How do I get Gnome to run?

Mladek · 07-05-2003, 06:45 AM

After overcoming some hardware compatibility problems, I finally got Suse 8.2 to boot up. Now I ran into several problems that I cannot, given my limited computer skills, seem to overcome.

First, the desktop boot manager offers me the option of starting up KDE (and several other minimalist options) but no Gnome. I read the included help file but am no closer to getting the system to boot up with the Gnome desktop. Since I’d like to it a try, does anyone have a clue as how I can convince it to boot up?

Also, I tried to get my new Linux computer to talk to one running Windows 2000, but no. I cheeked the Ethernet cable and everything works just fine (when I rebooted the Linux machine with Windows, both computers were happy to talk to one another. Does anyone have a clue as to how I can get my Linux machine to talk to my Windows machine (I’m going to have to swap files between the two for quite some time yet so it’s an important issue)?

Finally, any advice on how I can get some Windows applications running in Linux. I tried just double clicking on the installation file and did get Wine to come up. About half way through the installation I got some indiscernible error message and then nothing. I there a better way (unfortunately I still have some Windows applications that I have to keep on using for a while)?

Other than that, I’m quite pleased with my progress, especially the speed and (so far) the stability and cannot wait until the day when I can get rid of Windows and those nasty Windows aps altogether.

qanopus · 07-05-2003, 09:05 AM

Hello. I think you just have not installed gnome. With suse, you have to expilicitly say you want gnome during the install. I ran into the same "problem" when I first installed suse. Run yast and select that you want to install software. Then from the list install gnome.
I have next to no knowlegde about networks, but I do now you need to istall samba in order to communicate to an windows machine. Other people on this formum can help you more with that.
And running win32 apps in linux: what error did you exactally recieve. You got to give us more then "I got an error"
And I would suggest that you post every problem you have in a different thread. You network question would have been better suited in the network section on this site, for example.

I'm glad you'r enjoying linux. You will get the hang of it more and mre as time goes by. Welcome to the linux community.

Mladek · 07-06-2003, 02:03 AM

That was it. When I opened Yast I found that Gnome was not installed. But, I never noticed the option of installing it during the Suse install. I also get the impression that Suse does not like Gnome much, becasue their help file only provided a rather cryptic reference to it and not the simple, to the point (and effective) instructions you gave.

Thank you.

Also, next time, I'll refrain from posting more than one question at a time and will make sure I write down all the error messages I get.

Vlad_M · 07-06-2003, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by schatoor
And running win32 apps in linux: what error did you exactally recieve. You got to give us more then "I got an error"
.

Sorry to crap in this thread, but in this guys defence,since he is new to linux, I can see why he didn't even bother to paste the error here.

It comes down to yet another stupid, useless, dumbing down proprety of Windows - and that is a total lack of feedback to the user when something goes wrong. While Linux will generally bomb out with an eloquent, meaningful error message., which will allow the user to take steps to rectify it, windows will report a "Fatal error 32873982798613298621498198327 at $28732987". Then go and search the stupid KB for answers if you have time......

Another thing to add to the long list of features which put linux head and shoulders above any windows.

fancypiper · 07-06-2003, 02:12 PM

Do you use the command line login? If so, after you get it installed, create a file in your home directory called .xinitrc similar to mine:

Code:

# Duron 950 box "uilleann" user fancy .xinitrc file
# Start the stuff I want to run when I startx

# The artwiz-fonts sometimes conflict with your locale settings. To get
# them to work you may have to put the following at the beginning of your
# .xinitrc file
# export LC=C
# export LC_ALL=C
exec gnome-session
# exec kde
# Esetroot ~/backgrounds/linux.png &
# gkrellm -w &
# This will run a screensaver as your background
# /usr/X11R6/lib/xscreensaver/hopalong -root &
# xscreensaver &
# exec fluxbox

Now, the command startx should launch gnome for you.

qanopus · 07-06-2003, 04:16 PM

You coul be right Vlad_M. It depends if you got an error from wine, or from the win app running under wine. Wine it self can generate quite usefull error messages. It's the win apps that bite big wind when it comes to displaying meaningfull error messgaes.
But it never hurts to give as much info as possible. Who know, mabey one of us could decypher it and come up with an solution.

Mladek · 07-07-2003, 01:32 AM

That is true, as a long time (ex) Windows user, I have learned to ignore the error messages primarily because they are pretty much useless to anyone except a MS programmer.

Also as a long time user, I'm locked into a few applications that (at least for the time being) I have to run.

To that effect, I tried to run some in Linux using Wine. I was told that I needed to have Windows 2000 installed. There was a W 2000 installation on the disk when I installed Linux (though I do not know where it went). I also tried running the MS OEM 2000 disk, but nothing happened.

Any suggestions how I can get MSW 2000 applications to run.

P.S. And, please bear in mind that I'm not all that computer literate and saw my first ever console yesterday.