Optimize/Tweak Linux Mint XFCE

Although I love Linux, and especially linux mint, there are a few tweaks I must do after I do a out of the box install. My personal desktop choice is XFCE so these tweaks are for that perticular desktop.

Install Third Party Hardware Drivers

Menu->Settings->Additional Drivers (Install latest listed)

Change Multimedia Output

Not sure if its just my chipsets but I have problems with pulse audio and have to make the following adjustments:

Menu->Multimedia->Pulse Audio Control
Playback Tab
change high definition audio controller didgital stero to built in analog stero

Disable AREO snap feature

Menu->Settings->Window Manager Tweaks->Accessibility tab
Checking "Use edge resistance instead of window snapping"
Uncheck "automatically tile windows when moving toward the screen edge"

Disable Login/Logout Sounds

Menu->System->Login window->Accessibility Tab
Uncheck "Login Screen Ready"
Uncheck "Login Sucessfull"

Use Google As Default Search Engine In Firefox

Start Firefox
In the top right click the down arrow next to the search bar and select "manage search engines"
In the pop up window slect the link "Get more search engines"
In the new window that pops up scroll to the bottom where it shows "Commercial engines" and click on the google icon
In the top right click the down arrow next to the search bar and select "manage search engines"
Remove all other search engines listed only leaving google there

In the URL address bar type: about:config In the "Search" box type: keyword.url Change entry to: http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=