A simple step-by-step tutorial with screenshots!!!

Dec 23, 2011 00:11 GMT  ·  By

At the request of our readers we have decided to revive our usual desktop customization tutorial for the Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system, because of Unity (again).

We know that many of you don't like how Unity looks and acts, therefore this step-by-step tutorial was created for the Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system to teach you how to change the looks of your Linux desktop into an eye-candy, more practical, simple and modern workstation.

Ehh... we knew you were expecting this for a long time now, haven't you? Well, it's here now, so you better enjoy it, modify it and adapt it to your liking.

In other words, we will help you pimp your Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) desktop and change its looks:

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from this
to this
Things you need to get started:

1. Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system (Desktop Edition); 2. GNOME Tweak Tool (click to install); 3. Zukitwo and Zukini GTK3 Themes; 4. Faenza Icon Theme; 5. An amazing wallpaper!

Step 1 - Moving Unity to Bottom Side

Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination on your keyboard, and paste the following command in the terminal window that just opened (one by one, hitting Enter after each one):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:paullo612/unityshell-rotated

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install unityshell-rotated libnux-1.0-0 compizconfig-settings-manager

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When the installation is over, close the terminal window and open CompizConfig Setttings Manager from Unity. Scroll to the 'Desktop' section and deactivate the 'Ubuntu Unity Plugin' and immediately activate the 'Ubuntu Unity Plugin Rotated'.

WARNING: Be aware that once you deactivate the 'Ubuntu Unity Plugin' your desktop will flicker a couple of times and Unity will disappear.

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When you'll activate 'Ubuntu Unity Plugin Rotated' you will see that Unity is now on the bottom of the screen! Enter the 'Ubuntu Unity Plugin Rotated' plugin, go to the 'Experimental' tab and configure everything like in the image below (or however you want).
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Once you finish with the Unity configuration, close CompizConfig Settings Manager and restart your session for the changes to take effect! Proceed to the next step when you get back.

Step 2 - Install the Zukitwo and Zukini GTK3 Themes icon theme

Download the Zukitwo and Zukini themes from here and here.

To install these two GTK3 themes follow our How to Install GNOME Themes in Ubuntu 11.10 tutorial.

Basically, you'll have to create a .themes folder on your home directory and extract the archives in there. Proceed to the next step!

Step 3 - Install the Faenza icon theme

Hit the CTRL+ALT+T key combination on your keyboard, and paste the following command in the terminal window that just opened (one by one, hitting Enter after each one):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tiheum/equinox

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install faenza-icon-theme

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Wait for the installation to finish and close the terminal window. Proceed to the next step!

Step 4 - Final touches

Let's activate the new themes and icons. Open GNOME Tweak Tool, click the 'Themes' section on the left and set everything like in the image below...

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Close GNOME Tweak Tool when you're done setting the Icon theme to Faenza-Ambiance, GTK+ theme to Zukitwo-Resonance and Window theme to Zukini.

Now, right click on your desktop and select Change Desktop Background. Then select 'Pictures Folder' from the drop-down list, and add a nice wallpaper by clicking on the + button situated on the bottom left side.

Voilà, your Ubuntu 11.10 desktop has been pimped and it should look like this...

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...or like this!
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We've done our job. From here on, let your imagination run wild and don't forget to drop a link with your own screenshots.

Merry Christmas everyone!