Unable to install GUI in Ubuntu Server

[Suburban Errorist]

So I just started industrial training yesterday, and one task I was given was to install Ubuntu Server 12.04 in VirtualBox. I have to admit that my prior knowledge in Linux was basically restricted to home use, and I'm kind of unused to using a command line interface for the majority of the time, and I looked around and tried to install a GUI.

So far, whenever I try to install it using apt-get, I would usually get this error:



I've tried other GUIs such as Unity and Gnome core but the problem remains. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?

[i_was_here]

Edit your /etc/apt/sources.list file using nano, vim, or other cli text editor and make sure the Universe and Multiverse repos are enabled (uncommented). Then run sudo apt-get update and try installing a gui again. Also remember to install xorg and video drivers as well.

[Sikh]

  On 09/09/2014 at 03:15, Suburban Errorist said:

So I just started industrial training yesterday, and one task I was given was to install Ubuntu Server 12.04 in VirtualBox. I have to admit that my prior knowledge in Linux was basically restricted to home use, and I'm kind of unused to using a command line interface for the majority of the time, and I looked around and tried to install a GUI.

So far, whenever I try to install it using apt-get, I would usually get this error:

I've tried other GUIs such as Unity and Gnome core but the problem remains. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?

Ubuntu server isn't meant to have a GUI so what "I was here" said is true. You need to uncomment the sources so you can download the packages.

After uncommenting the sources he listed run apt-get update and then apt-get install lubuntu-desktop. If you are looking for a lightweight gui I recommend xfce / xububtu-desktop. Clean and lightweight.

Very helpful doc/page

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ServerGUI

[Suburban Errorist]

  On 09/09/2014 at 03:30, i_was_here said:

Edit your /etc/apt/sources.list file using nano, vim, or other cli text editor and make sure the Universe and Multiverse repos are enabled (uncommented). Then run sudo apt-get update and try installing a gui again. Also remember to install xorg and video drivers as well.

Okay, so I saw that the Universe and Multiverse repos were enabled, and I even enabled these:

 

 

After saving it, I ran apt-get update again, and tried re-installing it a GUI, but I got this:

 

[i_was_here]

Are there more repos at the top of that file? Could you post the entire contents?

[Suburban Errorist]

  On 09/09/2014 at 04:06, i_was_here said:

Are there more repos at the top of that file? Could you post the entire contents?

Here's the whole thing, in three parts:

 

 

(Sorry for posting it in three parts but I couldn't resize VirtualBox's screen size)

EDIT:

 

I also noticed this error message when I tried to install xorg:

 

[simonlang]

12.04 seems terribly old already... i had the same problem in desktop 12.04 i could not install anything that's most likely because the ppas are not maintained anymore.

 

would go with 14.04

[i_was_here]

12.04 is an LTS release and will be supported until April 26, 2017. Furthermore we are not even dealing with any PPA just the official repos.

[simonlang]

but don't pull 12.04 desktop and sever from the same ppas?

the OP might give a try to manually download a file from the ppa via webbrowser, maybe something is blocked.

 

other than this? maybe a setting in virtualbox, are you on the latest virtualbox @Suburban Errorist

 

tried to install stuff via synaptic?

[Suburban Errorist]

  On 10/09/2014 at 07:11, Jack Unterweger said:

but don't pull 12.04 desktop and sever from the same ppas?

the OP might give a try to manually download a file from the ppa via webbrowser, maybe something is blocked.

 

other than this? maybe a setting in virtualbox, are you on the latest virtualbox @Suburban Errorist

 

tried to install stuff via synaptic?

My task was to install the 12.04 version, as requested. And I'm using version 4.3.12, version 4.3.14 couldn't even boot at all. And I'm trying my best to work from the console for the time being, until I can figure out how to fix this.

[Haggis Veteran]

any chance you can type the errors as text?

 

I cant see the images at work

 

if not i will have a look when i get home :)

[articuno1au]

I like how Neowin made people interested in certain topics the mods of aforementioned topics.

 

Kudos >.<

[simonlang]

any update on this?

[Haggis Veteran]

you should be able just t do

sudo apt-get install lxde

lubuntu is just ubuntu with LXDE installed as the desktop environment

 

If i am missing something let me know as its early and i have just worked a 65 hour week lol

[Suburban Errorist]

  On 13/09/2014 at 06:44, Haggis said:

you should be able just t do

sudo apt-get install lxde

lubuntu is just ubuntu with LXDE installed as the desktop environment

 

If i am missing something let me know as its early and i have just worked a 65 hour week lol.

 

Sorry, I've been away for a bit, and my laptop was in the store for repairs, but I've tried that, and also used aptitude, but I'm unable to install anything.I think the OS install itself might be faulty.

[simonlang]

what about synaptic. have you tried that?

[i_was_here]

  On 15/09/2014 at 11:05, Jack Unterweger said:

what about synaptic. have you tried that?

Unless synaptic has a cli interface I don't think he'll be able to use it if he doesn't have any GUI environment installed.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

  On 15/09/2014 at 15:05, i_was_here said:

Unless synaptic has a cli interface I don't think he'll be able to use it if he doesn't have any GUI environment installed.

 

Yeah, I think synaptic is GUI only.

 

OP, I'd just reinstall. Be rid of this issue.

[Suburban Errorist]

  On 15/09/2014 at 16:33, Mindovermaster said:

Yeah, I think synaptic is GUI only.

 

OP, I'd just reinstall. Be rid of this issue.

 

Yeah, at this rate, a reinstall seems to be a viable option.

[Suburban Errorist]

Well, even after a reinstall the problem still remains.

[simonlang]

  On 16/09/2014 at 06:07, Suburban Errorist said:

Well, even after a reinstall the problem still remains.

 

this is really wired. anyone else trying ubuntu server 12.04 in virtualbox?

i might give it a go today just to see if i have the same issue or not...maybe i find out something.

maybe it is a setting in virtualbox internet settings but as you say you can ping other things i fail to see how.

[Matthew S.]

  On 16/09/2014 at 06:07, Suburban Errorist said:

Well, even after a reinstall the problem still remains.

Are you even getting an internet connection in the VM?

[simonlang]

  On 16/09/2014 at 06:29, Matthew S. said:

Are you even getting an internet connection in the VM?

i think he told us he can ping other websites afaik

[Matthew S.]

umm where is it stated? I just went threw the entire thread....

 

Edit: I'm also installing 12.04.5 in a virtual box vm on my mac to see if I can replicate this issue.

[Suburban Errorist]

  On 16/09/2014 at 06:29, Matthew S. said:

Are you even getting an internet connection in the VM?

 

The short answer, yes.