Bucic's questions

What I would like to be able to do:

I would like to be able to switch between my dedicated graphics card (AMD) and integrated chip (Intel) from the BIOS, that means:

Restart → BIOS: set to integrated Intel enabled (only) → boot

or

Restart → BIOS: set to discrete AMD enabled (only) → boot

This type of primitive switching works fine when running on open source drivers. However, as soon as I install fglrx, switching from AMD to Intel from the BIOS breaks the session and the system falls back to low-graphics mode on boot-up.

What I did:

1. fresh system, open source drivers with Intel enabled
2. switched to AMD = no problemo!
3. switched to Intel = no problemo!
4. (the above repeated few times and tested for performance issues)
5. installed proprietary AMD drivers per http://www.unixmen.com/ubuntu-12-10-and-amd-catalyst-problem-solved/ (PPA) ⇒ working fine after restart!
6. switched to Intel ⇒ broken configuration, i.e. system boots to 2D/fallback mode!

Why do I need it?

First of all, it's a matter of my curiosity. More importantly though, getting this thing to switch on AMD proprietary would be huge for me.

I was asking about AMD/Intel switching a while ago and while I got the answer, 1) it doesn't work 2) I can't contact the author of the answer 3) I suspect the answer is overcomplicated.

In summary I need help either with this question or with the old one linked above.

System information:

Ubuntu 12.04 amd64, installed clean
Lenovo Thinkpad T500
Intel GMA 4500MHD / ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650

I'm looking for a more contemporary task switcher for LXDE. I find the gnome one to be a perfect one. I also like tiled windows preview like what is presented in Gnome Shell Activities. I take the necessity of compositor installation into account.

The only thing I will miss after moving to LXDE from Unity will be the Unity Dash. Its functionality, not the piss-poor performance that is. So here's my question. I know there is synapse but AFAIK it only returns text, without multiple large-sized thumbnails of files etc.

I'm looking for a tool:

1. that uses relatively large area to present results
2. with thumbnailing capability
3. with immediate presentation of recently used files and apps, preferably

Hence I do not look for any launcher. Point's no. 1 and 2 make for sufficient replacement. Please don't be afraid to answer 'No, there are none' if there no alternatives similar to Unity Dash or Gnome Shell Activities exist.

Related question: Any search tool for LXDE menu?

A GUI (graphical user interface) method is preferred. For example, can the new remote login feature be used for the purpose if the remote person has a Ubuntu live CD and know how to boot it?

The built-in remote login feature in question has been described in Ubuntu 12.10 Login Screen Adds Remote Desktop Access. Remmina maybe?

Best way to remote login on a Ubuntu machine from ubuntu/windows and OSX

I'm facing serious bugs in my proprietary AMD/ATI display drivers. Where do I report bugs regarding such drivers? Do proprietary drivers get modified by community to provide latest fixes at the expense of decreased stability?

This https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs didn't answer my question.

Related: Will AMD continue to update the legacy Fglrx driver?

Can somebody clear this up for me please? I always thought LXDE comes without a compositor or an element that is present in other desktop environments (DE's) that causes other desktop environments to degrade desktop performance. If it was the case, LXDE would beat any DE in terms of gaming performance in any test but it doesn't seem to be the case - see http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=ubuntu_1210beta_desktops&num=1

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Openbox

Why neither Skype nor Fogger are available in 12.10 software center? Even after I enabled Canonical partners' sources in Software Sources.

Edit: The Fogger is still not available via SC even though it's available via web version of SC Fogger for ubuntu I perfer not to use Terminal.

Minimum goal: Ability to switch between the graphic cards without drivers re-installation. Restarting computer in the process is fine.

There are lots of 'how to get switchable graphics to work' guides but I found none on how to configure a system for switchable graphics operation on Ubuntu from the ground up, nor explaining the current driver situation for particular computer models (integrated+discrete combinations).

Examples: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HybridGraphics http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Switchable_Graphics

My system being mature and on Intel integrated card also makes things complicated.

System information:
Ubuntu 12.04 amd64, installed clean with system configured to use only the integrated Intel card Lenovo Thinkpad T500
Intel GMA 4500MHD / ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650

Current situation:
Mature and up-to-date system with no configuration changes to what's given above.
I've made a backup image of the system (Clonezilla) so regardless of what's written below let's assume it's our starting point. If something in What I have already tried is not clear you may as well diregard it.

What I have already tried:
Configuring BIOS to switchable graphics and:

1. Installing Additional Hardware drivers - returned an error.
2. Installing proprietary amd-driver-installer-12.6-legacy-x86.x86_64.run automatically - system starts to 'low-graphics mode'.
3. Tried fixing as per https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI#Manually_installing_Catalyst_12.6.2C_special_case_for_Intel.2BAC8-ATI_hybrid_graphics
4. Got lost, gave up.

BIOS settings:
Please note that while configuring BIOS for integrated graphics only is pretty straightforward, configuring for switchable graphics is not. Despite that if you know the driver installation part well, I'm willing to test all the BIOS settings combinations on my own.

My current kernel is 3.2.0-26 (my main computer) while on another of my Ubuntu computers, with which I didn't fiddle with unofficial updates, it's 3.2.0-30. Yet the Update manager on my main computer doesn't show available kernel updates. It shows other updates though.

I suspect is due to the fact that in the past I installed multiple mainline kernel versions (not recommended versions), up to 3.5* series.

What I'm after: Either: Fix automatic kernel updates. Or: Learn about a way to check for the latest official ubuntu kernel version and get it manually (I know how to install kernels from debs)

What I have already tried: Uninstalled unused kernels including "the generic one without a number" as per https://askubuntu.com/a/103875/29347 and then also https://ubuntugenius.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/ubuntu-cleanup-how-to-remove-all-unused-linux-kernel-headers-images-and-modules/

How to know whether it's worth it to replace open source drivers installed by default with proprietary ones. Are there any benchmarks? Major known issues summaries. I don't mean 'at the time of writing this post'. I mean an up-to-date status on how the drivers compare.

This page https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ certainly doesn't do much on the matter, nor it even mentions Intel. EDIT: I've just learned there is no Intel proprietary driver because they made their drivers open source https://askubuntu.com/a/17395/29347

Not packages and not all applications. Just the applications user installed by himself from whatever source (Software Center, manually added PPA, etc.).

If the above is not possible - a list of all installed applications or at least a GUI which lists the applications so I can take screenshots of it.

I've read a dozen of similar questions and people posting answers usually don't even get close to OP question merit. Please note that my question includes 'user installed'.

Answer: It is not currently possible in Ubuntu Linux. (choosing tijybba's answer as the closest one though)

If it's not possible then maybe just the Dash show/hide animations. I simply find myself waiting for animations which is pointless.

Here I ask this question since 12.04 Beta 2 is usable and this question would come up sooner then later. After issuing the standard

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:matthaeus123/mrw-gimp-svn
sudo apt-get update

I get the following errors.

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/matthaeus123/mrw-gimp-svn/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/source/Sources  404  Not Found        
W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/matthaeus123/mrw-gimp-svn/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/binary-amd64/Packages  404  Not Found    
W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/matthaeus123/mrw-gimp-svn/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/binary-i386/Packages  404  Not Found
E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

Is there any way to get around this. Excluding compiling from source as it usually introduces even more multilevel errors.

Recently I installed LibreOffice 3.5 from debs (including the ones for desktop integration. Since then it behaves in a weird manner. Basically it won't launch from launcher shortcuts. Example:

• dash > libreoffice launched (launcher shows with 2 seconds delay) > 'keep in launcher'
• LO closed
• the LO icon on the launcher clicked > pulsating for 5 seconds, then stops > LO didn't launch
• I didn't look for open processes or anything and...
• dash > libreoffice launched immediately without problems

It also didn't remember recently opened items, but now it got fixed somehow.

Other symptoms:
- icon on the launcher and all menu categories appear with a delay of few seconds
- two writer icons appear on the launcher

What I did:

• used 3.4.5, uninstalled, installed 3.5 RC3, problems started to occur
  
• uninstalled RC3 'clean' per http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Installing_LibreOffice_on_Linux#Debian_.2F_Ubuntu_3
• installed 3.5 stable which is identical to RC3
• still same issues

I don't know if it is related but I use Unity test PPA:vanvugt/unity which I needed to solve the stuttering windows bug.

Any ideas?

I'd like to have some folders on top e.g. on Windows I had _videos folder which would always appear on top. How do I achieve the same effect in case of Nautilus? It's rarely the case I'd need similar for files but if you know how to do it it also for some files, please drop your hint.

Does any of the linux clipboard managers have the feature paste all?
A simple scenario:
1. Copy first piece of text.
2. Copy second piece of text.
3. Copy n-th piece of text.
4. Command the clipboard manager to paste all of the copied text pieces.

The same ability for images or a combination of text and images would be useful as well but let's simplify to text only case. I tried few of the recommended applications and haven't found this in neither of them.

P.S. I use Ubuntu 11.10, so gnome programs are preferred.

Linux kernel has cumulated multiple power management regression bugs which make systems affected barely usable. A system that works at 30/30 temperatures on Windows during office work may work on Linux at 70/65 while staring at the desktop without any programs being actively used. The power usage / batery drain of course go along with the temperatures. There are no fixes to the problems yet. Just partial temporary "solutions" http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1865820

Can someone share his knowledge / prediction / estimate on a realistic release date for the fixes? (please say which of these you're posting) This will help me to make a decision on further steps until the real fixes to the kernel arrive:

• trash Linux and install Windows
• do a kernel downgrade Do kernel downgrades to fix power regressions in newer kernels?

Edit:
The timeline of the past linux kernel releases
So judging upon the history of the kernel releases it's safe to say that waiting is not a good choice.