Apps wont open as user but will as root

slewis1972 · 10-25-2003, 11:19 AM

Ok - a stragne one. I am running Libranet v2.8 - debain testing based.

Anyway - I have downlaoded with apt, severla programs eg mplayer and LinNeighborhood.

When I try and run them from my username eg scott, I get the following error:

Gtk-WARNING**: cannot open display

When I then log out and log back in as root - they work.
I gather this could be a permissions thing - but when do I need to alter?

Scott

tgflynn · 10-25-2003, 12:07 PM

It sounds like an X Window configuration problem.

The first thing to check is if this affects other apps started in the same way or only certain ones. I'm assuming you're trying to run them from a terminal window. Try the following :

$ xterm

(or some other simple graphical app you have installed). If you get the same error there's a general X configuration problem. In this case post the output of the following command :

# printenv DISPLAY

and please tell me how you run X (kdm,gdm,startx, etc.)

Tim