Two desktop screw ups can anyone tell me how to fix them?

**Joentokyo** · November 2nd, 2012

I installed 12.04 Precise Pangolin, but I checked gdm instead of lightdm at installation, and made a typo in the name I chose for my computer. I only noticed the typo when I was using a terminal window.

Because of gdm and compiz Ubuntu Tweak cannot reset my login screen.

I would dearly like to change my computer name. I am sure this is possible, but do not know how. Help!

**ajgreeny** · November 2nd, 2012

To change you computer name you need to edit /etc/hosts and /etc/hostname, replacing the occurrence of the typo with what it should be.

If you have both gdm and lightdm installed you can choose to use lightdm by running

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm

and you should then be given the option for which to use.

**Joentokyo** · November 3rd, 2012

Thanks a million! I ran the commands and on reboot the name was changed.

However, no joy with changing the login screen. When I use advanced settings and click themes, the shell will not allow a change in its theme.

That may be what is blocking Ubuntu Tweak. If you know a work around, especially one that doesn't involve using UT, I would be grateful. UT causes my system to report a lot of errors.

**Joentokyo** · November 3rd, 2012

Originally Posted by Joentokyo

Thanks a million! I ran the commands and on reboot the name was changed.

However, no joy with changing the login screen. When I use advanced settings and click themes, the shell will not allow a change in its theme.

That may be what is blocking Ubuntu Tweak. If you know a work around, especially one that doesn't involve using UT, I would be grateful. UT causes my system to report a lot of errors.

Update: Finally got the login screen changed

, but had to use a file from user/share/backgrounds in the past you could set the same image as your desktop.

Thank you for your help!

**ajgreeny** · November 3rd, 2012

To change the login screen to be the same as your desktop image you may be able to copy the image you want to use to /usr/share/backgrounds and then choose it from there when changing the login screen background.

**Joentokyo** · November 4th, 2012

Originally Posted by ajgreeny

To change the login screen to be the same as your desktop image you may be able to copy the image you want to use to /usr/share/backgrounds and then choose it from there when changing the login screen background.

I tried moving the images into /usr/share/backgrounds, but permission was refused.

I used a work around that I found in another thread; it is to open a new directory and folder with image files. Selecting files from that folder changes the login screen by using Ubuntu Tweak.

However, if you can tell me how to move them into /usr/share/backgrounds, I would like to do so as it is a better way I think.

**ajgreeny** · November 4th, 2012

As you have found, you need to use sudo to put anything into a system folder, but be careful as you can do great damage if you don't know what you're doing.

Code:

sudo cp /path/to/image.jpg /usr/share/backgrounds/

will do that. You could also do it with

Code:

gksudo nautilus

which opens the file manager with root permissions, but be sure to close that instance of nautilus as soon as you finish, and don't do anything else you are not sure about.

**Joentokyo** · November 5th, 2012

Originally Posted by ajgreeny

As you have found, you need to use sudo to put anything into a system folder, but be careful as you can do great damage if you don't know what you're doing.

Code:

sudo cp /path/to/image.jpg /usr/share/backgrounds/

will do that. You could also do it with

Code:

gksudo nautilus

which opens the file manager with root permissions, but be sure to close that instance of nautilus as soon as you finish, and don't do anything else you are not sure about.

Everything seems to be working now. Thanks again for all your help.