Kubuntu on 2 computers(solved)

[errol]

The question comes at the end of a long explanation. I hope somebody can help. TIA - Errol
I have 2 computers with similar (but not exact) hardware. The cpu's are similar (each an AMD 64) but not the same. The Kubuntu installed is the 32 bit one. On the one computer Kubuntu is configured as I like. On the other I am having problems that I can't seem to solve easily. Nothing is not solvable I'm sure but the effort required....
I'll state just two of the several configuration problems I have.
1). When minimizing open programs they don't minimize to the panel but "disappear" and sometimes (why and how I don't know) the desktop becomes a series of open programs. Lots of open programs showing but most of the time the desktop is empty and I can't control maximizing (restore) or minimizing open programs. In this state of being I don't control a program when I need it and find myself opening programs more than once and not being able to use them or close them once minimized.
2). I installed OpenOffice.org 3 on each of the computers. On the one computer the installation was fine, on the other a "mess".
For these and several other reasons I want to copy the Kubuntu installation from the one computer (as is) to the other one. As these computers are not connected on the web (they are at different locations) I want to burn the complete installation on a DVD and transfer it to the other computer. Is this possible If so how? In each case the Kubuntu installation is on a partition with a separate /home partition.
I have read the thread below. Is this applicable to my problem?
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=11116.0
Errol

[toad]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers

First I'd try copying ~/.kde from machine a to machine b and see whether the minimising problem goes away.

The openoffice problem is prolly down to the installation procedure. My guess is you installed one from the repos and the other from deb files. If that is not it then some more info would be helpful

[errol]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers

Toad thanks for your prompt reply. I'll try first of all with the ~/.KDE solution and report back. About OpenOffice.org - what happened on the "not successful" computer was a series of installations. The first one was an attempt to upgrade from 2.4 using a repository. With that attempt I was unable to open any Openoffice program. I kept on getting a message that open office was repairing a file and would eventually open. It never did. I uninstalled ALL references to Open office and tried re-installing using the deb download. Now I can enter and use Open office but can't "configure" it. Don't know why but part of the problem is explained in the next paragraph.
Another reason I wanted to copy the "good" version of Kubuntu to the second computer is that my panel configuration is also a mess (I said there were more than just the 2 problems I outlined ). All the "default" widgets (I use intrepid with KDE 4.1) have disappeared from the panel. The widgets left are only those I placed there Firefox, Thunderbird etc. The sound widget, dual language widget (I use two languages in Open Office), etc. aren't there and I don't know how to restore them.
That's why I wanted to copy the installation from one computer to the other. Too many problems on the "messed" computer which I don't know how they happened or how to solve. Maybe the KDE solution yo suggested will help.

[toad]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers

Re the widgets and general appearance - all that is handled from within ~/.kde

Chances are that replacing the functioning with the non functioning one will get rid of all your woes.

Uninstall your current OOo3 and put 2.4.1 back on, why not? If you insist on having version 3 you could uninstall your deb install and do it from the launchpad repos. The problem with that (and which you detailed above), is a package called openoffice.org-kde - uninstall that and all is well (albeit ugly).

Let us know how you get on.

[noelvh]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers

I am not sure if doing a copy of one system to another will work. I built a laptop for my dad as we both had IBM T30's and when he put the hard drive I sent him in it did not work.

But if you are going to try this I have used clonezilla
http://clonezilla.org/
I did this to a usb drive and it worked well.

Noel Vh

[errol]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers

Thanks Noelvh, I think I may have to use clonezilla, if the copying of /.kde fails. See next paragraph.

Toad, I came across a problem that I'm sure is a factor of me being a newbie. I copied and burnt the ~/.kd folder on to a CD. When using a GUI interface, I go into the CD and find the directory and all its contents. I took the CD home and started my Kubuntu in a non graphic mode. I mounted the CD but NOTHING I did enabled me to read or copy the directory to the relevant place on my other computer. I kept on getting the message that there was nothing to copy. I typed "ls" which also read nothing.
I brought the CD back to the OK computer and again, in Kubuntu (gui) i can see the folder. I went into terminal (on the same computer), mounted the CD and again there was nothing to be read, as though there wasn't a directory on the CD.
Obviously there is something I'm doing wrong - but what? I guess it has to do with the way a non-graphical Kubuntu reads directories as to the way it is read in GUI. Maybe there is a command I should write differently.

Errol

[toad]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers

Ah, yes. ~/.kde has the dot in front of it, meaning that it is "hidden" and you cannot see it with a normal ls command. To make it visible you want to append the -a flag for "show all", i.e.

ls -a

Same goes for Dolphin, you need to go into View (I think) and tell it to show hidden files. Bingo

[errol]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers

Toad thanks
While you were replying I realized that the /.KDE may be the problem so I made a new directory without the .(dot) and copied the ~/.KDE files into that directory. When going into the CD now from the terminal, I can read the new directory. Later when I go home I'm sure I'll be able to copy the KDE directory to the other computer either with the -a or from the new directory I made.
Will report results.
Errol

[errol]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers(solved)

Due to holidays and family obligations it took a while to check things out. Toad your solution worked. Thanks.
About question 2. "installing Open Office 3.0" - the reason I want OOo 3.0 is for the processing of Windows 2007 files (the "x" files ). I have for the moment gone back to 2.4 but will try a "proper" install of OOo3 and not an update. But thanks to you the main problem I had is no longer.
Errol

[toad]

Re: Kubuntu on 2 computers(solved)

Good to hear

Let us know how you get on with the OpenOffice issue. It also can only be a matter of time before the openoffice-kde packet gets fixed, so watch the forum.