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Trying to install KDE on Ubuntu 16.04 with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

I do not get to the selection of the display manager.

I have a list of errors like:

E: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/r/ruby2.3/ruby2.3_2.3.1-2~16.04.5_amd64.deb
 404  Not Found [IP: 91.189.88.149 80]

Going on the corresponding http page, I see this file with a slightly different version number:

ruby2.3_2.3.1-2~16.04.6_amd64.deb

How can I install KDE if there is no exact match between the packages' versions?

The answers to How can I fix a 404 Error when using a PPA or updating my package lists? do not seem to cover my case, i.e. with most packages correctly installed, but with some not found due to minor version mismatches.

Zanna
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Pietro
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  • I suggest that you try Kubuntu separately (avoid mixing different desktop environments). Start by testing it live, 'Try Kubuntu', and if you like it and want to install it, create a dual boot or multi boot system with separate partitions (or drives) for Ubuntu and Kubuntu. You can share the swap partition. – sudodus Mar 29 '18 at 11:22
  • @karel: in the question you linked, I could not find my case, i.e. when there is not an exact match in the version numbers. – Pietro Mar 29 '18 at 13:37
  • @sudodus - I cannot install a different version of Linux. I can only upgrade the current Ubuntu installation (it is not my computer). – Pietro Mar 29 '18 at 13:39
  • I see. Why do you or the owner of the computer want KDE alongside the desktop environment of standard Ubuntu? And why not install kubuntu-desktop from the Ubuntu repositories (without any PPA)? (But I would not do it.) – sudodus Mar 29 '18 at 13:51
  • An alternative is to try Kubuntu live or persistent live booted from a USB pendrive. That is rather easy and will not tamper with the current Ubuntu installed system. – sudodus Mar 29 '18 at 13:58
  • @sudodus - Many users prefer KDE, so we need both environments, and using a live distribution is not an option. – Pietro Mar 29 '18 at 15:16
  • @sudodus - How can I install KDE without PPA? Is what I did (see question) correct? – Pietro Mar 29 '18 at 15:18
  • You can install kubuntu-desktop, but it will bring a lot of KDE application programs (the whole bunch of Kubuntu applications). I do not know which packages to install to get as little as possible, yet a working desktop. Let us hope someone else can help you. If no luck here, you can start a thread at the Ubuntu Forums. – sudodus Mar 29 '18 at 15:23
  • @sudodus - I do want to install the whole KDE, and most of its applications. – Pietro Mar 29 '18 at 15:27
  • You may need to remove the packages you have installed via the PPA before removing the PPA, and then remove the PPA. – sudodus Mar 29 '18 at 21:01

1 Answers1

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System with standard Ubuntu (with Unity) and a KDE desktop

This way you can get a system with standard Ubuntu (with Unity) and a KDE desktop, where you can select desktop environment at the login screen by clicking on the cog wheel symbol.

  • Install Ubuntu from ubuntu-16.04.4-desktop-amd64.iso

  • Make the system up to date with

    sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

  • Install KDE-related packages

    sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop
sudo apt install kde-runtime
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends kubuntu-desktop

    It might work too, if you use only the last line (I did not test that), but if you use it without --no-install-recommends there will be at least one serious conflict. The installation will fail, and there will be a black screen with a cursor instead of the KDE desktop. (Standard Ubuntu will still work.)

    enter image description here

    You can see that there are gnome application programs available via the KDE menu. But because of --no-install-recommends, several Kubuntu application programs are not installed. (Most of them can probably be installed, but it is was not done in this test.)

Alternatives

According to a comment, you don't want a live or persistent live system, but please consider the following alternatives.

  • Dual boot with separate Ubuntu system and Kubuntu system. Both systems are complete and can use the full power of the computer.

  • Ubuntu host system and Kubuntu guest system in a virtual machine. It is easiest to use VirtualBox to create the virtual machine. Both systems are complete, but the Kubuntu guest system cannot use the full power of the computer. This can be a good solution in a powerful computer.

  • Installation of Kubuntu in a USB SSD drive.Both systems are complete and Kubuntu can use almost the full power of the computer (a little slower than if in an internally connected SSD).

sudodus
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