I've run into a problem where I initially installed a base RHEL3u5 server. I then decided I needed the GNOME desktop environment on the server for another requirement. I diff'd the package list for the base server install I did and the server install with GNOME. I then ran rpm with ignoredeps so it would install all the packages without worrying about dependencies (since I knew I was installing all the packages).

I can get logged in to the system, but can't get any text. Its all screwy. Now if I set up my workspace so GNOME launches with a gnome-terminal, I get the text on the gnome-terminal itself, but I don't have any menu text (its all screwy).

I know I didn't install this correctly, so if nobody knows how to fix the immediate problem, can someone give me instructions to work my way back out of the problem I'm in and get GNOME installed?

I can't post attachments, so here's a link where I put a screenshot up on my blog.

http://www.williamsworx.com/tech/?p=8

Thanks in advance for any help.

Your text is very very small... oh man, I only know how to do this from the gui... you could try gconftool:

gconftool-2 --type string --set /desktop/gnome/interface/font_name "Serif 12"

etc. Or just go blind like this:

You want system > preferences > appearance
Point at the top panel, to the left, and single-left-click. This should shade the "applications" menu, which is labelled too small to see.
Next, move the mouse to the right - the places, then system menu will shade. Get the idea?

In the system menu, move the mouse down, and each entry will shade in turn. The top one is preferences. In that submenu, appearance is the 4th one down. Click that, and you'll get a dialog with tabs.

You want the third tab along. In that tab, you'll see raised rows - these are buttons. Click one and another dialog pops up. It has three areas, the right-most narrow one is the one you want.

That one has a scroll-bar, move the slider down half-way, and click in the white area next to it. This selects the font size. The OK button is on the bottom-right.

Repeat for the top three bars.

There's also a "details" dialog - to make sure the screen resolution is correct. Locate the close button in the fonts tab (by the X on it). Right above that is the details button - click it, and you get a new dialog.

At the top of this is a small white box with up and down arrows next to it. This adjusts the pixel density. Probably best to double-click inside the box and type "97" then press enter.

By now you should be able to see text. You can adjust things to something sensible.

Ran into a similar problem but with Large Icons & Large Menuse on 1080p display

Had to chnage the dpi of my fonts form 307dp (i think for 10pt) to 107dpi
Unsure if this was the issue or in reality the nv display driver for fedora 8 isn't 100% for NVidia G80 cards, but now my display looks perfect & I can see the Apply button!

Ms stevie

I tried using gconftool-2 to change the font_name property, restarted gdm and I still have the same problems. I think it might be more than simply the font since I don't have most of the icons in my gnome panel menu. I wouldn't think the font size would impact that.

I have a RHEL3u5 machine that is functioning properly. Can I dump some settings from that and move them over to the server? If so, what am I looking for. I'm not all that GNOME smart.

Thanks.

1. changing the font name changes it's size?

The font size is what stands out in your screenshot... you can see the ultra-small writing under the desktop fonts.

Icons can be missing for a range of reasons... maybe you didn't install the icon packs? Maybe your top panel only has a main menu? Resize those fonts and you'll at least be able to read stuff. We have already established that you have a messed-up gnome install... an alternative is to remove gnome (reverse what you did) and then reinstall properly.


And gconf is the file to move.