switching desktops
 

how do i use a differnt desktop like gnome instead of kde

and where are all my different desktops located


one more question why would i want to upgrade my xfree version?
any bennifits?

1. you have to install them on your machine. then ur login manager (gdm/kdm/xdm) will let u choose. alternatively, u can edit .xsession or .xinitrc to load whichever u want.

2. the same reason you would want/not want to upgrade any piece of software. depends on whether the current one ur running does everything u want, and whether the new one is needed at all.

Same question
 

I have killed GNOME. I have played with permissions and killed GNOME (it doesnt start anymore). So I want to switch to KDE. How can I do that using only command line. GUI doesn't work :( Or do I have to reinstall Linux?

Re: Same question
 

You didn't specify which distribution, but from your user information, I'll assume you're using Red Hat. What I'd do, personally, if something got really messed up is this:

First I'd locate all the hidden files and directories associated with GNOME in my home directory, and I'd completely remove them. Then I'd try logging into GNOME and see if I could get lucky and have that fix the problem. If yes, then problem solved. Just be careful when configuring next time.

If that fails, the next thing to do would be to remove all the packages that have to do with GNOME. This would be a bit trickier and will require some understanding and knowledge. With the help of a package manager, it might be possible to locate them. (I could do this, but I have the experience). Once you get rid of all the packages, then install them again using either the installation CDs or the Red Hat FTP site.

Last ditch alternative is to reinstall. Again, I'd start simple and work up. First, I'd try to install/upgrade over what's already there by inserting the CDs and installing them again. If you're familiar with the command line, by explicitly using rpm with the -Uvh flags, sometimes you can install and upgrade software. IF nothing is different, it doesn't hurt anything, but if you have new sofware, it installs over existing software. I avoid using the force and override flags unless I have no other workarounds left.

If all of that fails, I rebuild the entire disk partition and reinstall the software. I rarely have to go to that extreme unless I'm testing something and I want to install or reinstall anyway.

no no u dont have to reinstall linux.
since i dont use kde, i dont know the command to start it. if you do, then just type it in, or put it in ur .xsession file and type in startx.

what's this .xsession file?
 

You are all talking about an .xsession file. But where is it? I don't have it. Locate .xsession doesn't find it. Does it exist or is it called differently. How do I configure it when I find it (or some other file)? Which directories and files in the home directory are associated with GNOME or KDE, so I know what to delete? :) I don't want to reinstal the whole linux again as it takes quite some time to reconfigure it after.

.xsession is under ur home dir. it's a hidden file (hence, the . before xsession)
if "ls-a " does not show u, u can go and create that file.

for eg: here's mine, which loads xfce and a few other programs-

neat
 

Yes ls -la doesn't show it so I will try to create it. It just wasn't there. Does anybody have any idea why it wasn't there? How can it load without that file? What is Xfce?

it's ok if xsession wasnt there. it's not a proble, just create it. u might see an .xinitrc file. or maybe u dont have that either. it's basically an entry point when u do a startx. the commands in the file are run.

xfce is a desktop manager(like gnome/kde) that i use.