Mint

Sources.list

If this is empty, rebuild it by starting the software sources programme, then adding an official repository. There will be a green OK button once you have done this. Pressing that rebuilds the sources in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/

Nemo

The "accels" file for Nemo when installed with the method linked to above is located at: ~/.gnome2/accels/nemo. The two files, ~/.config/nautilus/accels and ~/.gnome2/accels/nemo are very close to the same.

The reason why I desperately wanted to find how to edit keyboard-shortcuts was cause I HATE the default for focusing on the location-bar which is Ctrl + L. Practically every other application you can think of (e.g. Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox... list goes on) that has an "address bar" places focus there using the Alt+D combination.

Editing the following line in either of the "accel" files did the trick for me (make sure you remove the semi-colon, too):

From:

; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/ShellActions/Edit Location" "<Primary>L")

To:

; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/ShellActions/Edit Location" "<Alt>d")

mkdir ~/accels
vi ~/accels/nemo
(gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/ShellActions/Edit Location" "<Alt>d")

Restart X

drag and drop with samba

you can't do it. Create a CIFS or NFS mount and drag and drop from there.

other file managers

thunar, pcmanfm

netbios name resolution

you need another library for it to work

sudo apt-get install libnss-winbind wins

/etc/nsswitch.conf

# /etc/nsswitch.conf
#
# Example configuration of GNU Name Service Switch functionality.
# If you have the `glibc-doc-reference' and `info' packages installed, try:
# `info libc "Name Service Switch"' for information about this file.

passwd:         compat
group:          compat
shadow:         compat
gshadow:        files

hosts:          files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns wins
networks:       files

protocols:      db files
services:       db files
ethers:         db files
rpc:            db files

netgroup:       nis

service winbind restart

Samba Browsing Problems Checklist

Avahi networking

Using Avahi networking

[1] Make sure avahi-daemon is running on both machines:

sudo service avahi-daemon start

[2] Make sure port 5353 is open. If you are not sure just disable the firewall if you are using one:

sudo ufw disable

[3] Create an avahi samba service file:

gksu gedit /etc/avahi/services/samba.service

[4] Then copy and paste the following into that file:

<?xml version="1.0" standalone='no'?>
<!DOCTYPE service-group SYSTEM "avahi-service.dtd">
<service-group>
   <name replace-wildcards="yes">%h SMB</name> ## Display Name
   <service>
       <type>_smb._tcp</type>
       <port>445</port>
   </service>
</service-group>

[5] You don't need to do this but just in case restart avahi:

sudo service avahi-daemon restart

When you use Nemo on either machine and select "Network" you should see the other machine as "hostname SMB"

Samba done the Linux way. No more workgroups. No more netbios names. No more name resolve orders. No more nmbd or any other Windows specific services required.

Power settings

See Power saving for laptops. Note hibernate will not work without some tweaking using encrypted swap partitions.

Screen saver and lock

https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/download.html Download it from here, the apt version is ancient

sudo apt-get build-dep xscreensaver
sudo ./configure
sudo make
sudo make install

apt-get install xscreensaver

satrt -> startup applications -> add

Name: Screensaver
command: xscreensaver -nosplash
Comment: start xscreensaver
Startup delay: 0

start -> keyboard -> shortcuts -> Custom shortcuts -> add custom shortcut

Name: Xscreenscaver Lock
Command: xscreensaver-command --lock
Keyboard bindings: ctrl+alt+L

disable cinnamon screensaver

cinnamon-settings screensaver

In settings tab set delay to never, lock the computer to off. Maybe check startup items to see if the screensaver is in that too.,

set up xscreensaver

xscreensaver-demo

Set mode to Random, select screensavers (nb the following don't work for me: BSOD, Fliptext, GLMatrix, GLSlideshow, Sonar, TestX11, Unicode, VidWhacker, WebCollage

Blank after: 5 minutes
Cycle after: 10 minutes
Lock screen after 0 minutes on

Advanced

Power management enabled
Display power management enabled
Standby after 10 mins
Suspend after: 30 mins
Off after: 30 mins
Quick power off in blank only mode on

Window effects

Run effects and turn everything on

Turn off background

right click desktop -> Change Desktop Background -> Settings (tab) -> Picture Aspect dropdown: choose No Picture.

Editing the menu

nnamon-settings applets

click on menu, click configure, click on tab menu, open the menu editor

Terminal keyboard shortcut

start -> keyboard -> shortcuts -> add custom shortcut

name: terminal
command: gnome-terminaluchegg 
keys: alt-t

Touchpad swype gestures

Comfortable Swype is the fastest three / four finger multitouch gestures app I have tried. It does only swype, no pinches.

Libinput gestures is much more configurable and can use xdotool input.

~/.config/libinput-gestures.conf

gesture swipe up        3       xdotool key ctrl+alt+Up
gesture swipe down      3       xdotool key ctrl+alt+Down
gesture swipe left      3       xdotool key ctrl+alt+Left
gesture swipe right     3       xdotool key ctrl+alt+Right

Touchegg didn't work for me.

helpful page on askubuntu

Encrypt the home directory

Ubuntu Postinstallation Encryption

Change Cinnamon settings

apt-get install dconf-tools

Getting rid of old kernels

apt-get install byobu
purge-old-kernels

Useful proggies to install

Pinta

chromium-browser

other

tips and tricks for after installation

First things to do after installing Cinnamon

Make your grub boot menu pretty