KDE won't start automatically

davcefai · 12-09-2006, 11:44 PM

I recently installed Compiz and made quite a mess of X while upgrading the NVIDIA driver (GL conflicts)

Fixed all except that now, on booting, KDE will not run automatically and I cannot work out what is wrong.

My .xinitrc file holds one line: startkde.

I have compared various files with those on another Debian SID machine and could not find any differences. A Google search has not yielded anything significant.

Help appreciated.

nadroj · 12-10-2006, 12:29 AM

i imagine it has to do with the default runlevel.
to solve this edit the file /etc/inittab, and change your 'default runlevel' to the graphical one (i think its '4'?). read the comments in the file, it should be straightforward.

davcefai · 12-10-2006, 02:18 AM

The default runlevel is unchanged. Was and remains 3. KDM loads and can be seen using ps.

I tried others just in case but the same thing happened.

I put "startx" in /etc/rc.local but then KDE came up for root, which I certainly do not want.

Tortanick · 12-10-2006, 05:23 AM

Have you tried putting kdm in /etc/rc.local?

archtoad6 · 12-11-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nadroj

i imagine it has to do with the default runlevel.
to solve this edit the file /etc/inittab, and change your 'default runlevel' to the graphical one (i think its '4'?). read the comments in the file, it should be straightforward.

I haven't installed Debian itself in a while, the last time I looked there was no distinction between levels 2-5, has this changed?

Furthermore, in RH, FC, & MEPIS level 4 is (or was) undefined, level 5 is graphical & networked -- or did they change something behind my back?

davcefai · 12-11-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

I haven't installed Debian itself in a while, the last time I looked there was no distinction between levels 2-5, has this changed?

No, it hasn't changed. My runlevel 2 loads gdm, 3 loads kdm. Neither window manager brings up a login prompt.

I am now suspecting a configuration file may need editing.

davcefai · 12-11-2006, 11:44 PM

SOLVED!

There was a newer version of /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc, dated about the time I installed compiz. I reinstated the backup file and that fixed it.

I haven't yet compared the 2 files to find the offending line(s) but the older one was heavily commented wheras the newone had no comments.