Linux Mint 19.1 (Tessa)

Review: https://youtu.be/qkmiXaO2vmk

Getting Started Video for Windows Users: https://youtu.be/eI7QQqnV1P8

Home and Download: https://linuxmint.com/

1. Unless you have a good reason, download the Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon ISO image file
   1. https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=261
2. Scan the Release Notes, but don't memorize them
   1. https://linuxmint.com/rel_tessa_cinnamon.php
3. Scan the Documentation to see what's available, then go to the Installation Guide
   1. https://linuxmint.com/documentation.php
   2. https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
4. In Windows, create the installer media
   1. DVD or flash drive
   2. A flash drive is faster and easier, but not enough to matter
   3. https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/burn.html
5. Boot the target PC with the bootable optical or flash media
   1. The install process is mostly self explanatory
   2. In general, it's definitely simpler to avoid dual-boot (Windows + Linux) by utilizing the entire disk drive
   3. Choose the 'Modern' panel layout

1. Click the Menu (Start) button in the lower left corner
   1. Like in Windows, just start typing to search the menu
2. Type softw
   1. Select 'Software Manager'
3. Search for the app you are looking for

This is not always needed but may be important, depending on what video controller your PC has.

1. Click the Menu (Start) button in the lower left corner
   1. Like in Windows, just start typing to search the menu
2. Type driver
   1. Select 'Driver Manager'
   2. Enter your password (permission to modify the system)
   3. You will usually want to install the recommended drivers

1. Click the Menu (Start) button in the lower left corner
   1. Like in Windows, just start typing to search the menu
2. Type upd
   1. Select 'Software Updates'

Linux Mint 19.1 is very functional upon installation, but you may want to install additional apps.

Here are a few you might find useful:

OpenJDK Java is pre-installed on Linux Mint 19.1. However, you can install Oracle Java, if you need to. We don't use Java much any more, so the built-in version usually works for us.

java --version

If you need Oracle Java, you probably need a specific version. Search for it:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=linux+mint+19.1+howto+install+oracle+java

You must download and install a Linux app (.deb file):

https://www.skype.com/en/get-skype/

By default, Linux Mint (and most other Linux distributions) do not enable the 'root' (superuser) account for enhanced security. By default, you execute privileged commands using 'sudo' (superuser do).

If you need to run several administrative commands, it can get tedious to keep typing 'sudo' repeatedly. This is how you can attain a root shell (command prompt) with 'sudo':

sudo -i

This is how you enable the root account, if you feel the need and accept the reduced security:

sudo passwd root

Linux Mint supports multiple 'workspaces' or virtual desktops. You switch between the workspaces with ctrl-alt-left-arrow or ctrl-alt-right-arrow.

You can also add a Workspace Switcher to the panel at the bottom of the screen:

1. Right-click an open area of the panel
2. Select 'Add applets to the panel'
3. Type works
4. Select 'Workspace Switcher'
5. Click '+'

To connect pinned launchers to workspaces:

1. Right-click a launcher icon on the panel (lower left)
2. Select 'Preferences → Configure → General'
3. Enable 'Show windows from all workspaces'

Now, when you click on a launcher button for a running app, it will also switch the workspace.

Printers are usually automatically detected and configured.

1. Click the Menu (Start) button in the lower left corner
   1. Like in Windows, just start typing to search the menu
2. Type printers
   1. Select 'Printers'

You can quickly take a screenshot of the entire screen just by pressing the 'Print Scrn' function key (F13).

If you want a more advanced tool, use the built-in 'Screenshot' app:

1. Click the Menu (Start) button in the lower left corner
   1. Like in Windows, just start typing to search the menu
2. Type screensh
   1. Select 'Screenshot'
   2. You may want to right-click it and 'Add to panel'

1. Click the Menu (Start) button in the lower left corner
   1. Like in Windows, just start typing to search the menu
2. Type Firew
   1. Select 'Firewall'

Don't expect too much from Wine! Unless the app you want to run is very simple, like a single executable file, it probably won't work correctly!

You can install wine from the Software Manager, but you might need to install multiple packages to get it to work. The following procedure installs the latest stable version.

https://blog.softhints.com/install-wine-linux-mint-add-menu/

This will install many dependencies, but it can run Winbox and other tools.

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/Release.key
sudo apt-key add Release.key
sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ bionic main'
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends winehq-stable msttcorefonts
winecfg

Run these commands as a regular user.

wget http://files.polosatus.ru/winefontssmoothing_en.sh

bash winefontssmoothing_en.sh

HowTo: https://www.osradar.com/install-virtualbox-6-ubuntu-18-04-linux-mint-19/

Install the Extension Pack after installing Virtualbox.

Add the Virtualbox software repository:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list

Add:

deb https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian bionic contrib

Then add the signing key and install Virtualbox and the Extension Pack:

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt update
sudo apt install virtualbox-6.0
wget https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/6.0.0/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.0.0.vbox-extpack
sudo VBoxManage extpack install Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.0.0.vbox-extpack
rm Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.0.0.vbox-extpack

Untested on 19.1 below this point!

See also Dropbox

# SSH
rm -rf ~/.ssh
ln -s ~/Dropbox/Config/SSH ~/.ssh

# Documents Folder
rm -rf ~/Documents
ln -s ~/Dropbox/Documents ~/Documents

# Fonts Folder
rm -rf ~/.fonts
ln -s ~/Dropbox/Config/Fonts ~/.fonts

#Pidgin
rm -rf ~/.purple
ln -s ~/Dropbox/Config/Pidgin ~/.purple

# Remina
rm -rf ~/.remmina
mkdir ~/.freerdp
echo "" > ~/.freerdp/known_hosts           #Fixes "Unable to connect to RDP server"
ln -sf ~/Dropbox/Config/Remmina ~/.remmina

sudo gedit /var/lib/polkit-1/localauthority/50-local.d/hibernate.pkla

[Re-enable hibernate by default in upower]
Identity=unix-user:*
Action=org.freedesktop.upower.hibernate
ResultActive=yes

[Re-enable hibernate by default in logind]
Identity=unix-user:*
Action=org.freedesktop.login1.hibernate
ResultActive=yes

Restart your PC then check to verify the Hibernate option is available in the shutdown menu and that it works properly.

http://c-nergy.be/blog/?p=10241

Enable RDP access to your desktop:

sudo apt-get install xrdp tightvncserver
reboot

You will need to forward TCP port 3389 to your PC.