How can I get Ubuntu 12.04 to act and feel like Ubuntu 10.04?

Question

I recently upgraded from 10.04 to 12.04 on my desktop computer but I do not like the new look, feel or the way that I can not customize 12.04 like I used to be able to in 10.04. Please help if you can. Thank you kindly.

possible duplicate of How to revert to GNOME Classic Desktop? — Danatela, Apr 21 '14 at 05:20

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

Step 1. Install Mate, Gnome Flashback, or XFCE

1a. Installing Mate

If you are running 14.04 fellow this instructions.

Click this link to install the Mate package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install mint-desktop in a terminal. There are more instructions here

If you are running 12.04-13.10 fellow this instructions.

Type this in a terminal

# this add the repository
sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://packages.mate-desktop.org/repo/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) main"
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-archive-keyring
sudo apt-get update
# this installs base packages
sudo apt-get install mate-core
# this installs more packages
sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment

1b. Installing Gnome flashback (formerly Gnome Fallback)

If you are running 14.04 fellow this instructions.

Click this link to install the Gnome Flashback package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install gnome-session-flashback in a terminal. There are more instructions here

If you are running 12.04-13.10 fellow this instructions.

Click this link to install the Gnome Fallback/Panel package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install gnome-panel or sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback in a terminal. There are more instructions here

1c. Installing XFCE (XForms Common Environment)

Click this link to install the XFCE package, find it in the Ubuntu Software Center, or type sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop in a terminal. There are more instructions here

Ubuntu has an XFCE spin called Xubuntu it is recommended to install it from the official image (.iso) that can be downloaded at this page.

Step 2. Make them look like Ubuntu 10.04.

2a. Making Mate

You need to get the Ambiance Theme so open up a terminal and type this in.

cd ~/Downloads
wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/72782740/debian/ubuntu/ambiance-mate_12.04_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i ambiance-mate_12.04_all.deb

Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

After it is done install, change the Theme to Ambiance MATE so open the Appearance preferences (located under System -> Preferences) and select the Ambiance MATE theme.

This is how It is going to look like

After that you now need to chance the wallpaper to the 10.04 one. so first you need to get them. So open up a terminal

cd ~/Downloads
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb

Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

After it is done install, change the wallpaper to the default in 10.04 so open the Appearance preferences (located under System -> Background) and select the the default in 10.04 wallpaper.

*Sorry I couldn't find a image for this micro-step.

2b. Making Gnome Flashback

You need to get the Ambiance theme if you don't ready have it. It isn't any different from the stock one that you need. If you don't have it click here to download it And just install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software Center, or tools like it. Finally you just need to chance the wallpaper to the one in 10.04 and you do that by just opening a terminal and type in

cd ~/Downloads wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb sudo dpkg -i ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb

Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or... And it is no difference into changing it from normal unity. More Info

2b. Making XFCE

Making the panels look like Gnome 2

First, Remove the the button panel by right clicking on it and select Delete. Add the Show Desktop, Window Buttons, Workspace Switcher and Trash Applet to the new button panel. Now we are done with the button panel now it is time for the button one so chance the panel size to 24px by right clicking on it and select Panel>Panel Preferences. Rename “File Manager” menu into “Places” by opening the handy terminal and type in sudo nano /usr/share/applications/xfce-settings-manager.desktop find the entry Name and change the entry into this Name=Settings Manager → Name=System save it and close it. Now Right click on the Panel Select Panel Preferences Than Items. Remove all default items and left 8 eight items : Applications Menu, Separator, Notification Area, add a separator between Applications Menu and Notification Area to be Expand by click the item, and click edit item by select Edit the currently selected item button at the bottom of Panel Preferences menu. Then, add two Launcher items and move them to the position after Applications Menu item. Set them to Show Label Instead of Icon, by clicking Edit the currently selected item>Advanced> Show Label Instead of Icon. Now, edit each launcher and add the two main applications. For first launcher, add the Places items by clicking Edit the currently selected item>General>Add new item, search and scroll down to get the Places item. For the second launcher, do the same but put the System item (that we have edited before from the xfce-settings-manager desktop menu). Now, we have a good looking Gnome 2 panels.

Now We are going to change the theme to Ambiance

You need to get the Ambiance Theme so open up a terminal and type this in.

Add Ravefinity Project PPA sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ravefinity-project/ppa -y Update package information and install ambiance and radiance themes sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ambiance-xfce-lxde radiance-xfce-lxde Install other colors variations (blue, green, purple, ...): sudo apt-get install ambiance-colors-xfce-lxde radiance-colors-xfce-lxde

Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

After it is done install, change the Theme to Ambiance.

This is how It is going to look like

After that you now need to chance the wallpaper to the 10.04 one. so first you need to get them. So open up a terminal

cd ~/Downloads
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i ubuntu-wallpapers_0.31.3_all.deb

Or download this file, click here to download and install it though Gdebi, Ubuntu Software center, or...

After it is done install, change the wallpaper to the default in 10.04 so open the Desktop Settings (Right on the desktop -> Desktop Setting) and select the the default in 10.04 wallpaper.

Step 3. Install MDM (Mate Display Manager)

You need to get the Ambiance Theme so open up a terminal and type this in.

 sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/mint
 sudo apt-get update
 sudo apt-get install mdm mdm-themes

During the installation you will get a window asking you to choose your default DM, like the one in the print screen. Choose MDM.

And That is it!!!

Sources

@Andrew I found a big typo error in the beginning of your answer under the 1a. Installing Mate heading. Instead of sudo apt-get install mint-desktop the command should be sudo apt-get install mate-desktop. I can see that you're still editing it... — karel, Apr 21 '14 at 08:03
Done for the night. IT is 3:15A I will finnish after sunrise and when I wake up next.... anyone what to help me? — MathCubes, Apr 21 '14 at 08:16
http://namakutux.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-make-xfce-looks-like-gnome-2.html — MathCubes, Apr 21 '14 at 08:16
@Andrew As you suggested to do in your last comment, I have edited your answer and made a lot of changes and then copied the revised answer to Ubuntu Pastebin at this link. Read the suggested revisions carefully before you edit your answer as it is just a draft. — karel, Apr 21 '14 at 09:32

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 21 '14 at 05:20

Ubuntu 10.04 used the GNOME 2.4 Desktop and 12.04 uses the Unity Desktop.

I would suggest you check out MATE as a solution to making Ubuntu 12.04 feel like Ubuntu 10.04

MATE Desktop enter image description here

Add ONE of the following repos to /etc/apt/sources.list via the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://packages.mate-desktop.org/repo/ubuntu precise main"
sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://repo.mate-desktop.org/ubuntu precise main"
sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://mirror1.mate-desktop.org/ubuntu precise main"

then run the following

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install mate-archive-keyring
sudo apt-get update
# this installs base packages
sudo apt-get install mate-core
# this installs more packages
sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment

finally log out and then select "MATE Desktop" from the session menu and login

All information comes from the MATE desktop website

lightdm-gtk-greeter (simple login display manager) is recommended for the login display manager by the MATE team. To install lightdm-gtk-greeter from the terminal run sudo apt-get install lightdm-gtk-greeter && sudo shutdown -r now. — karel, Apr 21 '14 at 05:43

How can I get Ubuntu 12.04 to act and feel like Ubuntu 10.04?

2 Answers2

Step 1. Install Mate, Gnome Flashback, or XFCE

1a. Installing Mate

1b. Installing Gnome flashback (formerly Gnome Fallback)

1c. Installing XFCE (XForms Common Environment)

Step 2. Make them look like Ubuntu 10.04.

2a. Making Mate

2b. Making Gnome Flashback

2b. Making XFCE

Step 3. Install MDM (Mate Display Manager)

Sources

Linked