I've successfully installed LXDE (not LXQT) on an upgraded Ubuntu distribution that began as the Lubuntu 18.04 Alternative iso's command line option system (18.04 to 20.04 - Alternative Iso Page For Limited RAM Systems) This is my family's preference for our limited RAM machines. I've tried just about every other option, but we like this setup (customized LXDE on Ubuntu LTS).
My issue is that building my light system of choice has become less than intuitive, and may include some unnecessary packages, as the current repositories seem to force quite a bit of unwanted software. For example, sudo apt install lxde or sudo install lxsession and other similar tactics install LXQT or Gnome. To install LXDE --
I had to install openbox (while avoiding gnome):
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-core
sudo apt install openbox
sudo apt install xinitI then had to install several packages in a row:[update: 2020-11-02 - I've identified the key packages necessary for installing the old LXDE]
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends --no-install-suggests xdg-utils libnotify4
sudo apt install lxsessionAt this point, LXDE properly installs and runs on a virtual machine, but I'm wondering if there's a better way to install LXDE on Ubuntu 20.04? Should I move to Debian?
-P.S. This installation method does not boot well on my AMD Phenom II X4 810, Nvidia GeForce 210 machine. The system hangs after GRUB, and eventually stops at the normal message concerning memory blocks on the system drive, but I have to type alt-F2 to enter CLI. Just a quirk I believe is worth mentioning.
Thank you, everyone.
103 Answers
Install LXDE on Ubuntu 20.04
Using the terminal, type the commands below:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lxdeWhen installing the display manager options will appear:
gdm
lightdm
select = lightdm
sudo apt purge gdm3 gnome-shell
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt install xorg file-roller
sudo rebootYou will get the LXDE Desktop Environment, not Lubuntu or LXQT
I have moved away from Ubuntu to Debian. With Debian a full LXDE install is as simple as:
sudo apt-get install task-lxde-desktopFrom there just configure as normal.
3If you prefer lightweight DE, Ubuntu is not the best choice. Debian is good, except for systemd. I moved to Devuan based Star Linux with LXDE. Devuan and Star use sysvinit instead of systemd in Debian and Ubuntu. SysVinit is lighter and easier to configure. Use netinstall ISO (star-3.1.0-spock_2021.03-netinst_amd64.iso) and during installation choose LXDE. My Star LXDE system uses 159 MB RAM on boot and around 3 GB disk space. The ISO is less than 300 MB in size and can be downloaded here:
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