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View Full Version : [ubuntu] Ubuntu 11.10 upgrade to 13.04 retaining desktop and compiz?


lee11
September 26th, 2013, 01:26 PM
Hi,

I've been running Ubuntu since about 09.04 and faithfully - and excitedly - applied all of the upgrades as they came out. Until around 12.04. As soon as I hit Unity my productivity slowed dramitically and try as I might to get used to it, I hated it and still do. Why is not important and it's not part of my question. As a result I've been on a self-imposed exile at 11.10 ever since.

I now find myself running up against software that needs a later version and missing out on updates. It's time to bite the bullet and move.

What I'd like to do is upgrade to 13.04 (or 13.10) but still retain my existing desktop environment (currently gnome 3.2.1), complete with my cairo-dock, compiz settings and associated config. Is there a way for me to do this without having to reinstall the whole OS? Ideally I'd like to do an in-place upgrade to Ubuntu 13.04. Is an upgrade to Kubuntu 13.04 a better option? Either way, what are the steps to getting there?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions (other than give Unity another try).
malangaman
September 26th, 2013, 03:33 PM
This informative thread deals with your exact question:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2142875
grahammechanical
September 26th, 2013, 05:02 PM
Have you seen Kubuntu? I have nothing against Kubuntu but the look of it is nothing like the old gnome 2 panel look of Ubuntu from the days of 10.10. So, I do not understand why you think that would be an acceptable option for you. Now, if you were thinking of Xubuntu or Lubuntu then you might have a point. Have you seen this thread?

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1859961

There is a post there for 12.04 which still has years before it reaches end of support. The same advice might work on 13.04 but are you aware that 13.04 only has about four months support left? Interim (now called standard) releases of Ubuntu only have 9 months support.

Regards.
ibjsb4
September 26th, 2013, 06:17 PM
Another option would be to install the gnome-classic desktop which uses either compiz or metacity and looks like the old desktop.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PreciseGnomeClassicTweaks

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-install-classic-gnome-desktop-in-ubuntu-12-04-precise.html

As for your personal settings, I don't really know how the upgrade will handle it.