13 free backup programs for Windows, Mac, and Linux http://twurl.nl/sun5gt

BitNami Makes Installing WordPress a Breeze

Installing and setting up WordPress(.org) to host your own blog isn’t really something difficult, especially WordPress’s handy guide does provide instructions that are clear enough for one to install it without much trouble (I was referring to the instructions given on their website and was able get it up and running the first time). However, it can still get a bit hideous to some people with all the software to install and things to configure. In case you don’t know, you’d need Apache, MySQL, and PHP to be installed and configured properly prior to the installation of WordPress(.org).

How to Install Google Gadget in Ubuntu

Found the easiest way to get Google Gadget installed in Ubuntu from Ubuntu Unleashed. Thought I’d take a note of it:

To install, add the below repos in the apt source list first:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ubuntu hardy main

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ubuntu hardy main

Save the file then do "sudo apt-get update". Finally, enter the following command to install:

sudo apt-get install google-gadgets

To start after it's installed:

Press "Alt+F2" then type in "ggl-gtk"

To autostart upon startup:

System –> Preferences –> Sessions
Then click Add and input the fields like this:
Name:Google Gadgets
Command Line:sleep 10 ; ggl-gtk

Click ok and then make sure it’s check marked to startup

[via Ubuntu-Unleashed]

"$HOME/.dmrc file is being ignored" — Ubuntu Permission Got Messed Up

Last week, I setup an Ubuntu workstation with Ubuntu 8.04. I went straight away and downloaded Ubuntu-tweak and Lazybuntu because they could help me install tons of popular software all at once. I restarted after the installation was finished, upon logging in, I got the following error message:

“User’s $HOME/.dmrc file is being ignored. This prevents the default session and language from being saved. File should be owned by user and have 644 permissions. User’s $HOME directory must be owned by user and not writable by other users.”

I wasn’t sure exactly what I did that got me this error, but repaired the permission by using the following commands did fix my problem:

sudo chmod 644 /home/youruserfolder/.dmrc

sudo chown username /home/youruserfolder/.dmrc

sudo chmod -R 755 /home/youruserfolder

sudo chown -R username /home/youruserfolder 

Tweak Your Ubuntu With "Ubuntu Tweak"

Ubuntu, a derivative of Debian, has been one of the most popular Linux distributions for the past few years. I am an occasion Ubuntu user myself (I use Mac mostly) and I do appreciate its easy and simple to use user interface especially when it comes to installing software.

If you are like me and Ubuntu is your favorite Linux operating system, you sure don’t want to miss this application called “Ubuntu-tweak”.

It’s an application that’s absolutely painless to install. And it’s probably easiest and fastest way to get your freshly installed Ubuntu up and running with software you need and look that’s tweaked to make your friends envy.

To get it, head over to their download page and grab the Deb package and install it with the friendly Ubuntu Deb package installer, or you can get it from the command line by doing the following:

Modify your source list:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

And put the two line into it:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/tualatrix/ubuntu hardy main

Then update the source and install or upgrade Ubuntu Tweak:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Once you have it installed, run it from the "Application" menu:

As you can see, it can help you install a lot of popular software like amule, Avant Window Navigator, or Compiz fusion. It also provides you options to tweak your Gnome desktop with options that are normally hidden to you.

For more information, be fure to check out Ubuntu-tweak or grab a copy and try it for yourself.

Boot and Install Ubuntu From USB Flash Drive

Just to make a note for myself, although this has been posted on various blogs.

I am using the latest Ubuntu (8.04) for this note. 

What you’ll need:

a) Ubuntu 8.04 Live CD (the image can be downloaded here)

b) Working Internet Connection

c) 1GB or above USB flash drive

How to get it done:

1. Boot your computer with the Ubuntu Live CD and choose the first option

2. Insert the USB flash drive

3. Open a terminal window and type sudo su 

4. Now type fdisk -l to list available drives/partitions (note which device is your flash drive Example: /dev/sdb). Throughout this tutorial, replace all instances of x with your flash drive letter. For example, if your flash drive is sdb, replace x with b

5. Type umount /dev/sdx1 

6. Type fdisk /dev/sdx 

• type p to show the existing partition and d to delete it
• type p again to show any remaining partitions (if partitions exist, repeat the previous step)
• type n to make a new partition
• type p for primary partition
• type 1 to make this the first partition
• hit enter to use the default 1st cylinder
• type +750M to set the partition size
• type a to make this partition active
• type 1 to select partition 1
• type t to change the partition filesystem
• type 6 to select the fat16 file system
• type n to make another new partition
• type p for primary partition
• type 2 to make this the second partition
• hit enter to use the default cylinder
• hit enter again to use the default last cylinder
• type w to write the new partition table

7. Type umount /dev/sdx1 to unmount the partition

8. Type mkfs.vfat -F 16 -n ubuntu8 /dev/sdx1 to format the first partition

9. Type umount /dev/sdx2 to ensure the partition is unmounted

10. Type mkfs.ext2 -b 4096 -L casper-rw /dev/sdx2 to format the second partition

11. Remove and re-insert your flash drive (if prompted that a new medium has been detected, select to open in a new window and click ok)

12. Back at the terminal, type sudo apt-get install syslinux mtools

13. Type syslinux -sf /dev/sdx1 

14. Type cd /cdrom 

15. Type cp -rfv casper dists install pics pool preseed .disk isolinux/* md5sum.txt README.diskdefines install/mt86plus /media/ubuntu8 

16. Type cd /media/ubuntu8 

17. Type wget pendrivelinux.com/downloads/u8/syslinux.cfg 

18. Type cd casper 

19. Type rm initrd.gz 

20. Type wget pendrivelinux.com/downloads/u8/initrd.gz 

21. Reboot your computer and set your system BIOS boot priority to boot from the USB stick.

To make a USB flash drive to boot and install your favorite Linux distro, check out Pendrivelinux 

[via Pendrivelinux]