How To Add / Remove Applets From The Gnome Panel In Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04 [UNE Panel Locked - Fix]

I recently upgraded to Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04 Lucid Lynx (previously Ubuntu Netbook Remix) on my netbook and noticed the Gnome Panel was locked. I didn't search for a work-around because I've been very busy these days but aghnaar found a "fix" for this (many thanks!) so I decided to share it with WebUpd8's readers - if you own a netbook with UNE 10.04, you will definitely find this useful.

Ubuntu Netbook Edition (UNE) 10.04 comes with a locked Gnome panel and a few other Gnome settings. The reason for this is that the users can switch between the Ubuntu Netbook Edition interface and the normal Gnome interface cleanly. But there's a problem: you cannot change any Gnome panel settings or add / remove applets - which I find it very annoying since you cannot install applets which make Ubuntu Netbook Edition a lot more usable such as DockBarX, Namebar, Gnome Global Menu and so on.

Here is a work-around which will allow you to add or remove applets from the Gnome Panel in Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04 Lucid Lynx:

Before proceeding, please note: UNE 10.04 Lucid Lynx comes with 3 login sessions: "Ubuntu Netbook Edition" - which is default and is for 3D capable netbooks, "Ubuntu Netbook Edition 2D" for netbooks without 3D acceleration, and "GNOME" which is equivalent to the non-netbook Ubuntu interface. In the instructions below, make sure you use the instructions for your netbook, editing either the "Ubuntu Netbook Edition" or "Ubuntu Netbook Edition 2D".

A) Ubuntu Netbook Edition for Netbooks with 3D acceleration support

sudo ln -s /etc/xdg/xdg-une/autostart/maximus-autostart.desktop /etc/xdg/autostart/ #this makes Maximus run at login
sudo ln -s /etc/xdg/xdg-une/autostart/netbook-launcher.desktop /etc/xdg/autostart/ #this launches the UNE interface at login
sudo ln -s /usr/share/gconf/une/default/20_une-gconf-default /usr/share/gconf/defaults/
sudo ln -s /usr/share/gconf/une/mandatory/20_une-gconf-mandatory /usr/share/gconf/defaults/
sudo update-gconf-defaults

B) Ubuntu Netbook Edition 2D (for non 3D acceleration capable netbooks)

sudo ln -s /etc/xdg/xdg-une/autostart/maximus-autostart.desktop /etc/xdg/autostart/ #this makes Maximus run at login
sudo ln -s /etc/xdg/xdg-une-efl/autostart/netbook-launcher-efl.desktop /etc/xdg/autostart/ #this launches the UNE interface at login
sudo ln -s /usr/share/gconf/une/default/20_une-gconf-default /usr/share/gconf/defaults/
sudo ln -s /usr/share/gconf/une/mandatory/20_une-gconf-mandatory /usr/share/gconf/defaults/
sudo update-gconf-defaults

Then log out and in the the GDM login screen, chose "GNOME" as the session instead of "Ubuntu Netbook Edition" or "Ubuntu Netbook Edition 2D". The "Session" item will be displayed once you input your username:

Special thanks to aghnaar; Credits for the how-to: Didier Roche