Enabling Compiz Fusion On An Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop (ATI Mobility Radeon 9200)

Version 1.0
Author: Falko Timme

This tutorial shows how you can enable Compiz Fusion on an Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) desktop (the system must have a 3D-capable graphics card - I'm using an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 here). With Compiz Fusion you can use beautiful 3D effects like wobbly windows or a desktop cube on your desktop.

This document comes without warranty of any kind! I do not issue any guarantee that this will work for you!

1 Preliminary Note

I have tried this on my 3-year old HP Pavilion zt3000 notebook which has an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphic card, and it works really good there.

2 Restricted Drivers Manager

If you're using a new Nvidia or ATI graphic card, you will most likely have to install a proprietary driver for it which you can do under System > Administration > Restricted Drivers Manager. If you are not sure, please try to get Compiz Fusion working without a proprietary driver first, and if it doesn't work, install the proprietary driver for your graphic card using the Restricted Drivers Manager.

I don't have to do this because my ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 is old enough to be supported by default. :-)

3 Installing Compiz Fusion

Open the Synaptic Package Manager (System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager):

Use the Search function and search for compizconfig:

You should find the package compizconfig-settings-manager in the results. Click on it and select Mark for Installation:

Accept that package's dependencies by clicking on Mark:

Afterwards, you should also select the packages emerald and gnome-compiz-manager for installation (you can use the Search fuction again to find them):

Next, click on the Apply button:

Confirm your selection by clicking on Apply again:

Afterwards, the packages are being downloaded and installed:

After all packages have been installed, you can close the Synaptic Package Manager: