Howto: switch from Ubuntu to Kubuntu or Xubuntu or Edubuntu or vice versa

January 30, 2007

Howto: switch from Ubuntu to Kubuntu or Xubuntu or Edubuntu or vice versa (6.10 edgy)

Filed under: Kubuntu, Tuxicity, Ubuntu, xubuntu — tuxicity @ 1:54 pm

Wrong desktop environment :-s

I recently installed Ubuntu6.10 with the Kubuntu6.10 install cd,
Why ? I did not feel like downloading the Ubuntu iso while having the Kubuntu cd ready for usage.
After a successful install of Kubuntu its easy to revert to Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

When it asks what dm to use; kdm or gdm; select gdm… continue…
When done its time to remove the Kubuntu packages;

sudo apt-get remove kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-artwork-usplash

It wil remove some of the Kubuntu packages and with autoremove the rest of the Kubuntu packages kan be removed now;

sudo apt-get autoremove

When done reboot (or restart x) and you have your Ubuntu ready for usage.
Replace Kubuntu with Xubuntu;

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
Select gdm as dm
Remove Kubuntu as explained earlier

Replace Kubuntu with Edubuntu:

sudo apt-get install edubuntu-desktop
Select gdm as dm
Remove Kubuntu as explained earlier

If you wish to keep the Kubuntu packages simply skip the remove step.
If you wish to revert from Ubuntu to Kubuntu ;

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
Select kdm as dm
sudo apt-get remove ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get autoremove

Ubuntu to Xubuntu:

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get remove xubuntu desktop
sudo apt-get autoremove

Ubuntu to Edubuntu:

sudo apt-get install edubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get remove edubuntu desktop
sudo apt-get autoremove

If you revert to Kubuntu make sure to select kdm as dm, all others require gdm.
Removal of Xubuntu:

sudo apt-get remove xubuntu-desktop xubuntu-artwork-usplash
sudo apt-get autoremove

Removal of Edubuntu:

sudo apt-get remove edubuntu edubuntu-artwork-usplash
sudo apt-get autoremove

Want to switch from gdm to kdm or vice versa while having both installed?

sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm
and select your preferred dm
or
sudo dpkg-reconfigure kdm
and select your preferred dm

Its not very hard to switch from one environment to another, and sometimes its easier to use the cd you have laying around and switch after install.