Ubuntu works very properly, however typically unfixable points come up. For those who’re making an attempt to make use of your Linux PC to get work carried out, the very last thing you must have to fret about is twiddling with the desktop atmosphere, tinkering, and troubleshooting. Sadly, there isn’t a button in Ubuntu that customers can click on to “reset Ubuntu to default settings like in Home windows 10 or Chrome OS. As a substitute, customers trying to fully reset Ubuntu to default settings have to leap by way of some severe hoops.
SPOILER ALERT: Scroll down and watch the video tutorial on the finish of this text.
On this article, we’ll break down two methods to rapidly reset Ubuntu to its unique state; the Dconf technique and the Dwell Disk technique. The Dconf technique resets a single person to default although it may be used to reset a number of customers. The Dwell Disk technique is extra thorough and it’ll reset your whole Ubuntu set up.
Reset Ubuntu – Dconf
In case your Ubuntu Linux desktop is tousled and also you’re trying to get it again to the unique settings, a good way to do it’s to make use of the built-in Dconf editor. Dconf is an integral software for all desktop environments constructed with GTK. Gnome, Cinnamon, XFCE4, and LXDE; all of them use it.
To reset Ubunutu, open up a terminal window and run the next command. Please perceive that doing a Dconf reset is severe enterprise. It should delete every little thing in your Desktop atmosphere. This implies shortcuts, icons, and so forth. Solely run this in case you are completely certain.
Be aware: Dconf reset is completed on a per-user foundation. It gained’t reset the Ubuntu desktop for everybody on the PC. To reset a number of customers, run this a number of instances.
dconf reset -f /
When Dconf reset finishes, restart your PC. If you log in, every little thing will look precisely because it did while you first put in Ubuntu. It also needs to be famous that this command resets settings for a lot of completely different Dconf-dependent applications (music gamers, the file supervisor and and so forth), so you’ll have to re-set that up too.
Reset Kubuntu Desktop
The Dconf reset technique works very properly with variations of Ubuntu that make use of GTK. Kubuntu just isn’t a type of Linux distributions. Since Kubuntu makes use of KDE, the above technique gained’t work. As a substitute, for those who’d wish to reset the KDE desktop in your Kubuntu PC, observe these directions.
Be aware: very like the Dconf reset, eradicating the Plasma configuration works on a per-user foundation. You need to re-run this command on each person you need to reset the desktop on.
Open up a terminal window and delete the default Plasma configuration with the next command.
rm -rf .kde/share/config/plasma-*
Moreover, chances are you’ll need to take away a number of Plasma recordsdata from your personal person listing. These Plasma recordsdata are in ~/.config and assist set the desktop for particular person customers. Delete them with the rm command.
cd ~/.config rm plasma*
After eradicating the Plasma configuration recordsdata, issues are going to start out breaking. Click on the KDE software icon, discover the log off button and click on it.
As you log again into the Kubuntu desktop, the desktop ought to look precisely the way in which it did when it was first put in.
Reset Ubuntu – Dwell Disk
Utilizing the Dconf reset technique works very properly if all you need is to reset the way in which Ubuntu seems to be on the floor, and possibly a couple of GTK applications. Nevertheless, in case your Ubuntu set up is damaged past restore, Dconf isn’t going to be sufficient.
One of the simplest ways to completely reset Ubuntu to inventory settings is to re-install the working system. Nevertheless, we gained’t be doing a standard re-installation the place the laborious drive is deleted, and also you lose your recordsdata. As a substitute, we’ll be benefiting from an incredible Ubuntu characteristic that enables the person to “re-install” it however maintain all their recordsdata.
Going this route is a final resort, and can refresh the core elements of Ubuntu. To get began, you’ll need to create a Ubuntu dwell disk. Plug within the Ubuntu dwell DVD/USB, and switch off your PC. Open up the BIOS and configure it in order that the Ubuntu dwell installer masses first.
When Ubuntu masses up, click on the “Install Ubuntu” button to start out the set up course of. On the subsequent web page, you’ll want to choose “Download updates” and “install third-party software”, for those who selected that choice for the unique set up.
Transfer by way of the installer until you get to the “Installation Type” web page. That is crucial web page of your complete installer, as it’s the place customers set the kind of Ubuntu set up.
Look by way of the lists, and discover the choice that claims “Reinstall Ubuntu”. Deciding on this selection will erase the core working system recordsdata, however maintain stuff like Music, Paperwork, and so forth on the laborious drive.
As soon as “Reinstall” is chosen, click on by way of and end up the remainder of the Ubuntu set up.
Be aware: you’ll want to create the identical username within the installer that you just used earlier than
When Ubuntu finishes the Re-installation course of, a pop-up message will seem letting you realize that the method is full. Click on “Restart Now” to reboot. If you log in, Ubuntu will likely be fully reset to the defaults.
