Get your installed Ubuntu working in a flash -- howto

[dE_logics]

Assuming you have your net connected, run -

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3 gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly

In terminal to make most of your multimedia files to work.

For a typical desktop these are the programs that you need -

sudo apt-get install dosfstools ntfs-3g ntfsprogs jfsutils reiserfsprogs xfsprogs sun-java6-jre flashplugin-nonfree icedtea6-plugin

If you have an Nvidia card (not too old) -

apt-get install nvidia-glx-185

To have your effects settings (including the 3-d cube/sphere/cylinder) under control -

apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager simple-ccsm compiz-fusion-plugins-extra