Ubuntu – Upon system restart, dconf editor doesn’t save changes

dconfscrollingtouchpad

I can use the dconf-editor to change my touchpad settings to natural scrolling, but upon system restart the settings get reverted. (But not on sleep or hibernate.) When I open the editor, the option is still orange indicating it has been changed. when I uncheck and recheck the natural scroll option, it is re-enabled. Is there a fix, or am I changing the wrong option? The path is org > gnome > settings-daemon > peripherals > touchpad > natural-scroll.

Currently running 13.10

Best Answer

Lock down specific settings

cited from GNOME Help/Sysadmin Guide/User Settings/Lock down specific settings

To lock down a dconf key, you will need to create a locks subdirectory in the keyfile directory. The files inside this directory contain a list of keys to lock. Just as with the keyfiles, you may add any number of files to this directory. Here is an example of what one might look like:

How to lock the default wallpaper

  1. First, set a setting, such as a default background which will be used for this example.
  2. Create a directory named /etc/dconf/db/local.d/locks.

  3. Edit /etc/dconf/db/local.d/locks/00_default-wallpaper, listing one key per line:

    # prevent changes to the background
/org/gnome/desktop/background/picture-uri
/org/gnome/desktop/background/picture-options
/org/gnome/desktop/background/primary-color
/org/gnome/desktop/background/secondary-color

  4. Update the system databases:

    # dconf update

As of dconf 0.7.4, lockdown is only supported on a per-key basis for performance reasons; you may not yet lock entire subpaths. There are plans to address this in future releases.

Your Solution

For adding to your new /etc/dconf/db/local.d/locks/00_default-touchpad file:

    # prevent changes to the touchpad
    /org/gnome/settings-daemon/peripherals/touchpad/natural-scroll

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