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welshmike
November 9th, 2011, 07:27 PM
I'm currently running 10.04 and am considering going to 11.10.
However I really do not want to learn a significantly different desktop like Unity.
Please is there a desktop environment I can use on 11.10 that will be a similar as possible to Gnome 2?
Sorry if this has already been answered in this forum.

bluexrider
November 9th, 2011, 07:31 PM
Well, you can use the classic GNOME desktop in Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot, but it will be the GNOME 3 classic desktop and not the old GNOME 2. To use it, install "gnome-session-fallback" using Ubuntu Software Center, Synaptic or use the command below:
sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

josephmills
November 9th, 2011, 07:34 PM
Hi there
Ubuntu 11.10 uses GNOME 3 with the unity shell by default. To use GNOME Shell instead, install the "gnome-shell" package and investigate "gnome-tweak-tool". For GNOME Fallback mode, which is similar to GNOME 2, install "gnome-panel". Both packages will place entries in the Sessions dropdown. Using Natty? The default interface in Ubuntu 11.04 is Unity. To switch back to regular GNOME: log out, click your username, click the Session box at the bottom of the screen, and select "Ubuntu Classic"

this is what the ubuntu bot had to say about this. there are alot tools to help you "tweek" it I hope that this helps

Nate_the_Ace
November 9th, 2011, 07:38 PM
I would suggest XFCE, Xubuntu.

Seb71
November 9th, 2011, 07:39 PM
Be warned that Gnome Shell (Gnome 3) is significantly different from Gnome 2. Better keep your 10.04 or install 11.04 (which is the last Ubuntu which still has Gnome 2 - but not as default DE).

welshmike
November 9th, 2011, 09:32 PM
Thanks for all the replies. I'll try out your suggestions on an old Centrino laptop I have.

Copper Bezel
November 9th, 2011, 09:43 PM
Notice that extensions for Gnome Shell exist to make it look and work very much like Gnome 2 - such as the Frippery collection (http://intgat.tigress.co.uk/rmy/extensions/index.html).

cbowman57
November 9th, 2011, 09:46 PM
If you choose to go with gnome shell or classic gnome in 11.10 you might want to take a look through the threads in my signature.

MARP1961
November 10th, 2011, 03:49 PM
If you go to Synaptic Package Manager (which you might have to install via Ubuntu Software Centre first) search for Xubuntu Desktop. Mark it and install it. Then log out of your session. When the login screen reappears, click the gear icon to bring up the new login option of Xubuntu Session.

The new desktop environment you see may look plain and boring but you can set it up to look almost the same as the old Gnome 2 Ubuntu.

You can see how I've set mine up (I deleted the irritating dock/panel at the bottom) in the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6GWl9jw4zM

TBABill
November 10th, 2011, 05:35 PM
If you go to Synaptic Package Manager (which you might have to install via Ubuntu Software Centre first) search for Xubuntu Desktop. Mark it and install it. Then log out of your session. When the login screen reappears, click the gear icon to bring up the new login option of Xubuntu Session.

The new desktop environment you see may look plain and boring but you can set it up to look almost the same as the old Gnome 2 Ubuntu.

You can see how I've set mine up (I deleted the irritating dock/panel at the bottom) in the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6GWl9jw4zM
+1 If you are just looking for a short term alternative, sticking to 11.04 will work. If you are looking for what you will use as a future DE since you don't want to "learn" something new, XFCE is as close as you'll find. However, LXDE is also close if you are at all accustomed to a single Gnome panel setup, similar to openSUSE or Mint.

Good luck!

welshmike
November 10th, 2011, 06:24 PM
If you go to Synaptic Package Manager (which you might have to install via Ubuntu Software Centre first) search for Xubuntu Desktop. Mark it and install it. Then log out of your session. When the login screen reappears, click the gear icon to bring up the new login option of Xubuntu Session.

The new desktop environment you see may look plain and boring but you can set it up to look almost the same as the old Gnome 2 Ubuntu.

You can see how I've set mine up (I deleted the irritating dock/panel at the bottom) in the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6GWl9jw4zM
Thanks for your reply and video.
I'll follow up your suggestion.
I use my 6 year old PC to try out different Linux distros, had downloaded Xubuntu 11.10 and installed it earlier.
Ubuntu 11.10 is currently installed there.
So expect it is best for me to reinstall Xubuntu and take your lead to make the desktop look like the Gnome 2 desktop currently running on Ubuntu 10.04 on this my 1 year old laptop.
I hope to find a way to customise Xubuntu do things like:

Install VirtualBox so that I can run a legacy Windows XP application I need.
Put some link icons on the desktop.
Be able to find on Xubuntu where Thunderbird keeps email accounts and mail folders so that I can save them off Ubuntu and restore to Xubuntu
etc.

When I have Xubuntu set up just as I like it on my 6 year old PC I'll carry out the same process on my 1 year old laptop with a desktop likehttp://www.winchesternw.org.uk/images/desktop.png

BillyBoa
November 10th, 2011, 07:27 PM
Excellent suggestions guys! This Thread is very useful and is clearing many things.

welshmike
November 11th, 2011, 10:06 PM
An update on my progress.
I'm typing this message on my old PC where I installed Xubuntu 11.10 today and am happy that I can switch my newish laptop from Ubuntu 10.04 to Xubuntu when the time comes.
There will be a few not too difficult additions to make soon but here is my Xubuntu desktop to compare with the Ubuntu desktop that I showed yesterday.
http://www.winchesternw.org.uk/images/DesktopX.png