How to Reset Ubuntu/Gnome Settings to Defaults without Re-installing

Playing around with Ubuntu/Gnome, trying different themes, different engines, different window managersand other settings could mess up your Gnome settings. Here's how to reset the GNOME settings to it's default state.

1. Switch to a terminal (TTY1-TTY6) by pressing Alt+Ctrl+F#.
2. Login with your username and password
3. Run the following command:

killall gconfd-2
rm -r ~/.gconf/apps/panel
killall gnome-panel

4. Switch back to TTY7 by pressing Alt+Ctrl+F7

Done!

How to Tell What Version of Ubuntu You Are Running

Try the following:

cat /etc/lsb-release
cat /etc/issue
uname -a
lsb_release -d -s -c

sb-release is a better option for ubuntu, but /etc/issue works across most linux varieties. Uname will print information about the kernel version and is not the same as the version of the OS.

Installing Canon MP210 on Ubuntu 10.10 Linux

How to use Canon MP210 on Ubuntu 8.04 (Linux printer drivers setup tutorial)

This is how to get your MP210 printer to work on Ubuntu 10.10:
(It also applies to earlier version of Ubuntu 8+.)

Step1: Get the drivers.
You will need 4 driver packages:
* cnijfilter-common_2.80-1_i386.deb
* cnijfilter-mp210series_2.80-1_i386.deb
* scangearmp-common_1.10-1_i386.deb
* scangearmp-mp210series_1.10-1_i386.deb

Get them from here:
http://support-au.canon.com.au/EN/search?v%3aproject=ABS-EN&binning-state=model%3d%3dPIXMA%20MP210%0Amenu%3d%3dDownload%0Aos%3d%3dLinux&


Step 2: Install the drivers

Earlier version will follow below steps:

prompt%> sudo dpkg -i cnijfilter-common_2.80-1_i386.deb cnijfilter-mp210series_2.80-1_i386.deb
prompt%> sudo dpkg -i scangearmp-common_1.10-1_i386.deb scangearmp-mp210series_1.10-1_i386.deb

With 10.10 version or close:

Go to places (GUI mode) and locate the printer files (cnijfilter-common_2.80-1_i386.deb, cnijfilter-mp210series_2.80-1_i386.debin) Download folder and double click each files listed in step 1 to install. Same goes to scanner.

Step3: Add the printer (if not already added)
* System->Administration->Printing
* Remove MP210_series
* Add new printer
** Device URI hal:///org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_4a9_1721_505BD0_if1_printer_noserial

Or do it via CUPS:
http://localhost:631/printers/

If you just need the printer, you're done!


Step4: Install Scanner

Locate the scanner files (scangearmp-common_1.10-1_i386.deb, scangearmp-mp210series_1.10-1_i386.deb) in Download folder and double click the files listed in step 1 to install.

Test by going to Application->Graphics and Simple Scan and you're done!

For old versions of Ubuntu, try below steps:

Step1: Download drivers for scanner, Extract & Build
http://internap.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/mp610linux/mp150-0.14.2u.tar.bz2
prompt%> tar jxvf mp150-0.14.2u.tar.bz2
prompt%> cd mp150-0.14.2u
prompt%> make
prompt%> sudo make install

Step 2: Setup XSane
prompt%> sudo mv /usr/lib/sane/libsane-pixma.so.1.0.19 /usr/lib/sane/libsane-
pixma.so.1.0.19.old
prompt%> sudo cp libsane-pixma.so /usr/lib/sane/libsane-pixma.so.1.0.19
prompt%> sudo apt-get install xsane

Step3: Run XSane
Click Applications->Graphics->XSane Image Scanner and scan away.