this with
# sudo service apport start force_start=1
enabled=0

All you do is replace the 1 with a 0 (Zero).

Click on "Save" and then close Gedit. (There will most likely be a second page, all you need to do is close that first and don't save it before you try and save the main document!)


Free AntiVirus protection for Linux from BitDefender and Avast:

See these links:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=6&t=1948

and:

http://www.zoringroup.com/forum/viewtop ... f=6&t=3558


If you have any comments or suggestions, please share them with everyone so we can all get it right!!.

This guide is a work in progress and will be updated from time to time as I find things to add that may be of use to everyone. I hope that this guide has been of use to you.

Den Hook

Sun Jan 22, 2017 8:45:35 pm

Question since we're all do an update to Zorin OS 12, based on Ubuntu 16.10, the question is:

What Tips & Tricks are still recommended ?
And which of these Tips & Tricks are obsolete because we've got Zorin OS 12 ?

Swarfendor437

Mon Jan 23, 2017 1:04:15 pm

Den Hook wrote:Question since we're all do an update to Zorin OS 12, based on Ubuntu 16.10, the question is:

What Tips & Tricks are still recommended ?
And which of these Tips & Tricks are obsolete because we've got Zorin OS 12 ?


As far as I am aware the only thing different that no longer applies is everything to do with AWN (Avant Window Navigator - the panel deployed in all previous releases of Zorin). ;) :D

One thing to not though is that while Ubuntu Tweak can be installed, the Apps element of Ubuntu tweak does not work as I don't think it has been updated since Ubuntu 14.04.

Den Hook

Thu Jan 26, 2017 7:59:32 pm

Read somewhere (not sure in this post) that I've got to activate in "Software & Updates" tab "Updates" the three items:
- Important Security Updates
- Advised updates
- Not-supported Updates

But if I want to do so, it's impossible to activate the checkbox (if I use the right term). So if I click on it, nothing happens.

Anyone knows what to do ?

Swarfendor437

Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:31:26 pm

I shouldn't worry about it. It's a known bug in Ubuntu. Zorin always installs security updates as they come through.