Tag Archives: linux

Did you lose your Ubuntu 16.04 “Unity” desktop after apt-get dist-upgrade?

On 15 February, an update to compiz was pushed out by Ubuntu that triggered the removal of ubuntu-desktop, unity, and (on my system, at least) unity-tweak-tool.

The result: rebooting after doing an apt-get dist-upgrade leaves you with no desktop environment.

The fix: use aptitude to trigger a downgrade of the relevant compiz packages (first you might need to use Ctrl+Alt+F1 to get a terminal session, and you might need to install aptitude too).

Here are the commands I needed:

$ sudo apt-get install aptitude
$ sudo aptitude install ubuntu-desktop unity unity-tweak-tool

Reject the first “solution” offered by aptitude, and when it offers to downgrade compiz, accept. Then, if needed:

$ sudo reboot

Running Ubuntu on a laptop? Annoyed by your flashing WiFi light?

This is such a serious #firstworldproblem you probably don’t even know what I’m talking about.

That’s OK. Wait for the next post. Google will bring my Linux desktop-loving geek friends to this one.

It’s a pretty easy fix on Ubuntu 14.04. Create a file called /etc/modprobe.d/wlan.conf with this inside:

options iwlwifi led_mode=1

And reboot. Your WiFi LED should stay on when you’re connected. Without blinking.

Thank you, other blogger.