Move the Min, Max, Close buttons to the other side

Although it is a new experience to have the Min, Max, Close buttons on the left of a window, I prefer the old way. Here is how I did it by using gconf-editor:

1.  Open gconf-editor:
• Open the "run box" (Alt+F2 by default) and type "gconf-editor" followed by Enter
  or
• Open a Terminal window and enter the command "gconf-editor" followed by Enter
2. Navigate to "apps->metacity->general"
3. Check for the string "button_layout" and modify its value.
   Use these as guidelines:
   • The string "menu" adds a menu button and displays the context menu when clicked
   • The button you want to the right should be placed after ":"
   • The button that you want to the left should be placed before ":"
     
     Eg:
     :minimize,maximize,close
     
     minimize:maximize,close
     
     menu:maximize,close,minimize
     
     minimize,maximize,close:
     
     :menu,maximize,close,minimize
     
     
     

Autologin - Xubuntu

To enable autologin in Xubuntu:

• Open the file /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf
          $ sudo leafpad /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf
• Modify the value of the string "autologin-user" with the required user name
      Eg: autologin-user=MyLoginName
• Save the file
• Reboot/ restart

To enable autologin in Xubuntu10.04:

• Open the file /etc/gdm/custom.conf
          $ sudo mousepad /etc/gdm/custom.conf 
• Add these fields:
  
  TimedLoginEnable=false
  AutomaticLoginEnable=true
  TimedLogin=user_You_want_to_login
  AutomaticLogin=user_You_want_to_login
  TimedLoginDelay=30
• Save the file
• Reboot/ restart

Note:

• Make sure the user is created before modifying the file.
• You can use any text editor instead of leafpad/mousepad.

Nautilus - Display path in the browser instead of the pathbar buttons

This info has been provided in detail here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestoreNautilusLocationBar

1. Open gconf-editor:
• Open the "run box" (Alt+F2) and type "gconf-editor" followed by Enter
  or
• Open a Terminal window and enter the command "gconf-editor" followed by Enter.
2. Navigate to "apps->nautilus->preferences".
3. Check the entry named  "always-use-location-entry".

Note: Make sure you are opening the gconf-editor for the current user and not for the root user.

Setting proxy for Software center and Synaptic package manger (Xubuntu)

The proxy for APT can be set in Xubuntu by following these steps:

• Open a Terminal
• Open the file /etc/apt/apt.conf in an editor by entering the command:
  $ sudo leafpad /etc/apt/apt.conf &
  Note: The file may not exist initially.
• Include the following lines in the file:
  
  Acquire::http::proxy "http://<proxy>:<port>/";
  Acquire::ftp::proxy "ftp://<proxy>:<port>/";
  Acquire::https::proxy "https://<proxy>:<port>/";
  
  Eg: Acquire::http::proxy "http://192.10.12.13:8080/";
• Save the file
• Reboot/ restart

Note:

• If you need authentication include "<username>:<password>@" before the proxyserver name.
  Eg: Acquire::http::proxy "http://<username>:<password>@<proxy>:<port>/";
  Acquire::http::proxy "name:password@http://192.10.12.13:8080/";
• The proxy for Synaptic package manager can also be set from its menu. 
• Leafpad is a text editor. You can use any text editor instead of it.
• Do not forget the ';' at the end of each line. 
• The '&' at the end of the command opens the file as a new process. If it is omitted the Terminal window will be locked until the file is closed.

Create multiple partitions during installation

Choose this option during install:

 Create a new partition table

Allocate the swap space in the first partition (This make it easier to resize the other partitions in case you want to do it after reinstall). The recommended swap space is two times the amount of RAM on your system (But from my experience, 1.5 times is more than enough).

 Allocate the root(/) partition. Make sure the mount point is specified as "/".

Allocate the other (data) partition. Specify a non-existing directory as the mount point. It will be created automatically and the partition will be mounted on this folder. Here I have chosen the mount point as "/d-drive".

 Check to see if the partition editor has been configured properly:

After completing the installation and rebooting the system, you have to set permissions to the folder that will be used to mount the partition. Follow these steps:

1. Open a Terminal window.
2. sudo su - Enter supervisor mode
3. chmod  777 /d-drive  - Give total access to all users for "/d-drive"
4. exit or <CTRL>D - Get out of supervisor mode
5. Close the terminal

Note:

• The swap (swap area) and root(/) partitions must be created.
• You can create any number of partitions the same way you created the "data" partition.
• I am using a Virtual machine for the screen shots. The hard drive space on your machine will vary.

Add/change keyboard shortcuts (Xubuntu)

• How to:
1. Open the Settings Manager (Applications->Settings->Xfce4 Settings Manager)
2. Search for Keyboard.
3. Select the [Application Shortcuts] tab.
4. The existing keyboard shortcuts can be found here. They can be changed.
5. Click the add button to add your own.
• My favourites: I have customized the shortcuts to act just like in Windows:
• Hide all windows and set focus to Desktop: (Windows + d)
• To open the file explorer: You can add a new command to open any folder:
          thunar folder_path
          Eg: thunar /home/myname/d-drive
  Note: thunar is the default file browser in Xubuntu

Superuser mode (SU)

• What is Superuser Mode?: In one word, it gives complete access to your system. A normal user has only limited privileges, but a superuser has no limits.
• How to enter Superuser mode?:
1. Open a Terminal window.
2. Type "sudo su" - This will prompt for the current user password and will give you administrative privileges for all commands entered here after on the terminal.
• Examples: (Enter the command in SU mode on the terminal window)
• Launch the browser in superuser mode to modify root files:
• Ubuntu: nautilus --browser <path>
  Eg: nautilus --browser /etc
• Xubuntu: thunar <path>
  Eg: thunar /etc
• Open a file in superuser mode:
• Ubuntu: gedit <filepath>
  Eg: gedit /etc/fstab
• Xubuntu: mousepad <filepath>
  Eg: mousepad /etc/fstab

Note:

• SU mode is not recommended if you have no idea what you are doing :-)
• You can use "sudo su" and enter supervisor mode instead of prefixing "sudo" to each command