Get the Linux desktop you always wanted in 10 easy steps!

With this simple procedure, you can remove the standard Acer desktop and icons and replace them with a customizable wallpaper and your choice of desktop icons. All Acer pre-installed functionality is maintained. System settings are maintained after reboot.

[attachment=0:1v2ti8dk]Screenshot-sm.png[/attachment:1v2ti8dk]

It works, baby, my little Holy Grail of getting a normal and fully functional xfce desktop on the A1 has been obtained at long last! I have double checked everything by repeating it after a system restore.

Open the terminal by pressing Alt-F2 and typing "terminal"...

1. Edit xfce4-session.rc to change the Client0 line to point to xfdesktop rather than xfdesktopnew.

Code:

sudo mousepad /etc/xdg/xfce4-session/xfce4-session.rc

replace xfdesktopnew with xfdesktop

#Client0_Command=xfdesktopnew
Client0_Command=xfdesktop
Client0_PerScreen=False
Client1_Command=xfwm4
Client1_PerScreen=False
Client2_Command=xfce4-panel
Client2_PerScreen=False
Client3_Command=/usr/share/search-bar/start-search_bar.sh
Client3_PerScreen=False
Client4_Command=xfcepost
Client4_PerScreen=False


2. Edit xfdesktop to launch xfdesktop-xfce instead of xfdesktop2.

Code:

sudo mousepad /usr/bin/xfdesktop

replace xfdesktop2 with xfdesktop-xfce

#!/bin/sh
if [ -f /usr/bin/xfce-mcs-manager.new ];then
sudo mv /usr/bin/xfce-mcs-manager.new /usr/bin/xfce-mcs-manager
fi
#/usr/bin/getnum.sh
#/usr/bin/xfdesktop2 & >/dev/null 2>&1
/usr/bin/xfdesktop-xfce & >/dev/null 2>&1
sleep 5
if [ -f /usr/bin/xfce-mcs-manager ];then
sudo mv /usr/bin/xfce-mcs-manager /usr/bin/xfce-mcs-manager.new
fi


3. Disable the Acer search bar.

Code:

sudo mousepad /usr/share/search-bar/start-search_bar.sh

place a # in front of all the lines

#!/bin/sh
#resolution=`xrandr |grep \*|awk '{print $1}'`
#resolution=`xrandr |grep current|awk -F"current" '{print $2}'|awk -F"," '{print $1}'|sed 's/\ //g'`
#
#if [ $resolution = "1280x800" ];then
# acer-search-desktop --x=650 --y=90 --width=490 --height=31
#elif [ $resolution = "1024x600" ];then
# acer-search-desktop --x=510 --y=65 --width=490 --height=31
#else
# acer-search-desktop
#fi


4. Move the xfce4 user configuration directories to backup locations.

Code:

mv ~/.config/xfce4 ~/.config/xfce4.old
mv ~/.config/xfce4-session ~/.config/xfce4-session.old

5. Reboot

New xfce4 user configuration directories are automatically created.

6. Let xfce manage the desktop, and enable your wallpaper

Open the terminal by pressing Alt-F2 and typing "terminal"...

Copy your wallpaper image to the /usr/share/xfce4/backdrops directory, {example for the picture originally in the Pictures directory}

Code:

sudo cp ~/Pictures/{filename.jpg} /usr/share/xfce4/backdrops/{filename.jpg}

then bring up the desktop settings,

Code:

xfce-setting-show

- click Desktop icon, tick "Allow xfce to manage the desktop".
- select background wallpaper (click on the little icon next to the file path)

{...you can stop here, the rest of this section and the remaining sections below just tidy things up...}

- on Behaviour tab, tick "show desktop menu on right click"
- reduce icon size to 48 and font size to 10 (adjust to taste)


7. Edit the bottom taskbar by adding a start menu.

Code:

xfce4-panel -a

- drag Xfce Menu item from the window to the left hand side of the taskbar
- other icons can be added too, for various shortcuts and links
- the "trash" icon apparently prevents USB devices from automounting, so avoid adding that one!

8. Remove the system desktop icons by making a new file called xfdesktoprc in the .config/xfce4/desktop directory.

Code:

mousepad ~/.config/xfce4/desktop/xfdesktoprc

and add the following text

[file-icons]
show-filesystem=false
show-home=false
show-trash=false


now save the file and reboot

9. Add your favorite icons to the desktop by copying the .desktop file from /usr/share/applications to ~/Desktop

This is most conveniently done by opening File Manager (thunar) - View - View as advanced mode, navigating to /usr/share/applications and dragging the icons you want directly to the desktop. The icons can be repositioned on the desktop with the cursor.


10. Clean up the xfce menu.

Get rid of the useless links to hotmail, google maps, etc by moving or deleting the contents of the edesktop folder.

Code:

sudo mv /usr/share/applications/edesktop ~/Documents/edesktop

the main part of the menu is generated automatically from the .desktop files, but some items can be edited from

Code:

xfce4-menueditor

NOTES

An equivalent route, one less step: leave xfce4-session.rc as is, but edit xfdesktopnew changing the word xfdesktop2 to xfdesktop-xfce. I didn't try that though.

I have to say having a clean desktop and my own choice of desktop icons makes an gigantic difference to how I feel towards my A1. The problem with Acer desktop is twofold, first it's impersonal and dull, even though its practical and attractive enough in its way, second, it is a constant and unwelcome visual clutter around any open window. The latter is like background noise: you don't notice it until you turn it off. Then you realize just how annoying it was.

Feel free to post your screenshots to this thread. Press Alt-F2 and type "gnome-screenshot --interactive" in the command line.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Great, thanks for the methods to do it. It works

When I can I will upload an image

Best regards

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

[contents folded into original post]

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Hi guys, I've followed this guide and now I have the standard XFCE-Desktop showed at start.
But I also have two issues:
- Removable devices are not automounted when plugged (I don't know if it's panel fault...)
- At each reboot I lose my desktop background
FIXED: just make sure the wallpaper is in the default directory /usr/share/xfce4/backdrops/

Someone has the same problem? Someone could help me, please?

Mako'

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Hi, I had the same problems, but I found the solution (I think)

1. Removable devices are mounted, buy you need to open advance view in Thunar to see them. In any case, I think that if you open a terminal you can navigate into them.

2. To have the desktop background you need to copy the png file you want in the backdrops directory. Now I don't remember exactly where it's (I normally work with Windows), but if you try to change the default background, you'll see it.

I expect this can help you.

Best regards.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Thanks jccguays.
I also noticed that killing all Thunar process (killall Thunar in Terminal), and restart it (in standard mode) you will see all the removable devices.
But that's not a very good solutions for me, I hope someone resolve this issue.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Hi friends,
I have tried to follow the instructions and copy/paste commands. but it didn't work. after first command a second window opened up, warning me of danger involved in superuser activity. all other commands ha dno reaction

any idea?
thxs and cheers
Christian

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Fuerst

your picture files have to be copied into the backdrops folder.

alt f2
terminal
su
(enter your password)
cd Pictures
mv (your picture file and its extension) /usr/share/xfce4/backdrops/

*note* there is a space between your file name and /usr/share etc....
then go into your desktop manager and select the "backdrops" folder and it's local copy of your picture. It should stay on reboot now.

RJM-
thanks for figuring this out. I have no idea how you even started to do this. XFCE is definitely better than the original linpus desktop.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

I've done and, by now, I'm happy. Anyway I have a little doubt.

I have prepared the system to press the right bottom in the touchpad and I have the menu, but if I use a USB Mouse it don't. Hay anyone the same "silly" problem? I would like to know why, I don't mind, but......

And a little thing, can anyone tell me how I can take a image of my desktop to paste here?

Regards

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

To take a desktop screenshot, execute the following command

Code:

gnome-screenshot

or

Code:

gnome-screenshot --interactive

*****

I do not experience any problem with removable devices. The behaviour of my A1 is unchanged after the mod, namely if I hot-plug a USB memory stick the device is mounted automatically and Thunar is called automatically to view the contents of the device.

Type "xfce-setting-show" to bring up the xfce settings manager, click on file manager, select the advanced tab, enable volume management should be ticked. Click on "configure" to bring up the removable drives and media menu, all 5 options under the Storage - removable storage should be ticked.

*****

The only thing I did note was that the "show-removable=true" tag in xfdesktoprc does not appear to do anything, I don't get a new desktop icon when I plug in a device.

*****

Wallpaper can be jpeg or perhaps other file formats, but must have the right file permissions. The easiest way to sort it out is to do a "sudo cp" copy of the image file to either /usr/share/backgrounds or /usr/share/xfce4/backdrops/, essentially what Cesium suggests above. By the way, there are some nice wallpapers preloaded in the /usr/share/backgrounds/nature directory.

*****

A USB mouse is configured separately from the trackpad settings, so having different behaviour is expected. Have a look at the mouse properties under the xfce setttings manager.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Another question: How I can personalize the "Xcfe Menu" button?

I saw that in /home/user/.config/xfce4/panel/ there is a file .rc for each element in the panel, so there is also a file for the Menu Button: it's called xfce4-menu-ID#.rc ( I think ID# will change at every panel modify)
I tried to modify this file chaging the lines, but at each reboot this file return at the default value.

This is the default file:

Code:

use_default_menu=true
menu_file=
icon_file=/usr/share/pixmaps/xfce4_xicon1.png
show_menu_icons=true
button_title=Xfce Menu
show_button_title=true

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

I'm not sure what you want to achieve, but I was just working on a similar problem you might find useful.

From the main menu, select settings - menu editor

This will allow you to edit parts of the menu, like the speed links at the top, but the main part is generated automatically from the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications

Try the following

Code:

sudo mv /usr/share/applications/edesktop ~/Documents/edesktop

That will immediately get rid of the silly "web storage" "google maps" and "wikipedia" item in the xfce menu. It looks pretty clean and businesslike after that.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Thanks, everything works like a charm

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

I followed these instructions but hit a problem just after the first reboot. I get a black desktop and the panel along the bottom, but alt + f2 does nothing and won't bring up the terminal. Help!

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Er, did a system restore and tried again, it worked, so must have done a typo.. oops. I have a question though. Will live update screw things up or is this update-proof? p.s great guide by the way, thanks!

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

I had the same problem. Reinstalled and did it again. Now I have XFCE desktop background instead of just black. alt+F2 still doesn't work but I enabled desktop menu before starting so I can bring up the terminal but the command xfce-setting-show doesn't work! It says "no such file or directory". What is wrong?

EDIT: I got it working now. Thanks for updating the guide. Obviously I wasn't following the first two times i tried. Now everything looks great, thanks again!

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Hi, this a screenshot of my desktop.

About the USB mouse, i have look in the mouse preferences and I don't see anything, so it's just a problem of use. Never mind, I have created launcher inside my new desktop with the things I normally use o want to use.

Best regards[attachment=0:2mdjo2zj]Pantallazo.jpg[/attachment:2mdjo2zj]

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

The black desktop indicates that xfdesktop-xfce hasn't loaded for some reason. A error somewhere in your file edits. I know because I made the same mistake.

It should be live-update proof. Live update can modify the Acer desktop files (xfdesktopnew, xfdesktop2) all it wants and we dont care since we aren't using them anymore. Only xfce4-session.rc is vulnerable to being rewritten.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

You know you can put a button on the toolbar that duplicates the right-click menu? Just call

Code:

xfce4-panel -a

and drag and drop the xfce menu button to the toolbar. That saves a lot of desktop clutter.

 

Re: How to: get the Linpus XFCE desktop to stay after reboot

Thanks again, this is exactly what i've been looking for since buying my One. It is so much better to use now the Acer desktop has gone. Good work!