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EWS Labs, Resetting Gnome / Firefox settings
EWS has special commands to reset or fix problems in the EWS environment with Gnome. These should be run from a terminal window / shell prompt in Linux.
EWS has special commands to reset or fix problems in the EWS environment. These should be run from a terminal window / shell prompt in Linux.
ews-reset-gnome
This command will reset your Linux gnome configuration files back to the default. Gnome is the graphical user interface, or GUI, for our distribution of Linux. Use this command if you are experiencing a log in that lasts less than 10 seconds before being logged out again.
To use:
1. If you cannot log in regularly (get logged out again within 10 seconds), log in via failsafe mode by hitting CTRL-ALT-F2 and logging in.
2. Type "ews-reset-gnome" and hit enter.
3. You will be given a confirmation, "Are you sure you want to reset gnome config files for NETID (y,n)?". Type "y" and hit enter (or "n" if you DO NOT want to).
4. "Deleting files" will show in the terminal. Once completed, type "logout" to end that session.
5. Get back to the graphical interface to Linux by pressing CTRL-ALT-F7
ews-reset-firefox
If you try to start Firefox and the system says it is already running, that means the browser was not shut down properly or not responding. When Firefox opens, it creates a lock file to keep all its files in sync. This can occur if you log out without closing Firefox first. Fix this problem using ews-reset-firefox:
1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type "ews-reset-firefox" and hit enter.
3. If there are indeed lock files present, a popup will prompt "Firefox lock files detected" along with a warning. Click "Reset Firefox" to delete the lock files.
4. If there are no lock files present and the command is run, a popup will prompt "Are you sure you want to reset Firefox for NETID?" If you click "Okay" it will delete the user's entire Firefox profile, including history, bookmarks, addons, lock files, etc.
NOTE: For Chrome lock files, the error message Chome provides instructs how to fix it. You should simply follow the directions on the screen.
ews-restore
Use this command to open the daily backups that are taken to restore older versions of files, or a file you might have accidentally deleted. More information is available here.
ews-reset-gnome-freezes
If your EWS Linux graphical session seems to freeze (either in the browser, or an editor) and seems unresponsive, we have a tool to run to help resolve that problem.
To use:
1. Log in via failsafe mode by hitting CTRL-ALT-F2 and logging in.
2. Type "ews-reset-gnome-freezes" and hit enter.
3. "Deleting files" will show in the terminal. Once completed, type "logout" to end that session.
4. Get back to the graphical interface to Linux by pressing CTRL-ALT-F7
Open a terminal window.
To use:
# If the user cannot log in regularly (gets logged out again within 10 seconds), log in via failsafe mode by hitting CTRL-ALT-F2 and logging in.
# Type "ews-reset-gnome" and hit enter.
# You will be given a confirmation, "Are you sure you want to reset gnome config files for NETID (y,n)?". Type "y" and hit enter (or "n" if you DO NOT want to).
# "Deleting files" will show in the terminal. Once completed, you can no log back into the GUI version of Linux by hitting CTRL-ALT-F7