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Trying to install KDE on Ubuntu 16.04 with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

I do not get to the selection of the display manager.

I have a list of errors like:

E: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/r/ruby2.3/ruby2.3_2.3.1-2~16.04.5_amd64.deb
 404  Not Found [IP: 91.189.88.149 80]

Going on the corresponding http page, I see this file with a slightly different version number:

ruby2.3_2.3.1-2~16.04.6_amd64.deb

How can I install KDE if there is no exact match between the packages' versions?

The answers to How can I fix a 404 Error when using a PPA or updating my package lists? do not seem to cover my case, i.e. with most packages correctly installed, but with some not found due to minor version mismatches.

Zanna
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Pietro
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1 Answers1

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System with standard Ubuntu (with Unity) and a KDE desktop

This way you can get a system with standard Ubuntu (with Unity) and a KDE desktop, where you can select desktop environment at the login screen by clicking on the cog wheel symbol.

  • Install Ubuntu from ubuntu-16.04.4-desktop-amd64.iso

  • Make the system up to date with

    sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

  • Install KDE-related packages

    sudo apt install kde-plasma-desktop
sudo apt install kde-runtime
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends kubuntu-desktop

    It might work too, if you use only the last line (I did not test that), but if you use it without --no-install-recommends there will be at least one serious conflict. The installation will fail, and there will be a black screen with a cursor instead of the KDE desktop. (Standard Ubuntu will still work.)

    enter image description here

    You can see that there are gnome application programs available via the KDE menu. But because of --no-install-recommends, several Kubuntu application programs are not installed. (Most of them can probably be installed, but it is was not done in this test.)

Alternatives

According to a comment, you don't want a live or persistent live system, but please consider the following alternatives.

  • Dual boot with separate Ubuntu system and Kubuntu system. Both systems are complete and can use the full power of the computer.

  • Ubuntu host system and Kubuntu guest system in a virtual machine. It is easiest to use VirtualBox to create the virtual machine. Both systems are complete, but the Kubuntu guest system cannot use the full power of the computer. This can be a good solution in a powerful computer.

  • Installation of Kubuntu in a USB SSD drive.Both systems are complete and Kubuntu can use almost the full power of the computer (a little slower than if in an internally connected SSD).

sudodus
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