I am new to Linux and have installed VMWare 5.5.1 on my Windows XP based laptop so I can familiarize myself with Linux before partitioning my harddrive. I have installed Red Hat 8.0 as a VM in VMWare. When I start the Red Hat VM instead of starting in graphics mode it starts at a login that states "localhost login:". When I log in I get a bash prompt...how do I get to graphics mode from here? NOTE: I have tried startx but receive an error message: "Fatal server error: no screens found." Can anyone please help me out?

Thanks!

why in the world redhat 8.0, its history. Get Feodra Core 5, thats the latest version as of now. Learning on the latest things will make linux more easy for you.

you probably dont have kde or gnome installed, you need to install that, then again I would suggest you to go for something latest before you try this stuff out.

I am using Red Hat 8 because it was given to my by a friend who had the enterprise CDs. But...that doesn't answer my question. You answered my question with a question...thanks anyways.

w3bd3vil is right RHL8 is history, and you are right he did not answer your question.

Install the vmware tools (look on the vmware menu bar) into RHL8 (or hopefully something that is supported). After the vmware tools are installed then you should be able to configure the X11 interface for the vmware graphics driver.

On a side note, yes RHL8 is history however you might want to visit Fedora Legacy and get all of the updates; http://www.fedoralegacy.org/

You should also consider visiting VMware and downloading the free VMware Server/Player for Windows and maybe one or more of the Linux appliances;

http://www.vmware.com/products/free_virtualization.html

hello RH owner
Linux requires a lot of knowledge to use. It requires the following for most if not all the distros.
box compatibility - newer boxes (less than two years) usually come with SATA HDDs - RH does not work with this file system.
(although there might be a driver for the controller that might work though doubtful)
Plan all Partitions and configure it before installing Linux.
And know all your harware specs (e.g., BIOS, soundcard, HDD, ethernet card or modem, graphics card)
Later become familiar with the konsole(CLI).
If you have an PATA(IDE) HDD that would work. Though the BIOS may or may not give you some obstacles.
good luck
PS know the kernel; RH has the 2.4.x while the newer distros have the 2.6.x.

After reading several of the comments to my post I began playing around with different Linux distros and discover Ubuntu is the easiest to install (for a beginner). I'm still trying to figure out how to install the VMWare Tools, but other than that it has been a breeze to learn. Thanks for your comments and posts!

Start vmware, load the guest OS install the vmware tools (it is on the vmware menu bar).

Maybe this will help; http://www.vmware.com/support/ws55/d..._tools_ws.html

Give SuSE Linux a shot too..