Hi,
Sorry to ask something really basic but I have had a play with the desktop version of Ubuntu and thought I'd see what the server version was like (with a view to changing the server at home (then work) to Ubuntu)

However as I am a day-one newbie to this I have installed the server version on a test machine and am lost without some sort of GUI.

I have done: "sudo tasksel install ubuntu-desktop" which completed but dont really know where to go from there.

Can anyone tell me how to run a simple gui?

Thanks

Try the command:

startx

to start X server. That may be enough. If not, try the command:

/etc/init.d/gdm start

to start gnome.

If those fail, post any messages here.

Ah thanks Fred
Startx worked

I'll have a poke around the OS this eve and post if I'm in trouble

Cheers
Paul

Hi again,

This morning at work I have installed ubuntu server on another pc.
The server install went fine.

Then I logged in with the username I created,
typed "sudo tasksel install ubuntu-desktop"
it asked me for the password and it said something about extracting and went to a blue "Package Configuration" screen and says "Installing packages" "Please wait" then just sits there at 0% forever. I don't know how to terminate the install either other than doing CAD.

The only difference with the machine at home and work is the system board. The one at work has an inbuilt RAID controller.

btw does it matter whether I have the install CD in when typing the tasksel install command?

Any ideas?

Paul

btw I have done sudo tasksel and tried to install ubuntu-desktop from there - Same result
tried to install one or two of the other desktop options but it comes back and says Aptitude Failed (100)


Later on....

I have now done the server install on a completely different pc with completely different hardware.
The first time I tried sudo tasksel and tried to initiate the ubuntu-desktop install from there and it just hung there and gave me blank lines if I hit the enter key.
Second time was using the command line "sudo tasksel install ubuntu-desktop" and it just did the same as the previous post: went to a blue "Package Configuration" screen and says "Installing packages" "Please wait" then just sits there at 0% forever.

Can anyone give me some advice please?

Paul

Thanks Fred but I'll go ask my questions on another forum where they can be bothered to help newbies

I did not get the email about your posts until now.

I am not sure what the issue is with your installs, but given the fact that you want a desktop and given the fact that you are a newbie, I would certainly recommend that you use a regular Ubuntu Hardy install CD which automatically installs X-Windows and Gnome. I think this will be much easier.

All server software can also be installed on such a system. Quite easily in fact. Using the GUI even.

HTH