LinuxQuestions.org

LinuxQuestions.org (/questions/)
-   Debian (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/debian-26/)
-   -   Unable to startX on Debian 3.0 r1 (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/debian-26/unable-to-startx-on-debian-3-0-r1-219639/)

juanjavier_xxx 08-19-2004 07:28 AM

Unable to startX on Debian 3.0 r1
 
I´m currently running Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 «woody».
Downloaded image and burned CD. Good.
Installed and configured Base System ok. Good.

I don´t find any XFree86Config or any X11R86Config file in
/etc/X11, nor in /usr/X11R86.

I am maybe wrong posting this here, since I´m a completely
newbie and there´s a section in the forum for that.

But as soon as I saw a Debian section I thought this was
the right place. I´m sorry if I did wrong.

I begin session as a root and when I type startx (enter)
then I get bash: command not found.

Where can I find the X configuration file and how can I edit it?

What other things do I have to do later? Sorry if I shouldn´t
post this here. Anyway thx in advance to you all.

HappyTux 08-19-2004 08:12 AM

Re: Unable to startX on Debian 3.0 r1
 
Quote:

Originally posted by juanjavier_xxx
I´m currently running Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 «woody».
Downloaded image and burned CD. Good.
Installed and configured Base System ok. Good.

I don´t find any XFree86Config or any X11R86Config file in
/etc/X11, nor in /usr/X11R86.

I am maybe wrong posting this here, since I´m a completely
newbie and there´s a section in the forum for that.

But as soon as I saw a Debian section I thought this was
the right place. I´m sorry if I did wrong.

I begin session as a root and when I type startx (enter)
then I get bash: command not found.

Where can I find the X configuration file and how can I edit it?

What other things do I have to do later? Sorry if I shouldn´t
post this here. Anyway thx in advance to you all.

A classic misunderstanding when you install just a base system that is all you get no X and a lot of other things. So you need to apt-get install x-window-system xserver-xfree86 xserver-common discover read-edid mdetect then of course you have to install your desktop environment of choice (gnome, kde, fluxbox ...) which do you want BTW. Now if you need/want newer packages than are available too Woody and are connected to the net with a decently fast connection then you may want to hold off on installing anything yet and just change the sources in your /etc/apt/sources.list to either from woody or stable to sarge or testing then use apt-get update and apt-get dist-upgrade then once the system has upgraded itself install X and the desktop you want.

macondo 08-19-2004 08:16 AM

From a console (ctrl + alt + F1) do a su, become root and then:

#apt-get install discover mdetect read-edit x-window-system icewm icewm-themes

#dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

either enter the information about the mouse, monitor, video card, or allow auto-detection. This will create a config-4 file, all you have to do is say 'yes' when asked.

reboot

To reinstall or further understand the simplicity of the Debian installation:

Insert CD1 and type 'bf24' at the prompt and follow the instructions of:

The Very Verbose Debian Installation Walkthrough
http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2016

juanjavier_xxx 08-19-2004 09:42 AM

HappyTux and Macondo: I really appreciate your help.

But in the computer that holds Debian there is no modem.
There isn´t any kind of connection.

I thought all the packages I needed just to install X came
with the downloaded image of Debian Woody that I later
burnt onto cd.

If I type dselect I find that Opt X11 is installed (there are
two packs whose name I don´t remember now: both appear
to be installed).

And if I type tasksel I choose spanish environment (mine) and
Desktop Environment. But as they both appear to be installed
(according to dselect) nothing copies and -therefore- nothing
installs. And when tasksel ends I read 0 packages copied, 0
packages updated, 0 packages installed.

HappyTux: you tell " to install your desktop environment of choice
(gnome, kde, fluxbox ...) which do you want BTW"

----I´m an absolute newbie. I still have to research about the
differences among them.

Macondo: Do I have to type "#apt-get install discover mdetect
read-edit x-window-system icewm icewm-themes" connected?

I suppose so, since I think apt works "searching" or something
like that.

However Debian 3.0 Woody claims it includes the X packages,
thus I understand there´s no need to download anything.

Am I wrong? Many thanks in advance.

HappyTux 08-19-2004 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by juanjavier_xxx
HappyTux and Macondo: I really appreciate your help.

But in the computer that holds Debian there is no modem.
There isn´t any kind of connection.

I thought all the packages I needed just to install X came
with the downloaded image of Debian Woody that I later
burnt onto cd.

If I type dselect I find that Opt X11 is installed (there are
two packs whose name I don´t remember now: both appear
to be installed).

And if I type tasksel I choose spanish environment (mine) and
Desktop Environment. But as they both appear to be installed
(according to dselect) nothing copies and -therefore- nothing
installs. And when tasksel ends I read 0 packages copied, 0
packages updated, 0 packages installed.

HappyTux: you tell " to install your desktop environment of choice
(gnome, kde, fluxbox ...) which do you want BTW"

----I´m an absolute newbie. I still have to research about the
differences among them.

Macondo: Do I have to type "#apt-get install discover mdetect
read-edit x-window-system icewm icewm-themes" connected?

I suppose so, since I think apt works "searching" or something
like that.

However Debian 3.0 Woody claims it includes the X packages,
thus I understand there´s no need to download anything.

Am I wrong? Many thanks in advance.

Ok try these commands as I type them and have a formatted windows?? (I assume that is your other OS) floppy in the drive.

Code:

COLUMNS=110 dpkg -l xserver* > server.txt
COLUMNS=110 dpkg -l xfonts* > fonts.txt
COLUMNS=110 dpkg -l gnome* > gnome.txt
COLUMNS=110 dpkg -l kde* > kde.txt
su  <---- here you will be asked for root password type it in then enter key to become root.
mount /dev/fd0 /floppy
cp *.txt /floppy
umount /floppy

Then post the results in the files here so we can see what you have installed.

juanjavier_xxx 08-19-2004 10:54 AM

Quote:

have a formatted windows?? (I assume that
is your other OS) floppy in the drive.
...haha!!! ;) ;)

No, the machine is solely for Linux. Boots happily and
smoothly. By now my little skills include copy, move,
list and erase files, some dselect -but not much-, some
tasksel and some 'less whatever.txt'.

I will keep you informed on what server.txt, fonts.txt,
gnome.txt and kde.txt contain. But that will be tomorrow,
´cos i´ve got linux at home; not at work, where I am now.

Many thx for your help, HappyTux.

macondo 08-19-2004 11:01 AM

In order to use apt-get, you have to be connected. It's necesary for updating/upgrading the system and security, to navigate in the internet. I don't use Tasksel or Deselect, i find it too cumbersome.

You will have to open Tasksel and study the options for window managers and apps.

For the spanish environment, as root:

#dpkg-reconfigure locales

choose all the en_US and es_ES, click ok, and in the next screen, choose es_ES-utf8-euro (or something like that) as your environment. click ok and that's it.

Go to tldp.org click on Español, and look on the manuals for Debian, google too, use somethings like "Debian + dselect", so you can find out how to use deselect.

Without an internet connection ,it's a hard row to hoe.

He aquí una tradución que hice para TLDP:

http://tinyurl.com/587z

juanjavier_xxx 08-19-2004 12:03 PM

I forgot to tell you:

I read somewhere in an installation QuickGuide the following:
(Note: phrases with nothing in front are excerpts from the guide,
and phrases beggining with "----" describe my situation)

Quote:

To start the configuration after an initial install of your
Linux OS or the actual files for XFree86, the most basic way is to
use the xf86config command logged in as root of course.

---Well, I log on as a root. I type xf86config and press Enter: I get "bash: command not found" ;-)

In #2 is said "(does not matter what your present working directory is as this command should
be in root's path, if not, then you can find this in /usr/X11R6/bin/)".

---Well, I position myself in /usr/X11R6/ and I don´t find any folder named 'bin'. I only get
three folders called lib, include and man.
Maybe it sheds some light. Is there any possibility that I have no X
installed at all?

If so, why dselect marks Opt X11 as installed?

I will keep informing. Thank you all

HappyTux 08-19-2004 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juanjavier_xxx
I forgot to tell you:

I read somewhere in an installation QuickGuide the following:
(Note: phrases with nothing in front are excerpts from the guide,
and phrases beggining with "----" describe my situation)



Maybe it sheds some light. Is there any possibility that I have no X
installed at all?

If so, why dselect marks Opt X11 as installed?

I will keep informing. Thank you all

I am pretty much positive you do not have X installed I just wanted to see the output of the commands to be sure. I am not sure what dselect is doing I found it to confusing too use myself. I just use apt-get install or upgrade whichever I need at the time and the odd dpkg -i for single packages downloaded or built by myself but that is about to end now I have figured out how to use my own local archive. A couple of things you can check when you get home look into the /etc/apt/sources.list and make sure that you have the CD's you used for the install listed as sources then you can use the commands we have already suggested to install X, if they are not in there then use IIRC the command apt-cdrom add with the CD you want to add to the sources.list in the drive bay. After you have X installed then you can get most of KDE with apt-get install kde libarts for gnome I am not sure at all I have never installed it on Debian and have not used it for many years.

juanjavier_xxx 08-20-2004 04:59 AM

Quote:

I am pretty much positive you do not have X installed I just wanted to see the output
of the commands to be sure.

I did the COLUMN stuff you suggested me.
Kde.txt shows a blank text.
Gnome.txt, server.txt and fonts.txt show texts reading status uninstalled for all parameters.

I can´t post the texts now ´cos I´m in another computer and haven´t got the floppy w/the texts
by hand. Sorry.

However:
Dselect -in verbose mode- shows something like this:

Status Package Section
===== ======= ======
Installed Xlibs libs
Installed Xaw3dg X11
Installed Xfree86-common X11



Quote:

I just use apt-get install or upgrade whichever I need at the time.
I tried that yesterday. Also did the apt-cdrom add thing. And also checked the
/etc/apt/sources.list file. In the text was stated the system would pick packages from /cdrom Debian
3.0 Woody distrib....
etc....

It seems that maybe my alias woody distribution doesn´t come with X at all.

I´ll check again another way to get a complete Debian Distribution, or maybe I downloaded it the
wrong way.....:cry: :cry:

Any way many thx for the time you have dedicated to me.
Hugs!!;) ;)

herrw 08-20-2004 08:23 AM

If you have more than one CD for Debian, have you inserted them all on install ?
Otherwise, just run
root@host:~/# apt-cdrom add
with each CD.
If you wosh to have X running, you just need the metapackage x-window-system...
This will give you the most beautiful TWM ! If you want an other Window Manager, and are a newbie, choose KDE (if you want a Window$ look) or Gnome (more Mac look).
I don't know for KDE, but for gnome (on my unstable system) you'll just need to install the /gnome/ Metapackage !
To loog for packages, try :
user@host:~/> apt-cache search software description (or name)
Hope it'll help!

juanjavier_xxx 08-20-2004 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by herrw
If you have more than one CD for Debian, have you inserted them all on install ?
No, I just downloaded the iso image of cd1 from a debian site (don´t remember which one).

Quote:

Otherwise, just run root@host:~/# apt-cdrom add with each CD.
I´m sure it works, but I can´t try since I´ve got only one CD. Anyway during the dpkg
process upon typing apt-cdrom add got packages uncompressing with names like
x-window-system and the xlibs....


Quote:

This will give you the most beautiful TWM !
I assume that 'WM' stands for Window Manager. What does 'T' stands for? :confused: :confused:


Quote:

If you want an other Window Manager and are a newbie, choose KDE.
Got a Pentium200 MMX 32mb ram 2.37 gb harddisk. Does this box cope with KDE?? :confused: :confused:

thanks in advance, herrw; I appreciate your time.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:21 AM.