Just Beginning
Introduction
Is Ubuntu for You?*
Which Ubuntu to pick?
Installing Ubuntu inside XP
Plan Partitions
Download and Burn Ubuntu
Burn ISO from Mac
Install Desktop CD Ubuntu
Install Alternate CD Ubuntu*
Modest Specs
Where's the Terminal?
Password in Terminal
Install Software
Extra Repositories*
File Permissions
Security in Ubuntu

Next Steps
Install Nvidia Drivers
Mount Windows
Install Proprietary Software
Install Flash
Install Java
Install MP3 Playback
Finding iTunes Alternatives
Export as MP3 in Audacity
Install New Firefox*
Use Wine

Beyond the Basics
Backing up Ubuntu
Upgrade Ubuntu*
Make a /home partition
Change boot menu
Downgrade Firefox in 8.04
Install Mozilla's Firefox
Install Internet Explorer
Mount Linux
Use PartImage

Playing Around
Enable Desktop Effects
KDE/Gnome Comparison
Install Gnome
Install KDE
Install XFCE
Install IceWM
Install XPDE
Pure Gnome
Pure KDE
Pure XFCE
A faster KDE
Replacing Nautilus

Troubleshooting
No graphical login
Can't sudo
Graphical sudo
Forgot password

* Off-site link

Getting Back to a Pure Gnome on Ubuntu

If you used aptitude to install other desktop environments, you will not need this tutorial, as you can just type

sudo aptitude remove kubuntu-desktop
or
sudo aptitude remove xubuntu-desktop
to get back to your "pure Gnome."

If you didn't have as much foresight and chose instead to install KDE or XFCE through Synaptic or apt-get, this is how to remove those desktop environments from your Gnome.

Note, this applies only to Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy). If you're using Gutsy, go here. If you're using Feisty, go here. If you're using Edgy, go here. If you're using Dapper, go here.

Remove Kubuntu
Paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove adept adept-batch adept-common adept-installer adept-manager adept-notifier adept-updater akregator amarok amarok-xine apport-qt ark arts cryptsetup debtags desktop-effects-kde digikam dmsetup dolphin enscript foomatic-db-gutenprint gdebi-kde gnupg-agent gpgsm gtk-qt-engine gwenview hpijs-ppds hplip-gui ijsgutenprint jockey-kde k3b kaddressbook kaffeine kamera karm katapult kate kbstate kcontrol kcron kde-guidance kde-guidance-powermanager kde-icons-mono kde-style-qtcurve kde-systemsettings kdeadmin-kfile-plugins kdebase-bin kdebase-bin-kde3 kdebase-data kdebase-kio-plugins kdebluetooth kdegraphics-kfile-plugins kdelibs-data kdelibs4c2a kdemultimedia-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kio-plugins kdenetwork-filesharing kdenetwork-kfile-plugins kdepasswd kdepim-kio-plugins kdepim-kresources kdepim-wizards kdeprint kdesktop kdesudo kdm kdnssd keep kfind kghostview khelpcenter kicker kio-apt kio-locate kio-umountwrapper kipi-plugins klipper kmag kmail kmailcvt kmenuedit kmilo kmix kmousetool kmplayer-base kmplayer-konq-plugins knetworkconf knotes konq-plugins konqueror konqueror-nsplugins konsole kontact konversation kooka kopete korganizer kpdf kpf kppp krdc krfb kscreensaver ksmserver ksnapshot ksvg ksysguard ksysguardd ksystemlog ktorrent kubuntu-artwork-usplash kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-docs kubuntu-konqueror-shortcuts kvkbd kwalletmanager kwin kwin-style-crystal language-selector-qt libakode2 libarts1-akode libarts1c2a libartsc0 libaudio2 libavahi-qt3-1 libavcodec1d libavutil1d libclucene0ldbl libdbus-qt-1-1c2 libept0 libexiv2-2 libfftw3-3 libflac++6 libgmp3c2 libgsm1 libifp4 libijs-0.35 libjpeg-progs libk3b2 libkbluetooth0 libkcal2b libkcddb1 libkdcraw3 libkdepim1a libkexiv2-3 libkipi0 libkleopatra1 libkmime2 libkonq4 libkpimexchange1 libkpimidentities1 libksba8 libkscan1 libksieve0 libktnef1 liblua50 liblualib50 libmad0 libmimelib1c2a libmodplug0c2 libmpcdec3 libnjb5 libofa0 libpoppler-qt2 libpostproc1d libpq5 libpythonize0 libqt-perl libqt3-mt libqt4-core libqt4-gui librsync1 libruby1.8 libsearchclient0 libskim0 libsmokeqt1 libstreamanalyzer0 libstreams0 libstrigihtmlgui0 libtunepimp5 libxapian15 libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0 libxcb-xv0 libxine1 libxine1-bin libxine1-console libxine1-ffmpeg libxine1-misc-plugins libxine1-plugins libxine1-x libxvmc1 network-manager-kde networkstatus openoffice.org-kde openoffice.org-style-crystal perl-suid pinentry-qt poster psutils pykdeextensions python-dev python-kde3 python-qt3 python-qt4 python-qt4-common python-qt4-dbus python-reportlab python-sip4 python2.5-dev qca-tls rdiff-backup ruby ruby1.8 scim-bridge-client-qt scim-qtimm skim software-properties-kde speedcrunch strigi-applet strigi-daemon system-config-printer-kde ttf-arphic-ukai vorbis-tools && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

Remove Xubuntu
Paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove a2ps abiword abiword-common abiword-plugins gnumeric-common gnumeric-gtk gtk2-engines-xfce imagemagick libaiksaurus-1.2-0c2a libaiksaurus-1.2-data libaiksaurusgtk-1.2-0c2a libexo-0.3-0 libgdome2-0 libgdome2-cpp-smart0c2a libglib2.0-data libgoffice-0-6 libgoffice-0-6-common libgsf-gnome-1-114 libgtkmathview0c2a liblink-grammar4 libots0 libt1-5 libtagc0 libthunar-vfs-1-2 libwpd-stream8c2a libxfce4mcs-client3 libxfce4mcs-manager3 libxfce4util4 libxfcegui4-4 link-grammar-dictionaries-en mousepad mozilla-thunderbird orage psutils python-exo ristretto tango-icon-theme tango-icon-theme-common thunar thunar-archive-plugin thunar-data thunar-media-tags-plugin thunar-thumbnailers thunar-volman thunderbird vim-runtime xfce4-appfinder xfce4-battery-plugin xfce4-clipman-plugin xfce4-cpugraph-plugin xfce4-dict-plugin xfce4-fsguard-plugin xfce4-governor-plugin xfce4-icon-theme xfce4-mailwatch-plugin xfce4-mcs-manager xfce4-mcs-plugins xfce4-mcs-plugins-extra xfce4-mixer xfce4-mixer-alsa xfce4-mount-plugin xfce4-netload-plugin xfce4-notes-plugin xfce4-panel xfce4-places-plugin xfce4-quicklauncher-plugin xfce4-screenshooter-plugin xfce4-session xfce4-smartbookmark-plugin xfce4-systemload-plugin xfce4-terminal xfce4-utils xfce4-verve-plugin xfce4-weather-plugin xfce4-xkb-plugin xfdesktop4 xfdesktop4-data xfprint4 xfwm4 xfwm4-themes xubuntu-artwork-usplash xubuntu-default-settings xubuntu-desktop xubuntu-docs && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

If you have suggestions or corrections for these tutorials, please post in this Ubuntu Forums thread or leave a comment on my blog.