Installed 13.1 on the lappy 2 days ago and used xfce. Ran great
Today, I tried to use fluxbox and fvwm but neither would start.
I just get a black screen. System doesn't lock up and I can use ctl-alt-backspace to get back to console.
I make my choices with pkgtool.
Again, xfce starts and runs great.

Ideas?

I tried changing to twm, then windowmaker, and twm.
Same thing,just a blank screen. After trying each one, xfce wouldn't start either.
I found out that if I reboot after using pkgtool/xwmconfig, then whatever I choose will work! In fact, I'm using fluxbox right now.

btw- I just boot into a console, not xdm

For whatever reason, if I make a change with pkgtool/xwmconfig, I have to reboot for the change to work.

just thought of one more test to try

I made a change and then logged out and logged back in, but that didn't work either

all that sounds very odd...

Mmmm..
maybe xwmconfig is malfunctioning..LOL

Did you look at the xinitrc files in /etc/X11/xinit?
is the xinitrc.fluxbox using "startfluxbox" or "fluxbox"

exec /usr/bin/startfluxbox

did you install fluxbox from slack or source?

/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.fluxbox has:
exec /usr/bin/startfluxbox

also, /etc/X11/xinitrc is linked to xinitrc.fluxbox
which is what I'm on right now.

installed from slack cds.

ok, tried one more thing to verify.
I ran pkgtool/xwmconfig and then checked /etc/X11/xinit and the link was made to fvwm2. I'm on fluxbox right now.
So at least that is working correctly.

I was able to get onto my pc/slackware 13.0 and try changing it.
No problems at all changing from xfce to fluxbox, fvwm, etc.
I even changed from fvwm2 to twm from the fvwm2 menu and it changed w/o problems.

I don't remember this happening before changing from 13 to 13.1.
Nope, didn't upgrade. Did complete format/install for 13.1.

I have pclinuxos on this laptop also and can change from kde to lxde or fluxbox w/o problem so I don't know where to look now

Are you running xwmconfig as root? Running it as a regular user would be clearly obvious if it was malfunctioning -- you could just check the ~/.xinitrc file and make sure it is being properly updated. As root it should be changing the /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc symlink to point to the desired file (as well as creating a /root/.xinitrc file).

If you're relying on root, check to make sure your user has no ~/.xinitrc and check the symlink before and after running xwmconfig to make sure it is changing properly.

This is all assuming that you're not running X as root...if you are then /root/.xinitrc might be the culprit here, but if you are running as root there's a whole other pile of advice I would suggest...

running xwmconfig as root
sorry I wasn't plain enough, but yes all the symlinks are made correctly in /etc/X11/xinit/ when making changes. I removed the ~/.xinitrc while trying different wm's, but that didn't help. Still the black screen.
I have a pc with 12.2 that I might try next to see if I get the same problem.

but, hey, I've used Slackware off and on since 3.0 floppies that a friend bought over long ago. This isn't a showstopper for me

Thanks for your help

Problem is definitely with slackware and my Aspire 3000.
Just installed 13.1 on one of my pc's and it changes w/o the problem.

The laptop didn't do have this problem with 13.0 and I can change wm's on the pclinuxos system just fine.

I am having this same issue in VirtualBox. I have VB installed on Ubuntu and wanted to give Slack 13.1 a try.

Install is fine, but whatever the first chosen manager is, I let it choose the kde one as it was top of the list, this is unable to be changed from.

I have run xwmconfig as both root and the user and all the necessary files / links get updated, but even after full reboot of VB guest it does not change

Happy to know why?