Reactivate Alt + f2 in Linux Mint or Oneiric

I keep on customizing my system and one of the most useful tools for that is the Run Command Prompt by pressing alt + f2. However, since the past two days, it stopped working all of a sudden. Took me a while to realize what I had done to deactivate it.

Basically it had conflicted with another tool and had been deactivated by itself. To reactivate alt + f2, all you have to do is go to Keyboard settings and click on Shortcuts.

Click on System in the left panel and you will see a Run command prompt option.

Keyboard settings

Click on disable to enable the option and enter the new shortcut by pressing alt + f2.

Now your alt + f2 is reactivated! Enjoy!!

Brightside on Linux Mint

Many a times you just want to switch off the monitor of your laptop without closing the lid. Many laptops are now available with the feature but many more are not. So how do you go about doing that in Linux Mint?

There are a few options. First, you can do it via the Terminal by simply typing
"sleep 1 && xset dpms force off"
 The above code puts off your screen after 1 second and the screen will wake up again with a movement of the mouse or a keypress.

However there is another nifty tool for the same purpose. Brightside is a tool for changing the functions of workspace management and you can also make the corners of your screen behave as hotspots.

With Brightside you can:

* fade out volume
* prevent screensaver starting
* start screensaver and lock screen
* enter dpms standby mode
* enter dpms suspend mode
* enter dpms off mode
* dim laptop backlight
* custom action

You can install Brightside by using your Synaptic Package Manager or via the Terminal.

Install Brightside

You won't see an icon for Brightside, so to change the properties, just open up a Terminal and type
brightside-properties and you'll see the GUI for the same.

Brightside

  Configure the properties as you want and enjoy a more energy efficient system!

Linux Mint 13, Maya

Linux Mint 13, code named Maya has been announced to be released by end of May 2012. I have been waiting for a long time for the next release of Mint and it seems the wait is almost at an end. Its been almost 6 months since I started using Mint and I have never looked back towards either Windows or Ubuntu which were my previous OS being used.

On their official blog, Clem said that "The choice for this codename has nothing to do with the Mayan Calendar or the notorious cataclysmic interpretations for 2012 (by then we’ll be looking at Linux Mint 14 and a different codename)."

Infact, Clem said that the code name Maya was selected after her daughter's name.

So all the Linux Mint fans out there, hold your breath till the end of May and I am sure we will all be surprised with the new release.

It is said that there will be separate releases for MATE and Cinnamon. So there's the end of MATE and welcome to Cinnamon, which according to me is going to become the default in Linux Mint 13.

Let's wait and watch. If you want to read about the latest LMDE release click on the Link below:

Linux Mint Debian LMDE 201204

Linux Mint Debian LMDE 201204

Linux Mint Debian also known as LMDE is just another version of Linux Mint. It is based on the Debian distribution. It is a rolling distribution, which means that it receives updates and upgrades often.

LMDE

LMDE comes in quite a few variants. It comes with Cinnamon installed and also with Gnome and XFCE desktop environments. Now you might be thinking what is the difference between the normal Linux Mint and LMDE. Here are  a few answers to that question:

1. LMDE is a rolling distribution whereas the Linux Mint is a much more stable version. LMDE receives updates often and that also causes bugs much more often. However it also means that the bugs are fixed faster.

2. LMDE is Debian based and cannot run applications developed for Ubuntu. For that, you'll have to use the normal Linux Mint. However LMDE supports all Debian applications completely, so no sweat there.

3. The live version of LMDE does not run VLC. you'll have to install the LMDE and after that the VLC will run flawlessly.
However, in case you want to run VLC in the live medium, you can you the following work-around:
"sudo ln -s / /filesystem.squashfs"

4. There is no splash screen in the LMDE version.

5. The best part of LMDE is that won't have to re-install your system. The updates are automatically incorporated. Though many-a-times, your themes are likely to be screwed up, you can fix that by logging out and logging in again!

You can download the latest version of Linux Mint Debian from the link below:
LMDE 201204

Install Linux Mint 12 Lisa

Installing Linux Mint 12 is a breeze whether you have installed any other Linux distro or not. The steps are the same as that of installing Ubuntu. However if you are new to Linux distros, I am providing a step by step DIY on how to install Linux Mint 12 Lisa.

STEP 1:
Download the DVD/CD version of Linux Mint 12, Lisa from the official download page. I would suggest you to download the DVD version as it includes all the necessary applications and codecs needed to run your Linux system without any glitch. The CD version is also good but then you will have to install all the codecs and application one by one yourself from the software manager or synaptic package manager.

STEP 2:
Create a bootable media like bootable DVD or USB. Use any free disk burning software like Nero (free version) to burn the .iso image to disk. If you prefer to use a bootable USB then download the Universal Linux Installer.

STEP 3:
Boot the machine accordingly and you will get the welcome screen on your monitor.

Click on Install Linux Mint.

STEP 4:
You will be presented with a screen which will ask for the type of installation you want.

According to your needs click on the needed radio button and click Continue.

STEP 5:
If you choose to install Linux Mint in a customized format then check the Something Else in the step above and continue.

You will see a partition manager .

Select the amount of space you want to give to your Linux Mint partition. Give it around 10 GB if you just want to use it as a trial or around 50 GB if you want to use it as a primary system. Select the free space and then format it as ext 4.

Select a swap area equal to the size of your RAM.

If you want to use just a Linux Mint partition on your computer select Beginning. But if you want to run it alongside any other OS, then select End.  Select Mount Point as /.
Click OK and you will be back to the partition manager.

Then select Install Now and follow the instruction from thereon. You will have to select you language, time zone and your keyboard layout.



That's it! Now you have learnt how to install Linux Mint 12 Lisa on your computer! Enjoy!