Installing Chrome on Ubuntu (16.04)

I recently installed Linux alongside Windows (dual boot). When I tried to install Chrome by downloading the latest installer from here, I got the following error:

$ sudo dpkg -i ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

(Reading database ... 219479 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking google-chrome-stable (60.0.3112.78-1) over (60.0.3112.78-1) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of google-chrome-stable:
 google-chrome-stable depends on libappindicator1; however:
  Package libappindicator1 is not installed.

dpkg: error processing package google-chrome-stable (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.22-1ubuntu5.1) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-6ubuntu3.1) ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon (0.5.3~bzr0+16.04.20160824-0ubuntu1) ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf-2.index...
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.59ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 google-chrome-stable

Thanks to the blog post from here, the solution is straightforward. To satisfy the dependencies, execute the following command and re-execute the dpkg command shown above.

$ sudo apt-get -f install

That's all :)

Files does not sync on shared folder VMWare Player

Since my Parallels software is not compatible with Mavericks, I decided to use Windows machine for virtualization. On Windows, I am using VMWare Player to run Linux occasionally. Recently, I often use the VMWare since the software that I am using is only available on Linux.

I found that using the latest VMWare tools (as this article is written), the files on shared folders are out of sync if they are modified from the host (Windows 7). After searching for the solutions, I found the discussions on the VMWare communities forum here: https://communities.vmware.com/message/2313778.

It seems that VMWare teams are still addressing the issues (as this article is written). Meanwhile, the solution is to revert back to older version of VMWare tools.

Here is the steps:

1. Before turning on the VMWare, modify the VMWare file .vmx setting, otherwise, the downgrade can be overridden:

   tools.upgrade.policy = "manual"

2. As super user, unmount the current shared folder. Example:

   # umount /mnt/hgfs

3. Download the older version of the VMWare tool here (select the appropriate one based on the OS):
   https://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds/vmw-desktop/fusion/6.0.1/1331545/packages/
   In my case, I downloaded com.vmware.fusion.tools.linux.zip.tar.
4. Extract the file. If you are using linux, extract linux.iso file as well or just mount it.
5. using super user, execute the vmware install script:

   # ./vmware-install.pl

6. After completed, make sure the build version is build-1294478:

   root@ubuntu:~# vmware-toolbox-cmd -v
   9.6.0.26048 (build-1294478)
   

That's all :)

Parallels 7 cannot install Ubuntu 13.04 with error: Soft lockup

Today I tried to install Ubuntu 13.04 on Parallels 7. But when booting using the installation disk, I got error message about Soft lockup.

Seems that the solution is very straightforward: remove the tick on the "Show battery in Linux" from the dialog of Options > Optimizations.

Credit to the thread from here. That's all :)

Change screen resolution of Ubuntu 12.10 on Parallels 7

When I installed Ubuntu 12.10 using Parallel 7 and installed the Parallels Tools, it seems that the screen resolution is fixed to 800 x 600 pixels only. Gladly that there is a workaround for this problem. It is by using the Parallels Tools from Parallels 8. Credit to the post here: http://forum.parallels.com/showpost.php?p=657046&postcount=53 The steps are as follows:

1. Download the trial version of Parallels 8.
2. Mount the dmg file of Parallels 8.
3. Open terminal, go to the mounted dmg, for example in my system I did like this:

   $ cd /Volumes/Parallels\ Desktop\ 8/

4. Copy the iso file of the Parallel Tools to my home directory (or any directory), example:

   $ cp ./Parallels\ Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/Tools/prl-tools-lin.iso ~/

5. Mount the iso from the Ubuntu 12.10, and upgrade the Parallels Tools from Ubuntu 12.10 terminal, example:

   $ cd /media/{your-Ubuntu-user}/Parallels\ Tools $ sudo ./install

That's all :)

How to change ubuntu resolution in Virtual Box

Today, I'm installing Ubuntu 8.04 in Virtual Box, with Vista as the host OS. I'm planning to use it as Qtopia development environment. After the installation is completed, I found that the maximum resolution I could set was only 800x600. After some googling, found the solution as follows:

1. install linux guest additions in virtual box
   1. Select from menu: Devices, Install Guest Additions... Ubuntu will detect a new CD inserted and mount it automatically.
   2. go to the terminal, run the VBoxLinuxAdditions.run as root

      $ sudo /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run



2. edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf using any text editor you're familiar with.
1. Find section "Device" as follows:

   Section "Device"
           Identifier      "Configured Video Device"
           ...
   EndSection

   Insert additional setting so that the section "Device" will look as follows:

   Section "Device"
           Identifier      "Configured Video Device"
           ...
           Driver            "vboxvideo"
   EndSection

2. Find section "Screen" as follows:

   Section "Screen"
           Identifier      "Default Screen"
           Device          "VirtualBox graphics card"
           Monitor        "Generic Monitor" 
           ...
   EndSection

   Modify value of Device and Monitor, and insert some additional setting before EndSection so that the section will look similar with the following (I set resolution 1024x768 here):

   Section "Screen"
           Identifier      "Default Screen"
           Device          "VirtualBox graphics card"
           Monitor        "Generic Monitor"
           DefaultDepth  24
           ....
           SubSection "Display"
               Depth      24
               Modes      "1024x768"
           EndSubSection
   EndSection



3. Finish, reboot.

That's all :)

Ubuntu Dapper Drake + XGL + Compiz + Acer Aspire 5502 Part 2

All right folks, now I'd like to share what I've done to enable XGL and compiz to my aspire 5502. FYI, acer aspire 5502 is using ATI X-700 as it's VGA card with screen resolution 1280x800.

At the beginning of running Dapper Drake CD installer, all I got was only blank screen on Graphics mode. I had to switch to console, using sudo, and edited /etc/xorg.conf to enable viewing the graphics on the LCD screen.
At the Section "Device" I added:

Option "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,CRT"

And voila.. I could see the GUI but the resolution only worked at 640x480. I've tried dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg but still the same. Well, nevermind, from http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=204910, I got a clear step to install fglrx 8.26.18 (the latest ATI proprietary driver for now). Here's the step I've done:

0. make sure having the latest ubuntu packages

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

(I also update my kernel into the latest one)

1. download the ATI driver file from
https://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/ati-driver-installer-8.26.18-x86.run

2. Edit /etc/apt/sources.list to enable universe and multiverse repository (actually I enable all repository, lol)

3. install some necessary tools:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install module-assistant build-essential
sudo apt-get install fakeroot dh-make debconf libstdc++5 gcc-3.3-base

and from synaptic package manager, I also install linux-header and linux-headers-386 (I think it's needed by ATI proprietary driver, because without installing it, the installation of ATI proprietary driver was failed)

4. continue the walkthrough from http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=204910, that is to create deb package:

chmod +x ati-driver-installer-8.26.18-x86.run
./ati-driver-installer-8.26.18-x86.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/dapper

5. install the package:

sudo dpkg -i xorg-driver-fglrx_8.26.18-1_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i fglrx-kernel-source_8.26.18-1_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i fglrx-control_8.26.18-1_i386.deb

6. compile the kernel module:

sudo module-assistant prepare,update
sudo module-assistant build,install fglrx
sudo depmod

7.finish. Just need to update the xorg.conf file:

sudo aticonfig --initial

then I edit manually the xorg.conf :)

To make sure everything is on the correct way, running fglrxinfo, I got message looks like this:

display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: MOBILITY RADEON X700 Generic
OpenGL version string: 2.0.5879 (8.26.18)

Now onto the installation of compiz.. Based on the walkthrough I found at http://www.compiz.net/viewtopic.php?id=389 and http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=916, I follow the combination steps from both url before it works for my laptop:

0.Edit /etc/apt/sources.list, adding repositories for compiz:

deb http://www.beerorkid.com/compiz/ dapper main
deb http://xgl.compiz.info/ dapper main
deb-src http://xgl.compiz.info/ dapper main

1. download and import the gpg key for quinnstorms repository

wget http://www.beerorkid.com/compiz/quinn.key.asc -O - sudo apt-key add -

2. update apt packages again:

sudo apt-get update

3. install the compiz related packages:

sudo apt-get install compiz xserver-xgl libgl1-mesa xserver-xorg libglitz-glx1 compiz-gnome

4. create file .Xsession and save it into /home/{$user}
The contains is like this (I copy paste directly from http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=916)

#!/bin/sh
# Start up Xgl, compiz, and GNOME
# Run Xgl server on :1, on top of normal X
Xgl :1 -fullscreen -ac -accel xv -accel glx:pbuffer &
# Tell subsequent X programs to access the Xgl server at :1
DISPLAY=:1
# Start Compiz window manager
gnome-window-decorator &
compiz gconf decoration wobbly fade minimize cube rotate zoom scale move resize place menu switcher &
# Start GNOME
exec gnome-session

5. Finish.

That's all... When I tried to create new user account for my ubuntu, I should create .Xsession to run Xgl server on :2 (not :1), so the .Xsession for the 2nd user should be like this (I ommit the comment line):

#!/bin/sh
Xgl :2 -fullscreen -ac -accel xv -accel glx:pbuffer &
DISPLAY=:2
gnome-window-decorator &
compiz gconf decoration wobbly fade minimize cube rotate zoom scale move resize place menu switcher &
exec gnome-session

Now I'm quite happy with my "pretty funny" ubuntu. ;)

Want to see my xorg.conf ? here is:

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
# Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "ForceMonitors" "lvds"
Option "no_accel" "no"
Option "no_dri" "no"
Option "DynamicClocks" "on"
Option "mtrr" "on"
Option "DesktopSetup" "Single"
Option "ScreenOverlap" "0"
Option "Capabilities" "0x00000000"
Option "CapabilitiesEx" "0x00000000"
Option "VideoOverlay" "on"
Option "OpenGLOverlay" "off"
Option "CenterMode" "off"
Option "PseudoColorVisuals" "off"
Option "Stereo" "off"
Option "StereoSyncEnable" "1"
Option "FSAAEnable" "no"
Option "FSAAScale" "1"
Option "FSAADisableGamma" "no"
Option "FSAACustomizeMSPos" "no"
Option "FSAAMSPosX0" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosY0" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosX1" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosY1" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosX2" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosY2" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosX3" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosY3" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosX4" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosY4" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosX5" "0.000000"
Option "FSAAMSPosY5" "0.000000"
Option "UseFastTLS" "0"
Option "BlockSignalsOnLock" "on"
Option "UseInternalAGPGART" "no"
Option "ForceGenericCPU" "no"
Option "KernelModuleParm" "agplock=0"
Option "PowerState" "1"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"

#Viewport 0 0
#Depth 24
Depth 24
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Ubuntu Dapper Drake + XGL + Compiz + Acer Aspire 5502

Last weekend, I was very anxious to see how good is XGL, so I search any howto for installing xgl and compiz to linux ubuntu.

I got many helps from compiz forum and ubuntu forum.

Here is the step to enable XGL+compiz on my Acer Aspire 5502 and Ubuntu dapper drake.

1. Make sure 3d graphics already enabled
just make it easy.. I got the howto in here:
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=204910

2. Installing compiz+xgl
I got the walkthrough in here:
http://www.compiz.net/viewtopic.php?id=389 (the 2nd howto) and
http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=916

Later on, if I'm not lazy, I'll post the summary, so you can see the detail what I've done.