Slackware new install - how to start gui?
 

I am a complete linux newbie. I just installed Slackware linux 10.2. During the install, I chose the xfce gui. However, when slackware rebooted, it is booting to the command prompt and not the gui.

1. How do I manually start the gui?
2. If I decide I want the gui to start automatically when it boots, how do I set that up?
3. How do I switch between guis?

thanks!

You need to edit your /etc/inittab file.

Look for this part:
Change the 3 in that line to a 4.

check if xwmconf is set to xfce, then type in startx

Where do I find/edit xwmconf? Thanks!

type it at the command line.

at the command line will start the x server. However, you'll want to edit /etc/inittab if you choose to use gui on a regular basis.

i have the same problem
 

i got the change runlevel from 3 to 4. why does it ship out of the box to runlevel 3 ? is it like, the first thing you need to learn is how to edit the inittab file ? also, how to do that at the command prompt ? is vi intuitive ? this is a complaint, not a request for information. thanks. thank you for the solution.

Two reasons are: 1) Not all Slackware installs are used from a GUI and 2) it allows a user to experiment with settings in /etc/X11/xorg.conf for graphics devices that require additional configuration.
You may prefer to use nano, which has on-screen help.

xwmconfig is a Slackware utility for changing your GUI. It displays a list of installed DEs/window managers and allows you to change them without having to edit inittab directly.

It is the preferred way to change your DE/window manager in Slackware.

It's just a hunch, but I think that you may have chosen the wrong distro...

Slackware doesn't hold your hand or spoonfeed you the way some others do.

You'll find that most people here like it that way, because that's what makes it so powerful and flexible.

You can complain all you like, but you should know that there are technical reasons for not booting into the GUI by default.

If that doesn't suit you, then you are always welcome to try Ubuntu.

Hmm, this thread is originally from 2006. Four posts... something tells me "sah" has moved on.