If you’re using the standard Ubuntu OS, which comes with Gnome but would like to try out other window managers like KDE or Xfce, you can easily install them and give them a shot. If you love them, you can stick with them and if you don’t it’s not a problem to return to Gnome or even remove the additional windows managers.
KDE will take up an additional 400MB of space or so. Xfce will take a bit less.
If you’d like to give Kubuntu a spin by installing KDE, open a terminal session (Applications-> Accessories-> Terminal) and type:
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
You’ll be prompted to install a whole bunch of packages, to which you should say Yes by typing Y. You may also have to agree to a few thinks, by clicking OK.
For Xubuntu and to install Xfce, type this:
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
Once apt-get does it’s thing and all of your new programs are installed, you’re ready to try out your new windows manager. You won’t even have to reboot, but simply log of by going to System -> Quit -> Log Off.
Once you’re at your log in screen, go to Options in the lower left corner. Select Session and choose a session from the available list (choose KDE for Kubuntu or Xfce for Xubuntu).
Click the Change Session button.
Put in your username and password and you’ll be asked if you want to make this change Just for This Session, Cancel, or Make Default.
Choose Just for This Session if you want to try it out. Once you log out and log back in, or reboot, you’ll be back to your default, which in standard Ubuntu is Gnome.
If you want to remove KDE or Xfce (Or Gnome, if you happen to like one of the other two better) go back to a terminal session and type:
sudo apt-get remove kubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get remove xubuntu-desktop
or for Gnome:
sudo apt-get remove ubuntu-desktop
Technorati Tags: ubuntu, xubuntu, kubuntu, kde, gnome, xfce
June 13th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Unfortunately, removing a desktop environment as you described doesn’t work. *ubuntu-desktop are meta packages that install many other packages, but removing the meta package doesn’t uninstall all the “child” packages. You have to remove them one by one, or with a script.
June 16th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
You should DEFINITELY use aptitude as I learned last week when I installed and removed Kubuntu. Also I recommend you install kde-core. There is a page at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/ if you need to remove kde or xfce if you installed the apt-get way, but it still ended up removing some of my xine files and media players somehow.
June 24th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Can I use your advice for RedHat or it’s suitable only with Ubuntu? Thank you.