How to configure Ubuntu Linux after it's first installed on your Dell PC

After the installation has finished and your computer is restarted for the last time, you will get the login screen of Ubuntu coming up. The log in screen will show your username, and you will have to enter your password to get past it.

Note: This will depend on how you set it on the who are you? page during the install.

You can click the arrow or press the ENTER key to get onto the Ubuntu desktop.

The log in screen supports multiple users, and you can customize the backgrounds for each user.

Once you have configured it, Ubuntu will automatically pick up your current desktop wallpaper and set it as your log in background.

Ubuntu’s login screen also lets you select different environments to log in.

The log in screen also allows you to change your keyboard language. You can also change the volume and enable or disable the accessibility settings before you log in to your desktop.

It will also show date, time, and the battery power for laptops.

You can shut down or restart your system from the log in screen as well.

Ubuntu still uses Unity as the default desktop.

After logging in to Ubuntu, the initial view consists of the desktop background and two bars.

One along the top of the screen that is called the menu bar. The other is up and down the left-hand side of your screen that is called the launcher.

This menu incorporates common functions that are used in Ubuntu.

The icons on the far-right of the menu bar are called the indicator area.

Each installation of Ubuntu may contain slightly different types and quantities of icons depending on the type of hardware and the available peripherals.

The most common indicators are:

Keyboard indicator

Allows you to select the keyboard layout you would like and change your keyboard preferences. This will only appear if more than one keyboard layout were selected during install.

Messaging indicator

Incorporates all the social applications such as your instant messenger client, your email client, your micro blogging application.

Network indicator

Allows you to manage your network connections and connect quickly to a wired or wireless network.

Sound indicator

Lets you change the sound volume and access your music player and sound settings.

Clock

Displays the current time and lets you access your calendar and date and time settings.

User menu

Allows you to switch between different users and access your online and user accounts.

Session indicator

Lets you access system settings, software updates, printers, and session options for locking your computer. You can also log out of your session, restart the computer, or shut it down completely.

Every application has a menu system where different actions can be executed in an application. Like File, Edit, View, etc.

The menu system for an application is appropriately called the application menu.

In Unity, the application menu is not on the title bar of the application as is commonly the case with other desktop configurations.

Instead it is located to the left area of the menu bar.

To show an application’s menu move your mouse to the menu bar. While your mouse is positioned on top, the active application’s menu options will superimpose itself over the menu bar.

Moving your mouse away from the menu bar will allow Ubuntu desktop’s menu bar to reappear.

Note: Some older applications may still display their menu within the application window.

The vertical bar of icons on the left side of the screen is called the Launcher. The Launcher provides access to applications, mounted devices, and the Trash.

All the running applications on your system will place an icon in the Launcher while the application is running.

The first icon at the top of the Launcher is the Dash or Dash Home.

By default certain other applications appear on the Launcher.

"The Home Folder, Firefox, LibreOffice, the Ubuntu Software Center, the Amazon link, System Settings, any mounted devices, and the Trash."

Trash works like the recycle bin in Windows.

Note: Workspaces are what Ubuntu calls the virtual desktops they have traditionally used. (This concept has been recently incorporated into the Windows 10 operating system.) However Workspaces have not been enabled by default in Ubuntu in several revisions. If you are interested in enabling this function, then please check out the article below:

• How to enable Virtual Workspaces on a Dell Pc using the Ubuntu Operating System

To run an application from the Launcher, click on the application’s icon.

Running applications will have one or more triangles on the left side of the icon. Which will indicate the number of application windows open for this application.

The application in front is highlighted by a single white triangle on the right side of its icon.

Note: On an already-running application, if you hold the Super key down a number will appear on each of the first ten applications. You also get a margin containing useful shortcuts. You can launch an application with a number on it by pressing the Super+n keys together. (Where n is the number of the application.)

You can also run an application through the Dash.

The Dash is a tool to help you access and find applications and files on your system, it will allow you to search for information quickly.

Note: If you are a Windows user, you will find the Dash to be a more advanced Start Menu. If you are a Mac user, the Dash is similar to Launchpad in the dock. If you have used a previous version of Ubuntu or another Gnome Linux distribution, it replaces the Gnome 2 menus.

Click the icon on the Launcher.

A window will appear with a search bar on the top and a grouping of recently accessed applications, files, and downloads.

The Dash allows you to search your entire system for applications and files that are based on your search terms.

This is the default application for creating, opening, editing, and deleting files and folders.

Note: Think of it like Windows Explorer or Mac Finder.

Under Background you can choose from different Wallpapers, see the Pictures Folder, and change the colors and Gradients.

When Wallpapers is selected, you will see Ubuntu’s default selection of backgrounds. To change the background then simply click the picture, you would like to use instead.

You are not limited to this selection though.

To use one of your own pictures, click the + button and navigate to the image, you would like to use.

Double-click that image and set the new background straight away.

This image will then be added to your list of available backgrounds.

You may need to add more than one display to your system.

Ubuntu supports the addition of multiple displays by default - its plug and play.

If your display is not detected when you connect it to the machine go to System Settings> Displays and click Detect Displays. This will detect the display devices that are connected to the machine.

Note: This menu can also be found from the Power Off menu on the top panel.

There are two modes for your display:

1. The first option is to spread your desktop across two or more monitors. Like Windows Extend Mode. This is the default option.

2. The second option is to mirror the desktop onto each of the displays. Like windows Cloned mode.

   1. To enable this option, check the box beside Mirror displays and click Apply to save the settings.

   2. You will get an open notification asking if you want to keep the current setting or revert to the previous setting.

   3. Click to keep the current setting.

• How to configure multiple displays on a Dell PC using the Ubuntu operating system

You can connect and use your printer on Ubuntu by changing the printer properties.

You navigate to System Settings> Printing.

Opening Printing will display the Printing-local host window.

When you want to add a printer, you will need to make sure that it is switched on. Ensure it is plugged into your computer with a USB cable or connected to your network.

• How to Install and configure a Dell Printer using the Ubuntu Operating System

Webcams are detected automatically by Ubuntu.

You can configure them in whatever application you use it with.

However if your having issues you can get more troubleshooting advice on the Ubuntu Wikipedia  page.

• A guide to webcams on Dell notebook and desktop PCs with Ubuntu Operating System

To connect to the Internet using Ubuntu, you will need to use the NetworkManager utility.

NetworkManager lets you turn network connections on or off. You can manage wired, and wireless networks, and make other network connections such as dial-up, mobile broadband, and VPNs.

You can access NetworkManager by using its icon that is found in the bar menu.

This icons appearance changes depending on your current connection state.

Clicking this icon will reveal a list of available network connections.

The current connection will have the word disconnect underneath it.

You can click disconnect to manually disconnect from that network.

This menu also allows you to view technical details about your current connection or edit all connection settings.

Deselect Enable Networking to disable all network connections.

Select Enable Networking to enable networking again.

This can be useful when you are required to turn off all wireless communications, like airplane mode on your phone.

You will need to configure this depending on your network settings.

The quickest and easiest way to find and install new applications is through the Ubuntu Software Center.

Start the application from the Launcher or on the Dash.

The Ubuntu Software Center can be used to install applications available in the official Ubuntu repositories.

The Software Center window has four sections:

• A "list of categories" on the left.
• A "banner" at the top.
• A "Top Rated" panel at the bottom.
• A "What’s New and Recommended For You" area on the right.

Clicking a category will take you to a list of related applications.

For example, the Internet category contains the Firefox Web Browser.

The featured areas highlight what is new and highly rated.

Each area shows different application icons.

Click an icon to get more information.

Note: The easiest way to think of it is like Google's Play, Mac's ITunes or Window's App Store.

Click the install button at the right on the selected package. You will need to enter your login details to proceed past this point. You will get an in progress message, and then the install completes.

Click the remove button to the right of the package. Again you will need to enter your login details to proceed past this point.

You can add other sources of software to the center. Go to Edit then software sources and then setting your preferred repository.

Note: We would recommend you stick to the official software center repository, as it is easy to get this wrong.

Though Ubuntu has extensive software available, you may have to manually install a software package not available in the repositories.

If no package exists for the software, you will need to install it manually.

Before you choose to do so make sure, you trust the package and its maintainer.

Packages in Ubuntu have a .deb extension.

Double-clicking a package will open an overview page in the Ubuntu Software Center which will give you more information about that package.

In Ubuntu, you can specify the kinds of updates you wish to install on your system.

This depends on your preferences around stability versus having access to the latest developments.

You can update installed software by using the Software Updater application in Ubuntu.

Important security updates

These updates are highly recommended to ensure that your system stays as secure as possible. These updates are enabled by default.

Recommended updates

These updates are not as important in keeping your system secure. Recommended updates will keep your software updated with the most recent bug fix's or minor updates that have been tested and approved. This option is also enabled by default.

Pre-released updates

This option is for those who want the latest releases of applications. Even at the risk of installing an update that has not been tested, and could cause system problems. This option is not enabled by default.

Unsupported updates

These are updates that have not been tested or reviewed yet. You can have issues that are caused by installing these updates. This option is not enabled by default.