Dell Inspiron Mini 12 User Manual

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Contents

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Getting Started With Your Dell Desktop . . .5

Getting Started With Your

Classic Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Starting an Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Customizing Your Desktop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Personalizing the panel................8

Adding and Removing an Application

Icon on Your Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Getting Started with Ubuntu®. . . . . . . . . . . .9

Quickly Viewing a Window Full Screen. . . . .9

System Preferences and Administration. . . 10

Setting Screensaver Preferences ......10

Browsing Files and Folders Using

Nautilus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Using Bookmarks....................12

To add a bookmark ..................12

Creating a New Folder ...............12

Using the Firefox Web Browser . . . . . . . . . .14

Using Tabbed Browsing ..............14

Using Bookmarks....................14

Adding Bookmarks to the Launcher.....14

Instant Messaging with Pidgin. . . . . . . . . . . 16

Importing Digital Photographs . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Applications in Ubuntu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Adding and Removing Applications .....17

Adding a Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Restoring Your Ubuntu System. . . . . . . . . .19

Ubuntu Reinstallation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Starting System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

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Overview

Overview

Your Dell computer is preconfigured with Ubuntu if you opted for it during purchase.

This document describes how to perform basic functions with your computer running Ubuntu
operating system and also includes reinstallation steps for Ubuntu operating system.

You have two modes of operating your computer running Ubuntu.

Dell customized mode with a Launcher•

Classic Ubuntu mode•

The two modes have been described in the following chapters.

To learn more about Ubuntu operating system, see Help and Support (Click → System→ Help
and Support).

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Getting Started With Your Dell Desktop

Getting Started With Your Dell Desktop

The Dell Desktop launches when you turn on your computer with Ubuntu® operating system.

To turn off the Dell Desktop Launcher, click the and select Switch Desktop Mode→ Classic
Desktop. See “Getting Started with Your Classic Desktop” on page 8 for instructions about getting
started with Classic Desktop.

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Getting Started With Your Dell Desktop

1 Launcher

The Launcher organizes applications and
website bookmarks into categories. To
access an application using the Launcher,
click on a Category, and then click on the
application, or click on a bookmark to
view the website in a new tab. You can
customize the Launcher to contain the
applications and website bookmarks you
use most frequently by using the Plus
Icons.

2 Desktop

Right-click on the background for a
menu that will allow you to change the
background image.

3 Categories

Click on a category to view a list of
applications and bookmarks.

4 Home Icon

Click on this icon to minimize all windows
and to display the Launcher.

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5 Ubuntu Icon

Click on this icon menu to access
Preferences, Places (useful file locations),
and Help and Support.

6 Running Tasks

Click the required tab to view the
associated window.

7 Panel

The panel provides quick access to open
running tasks on desktop, or to frequently­used programs, files, or utilities on your
computer.

8 Search Icon

Click on this icon to search for files and
folders.

9 Battery/Charging Status Indicator

Click on this icon to know the status of the
battery.

10 Network Status Indicator

Click on this icon to know the network
signal strength.

11 Volume Control Icon

Click on this icon to adjust the volume of
the computer.

12 Notification area

Includes a clock and icons associated
with programs.

13 Plus Icons

Click the upper Plus Icon to add or remove
a category from the Launcher. Click the
lower Plus Icon to add applications or
website bookmarks.

Getting Started With Your Dell Desktop

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Getting Started With Your Classic Desktop

Getting Started With Your Classic Desktop

Starting an Application

Click the 1. Applications menu.

Select the appropriate category and application.2.

Customizing Your Desktop

Personalizing the panel

You can add frequently used utilities and applications to the panel by performing the following
procedures:

Right-click on the panel and select1. Add to Panel.

Select an application in the 2. Add to Panel dialog box and click Add.

Adding and Removing an Application Icon on Your Desktop

You can add an icon on your Desktop to launch a frequently-used application.

Select an application in the 1. Applications menu.

Drag and drop the application on to the Desktop.2.

To remove an application icon from your Desktop, drag it into the trash bin.

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Getting Started with Ubuntu®

Getting Started with Ubuntu

®

Quickly Viewing a Window Full Screen

Press the Windows® key to toggle between standard view and full screen view.

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Getting Started with Ubuntu®

System Preferences and Administration

From the System menu you can control the
appearance and operation of your computer
and get help.

Select • Preferences for settings of themes,
keyboard shortcuts, and power management.

Select • Administration to manage computer
monitors and configuration tools functions
such as network, printing, and users and
groups.

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Setting Screensaver Preferences

Click1. → System→ Preferences→
Screensaver.

The Screensaver Preferences window
appears.

In the 2. Screensaver Theme list, select Blank
for a blank screen, select Random for a
random screensaver, or select a screensaver
of your choice.

Adjust the slider for the length of time that 3.
you want your computer to idle before the
screensaver turns on.

Ensure that the 4. Activate screensaver when
computer is idle checkbox is selected.

If you want the screensaver to lock the 5.
screen, select the Lock screen when
screensaver is active checkbox.

Click 6. Close.

Getting Started with Ubuntu®

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Getting Started with Ubuntu®

Browsing Files and Folders Using Nautilus

The Nautilus File Manager allows you to
view, create, organize, and search for your
files and folders using an interface similar to
a web browser. To open Nautilus, click →

Places→ Home Folder.

Using Bookmarks

Bookmarks in Nautilus are similar to bookmarks
in a web browser. Use the bookmarks feature to
help you quickly open frequently-used folders.

To add a bookmark

Browse to the folder that you want to 1.
bookmark, and open it.

Click 2. Bookmarks→ Add Bookmark or press
<Ctrl><D>.
The bookmark will appear in the Bookmarks
menu and in the lower portion of the side pane.

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Creating a New Folder

Browse to the location where you want to 1.
create the new folder.

Click 2. File→ Create Folder, or right-
click and select Create Folder, or press
<Shift><Ctrl><N>.

Name the folder and press 3. Enter.

Getting Started with Ubuntu®

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Getting Started with Ubuntu®

Using the Firefox Web Browser

You can browse the web using the Firefox web
browser. The Google search box allows you to
search the web using Google search engine
directly from the toolbar. Tabbed browsing
means you can have multiple pages open, but
contained within the same browser window.

Using Tabbed Browsing

To open a new tab, go to File→ New Tab or
press <Crtl><T>.

To close a tab, click the close button on the tab
or press <Ctrl><W>.

Using Bookmarks

To bookmark a page, click 1. Bookmarks→
Bookmark This Page or press <Ctrl><D>

or to bookmark a group of tabs, select
Bookmarks→ Bookmark All Tabs.

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Select a folder for the bookmark and 2.
click Add.
Bookmarks saved to the Bookmarks Toolbar
Folder appear on the Bookmarks Toolbar.

To organize and edit your bookmarks, click 3.

Bookmarks→ Organize Bookmarks.

Adding Bookmarks to the Launcher

If you have Dell Desktop enabled, you can add
web site bookmarks to the Launcher from within
Firefox.

To add a bookmark to the Launcher, click 1.
Bookmarks→ Bookmark in Launcher or
press <Ctrl><Shift><D>.

Select a category and click 2. Apply.

Getting Started with Ubuntu®

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Getting Started with Ubuntu®

Instant Messaging with Pidgin

The Pidgin messaging client allows you to use
multiple types of instant messaging accounts
and protocols all at once.

Click 1. → Applications→ Internet→
Pidgin Internet Messenger.

If you are opening Pidgin for the first time, 2.
in addition to your Buddy List, an Accounts
dialogue box will prompt you to add
accounts.

Click 3. Add.

Select the 4. Protocol of the account that you
want to add, enter the required information,
and click Save.

Close the 5. Accounts dialogue box and,
optionally, the Buddy List.

You can access the Pidgin menu options
by right-clicking on the Pidgin icon on the
top panel.

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Importing Digital Photographs

To import photos from your camera:

Plug-in and switch on the camera by placing 1.
it in review mode.

Click on 2. Import Photos.

A preview of the photos appear.

Choose a location on your hard drive to save 3.
your photos and click Import.

Getting Started with Ubuntu®

Applications in Ubuntu

Ubuntu comes with a wide variety of
pre-installed applications.

Some of the most frequently-used applications
include the following:

Adding and Removing Applications

Click 1. → Applications→
Add/Remove.

To add an application, select the required 2.
application checkbox. To remove an
application, deselect the required
application checkbox.

Some applications may require additional 3.
supporting applications or will be a part of a
bundle. If you still want to install/remove the
application, click Install All/Remove All in
the confirmation window.

When you have finished making changes, 4.
click OK.

Check the list of changes you have made in 5.
the confirmation window and click Apply.

Progress windows appear while 6.
downloading, installing, and removing
applications. Once the processes finish, the
Changes Applied window appears.

Click 7. Close.

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Getting Started with Ubuntu®

Adding a Printer

Click 1. → System→ Administration→
Printing.

The Printers window appears.

Double-click on the 2. New Printer icon. The
Add a Printer wizard will start and your
printer is automatically detected.

Click 3. Forward.

The 4. Printer Driver settings are automatically
set.

Click 5. Forward.

If required, enter a 6. Description and Location

Click 7. Apply.

Your printer appears in the Printers window.
If your printer was not automatically
detected, you can set the Printer Port and
Driver manually.

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Connecting to the Internet

Click 1. → System→ Administration→
Network.

Select the connection that you plan to use 2.
and click Properties.

If you are using a wireless or wired 3.
connection then set Configuration to

Automatic configuration (Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol). Otherwise, if your

ISP or network administrator has given
you an IP address, set Configuration to

Static IP address, enter the address in the
IP address field and click OK.

To activate or deactivate network 4.
connections, select or deselect the check
box next to the required connection in the
Connections tab of the Network Settings
window.

Click 5. Close.

Restoring Your Ubuntu System

Restoring Your Ubuntu System

Ubuntu Reinstallation

If you received an Operating System media with
your computer, you can use it to restore your
operating system.

NOTICE: However, using the Operating
System media also deletes all data on the
hard drive.

NOTE: Your computer may or may not have
an optical drive. Use an external optical
drive or any external storage device for the
procedures that involve media.

To reinstall Ubuntu, you need a Ubuntu OS
Recovery media.

Starting System Restore

Turn Off the computer.1.

Plug in an external USB optical disc drive 2.
into your computer.

Insert the Ubuntu OS Recovery media in the 3.
external USB optical disc drive.

NOTE: Using the Ubuntu OS Recovery
media deletes all data on the hard disk.

Turn On the computer.4.

When the DELL logo appears, press <0> 5.
immediately.

NOTE: The next steps change the boot
sequence for one time only. On the next
start-up, the computer boots according to
the devices specified in the system setup
program.

When the boot device list appears, highlight 6.
CD/DVD/CD-RW and press <Enter>.

Press any key to 7. Boot from CD-ROM. Follow
the instructions on the screen to complete
the installation.

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Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

© 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell
Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text:

Windows

is either trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States

Dell

, the

DELL

logo, and

YOURS IS HERE

are trademarks of Dell Inc;

and/or other countries.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities
claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in
trademarks and trade names other than its own.

July 2008 P/N H840J Rev. A00