Ok peeps here's my problem.

I have installed Debian via Kannotix. This uses the Unstable branch as default and so far I have had no problems.

Any previous distro that I have tried I have installed both Gnome and KDE and can easily switch between them although I usually stick to KDE as that's what I am used to

Now, I want to try out Gnome, as it looks like this install may be a long term one. Most of my hardware works "out-of-the-box". Even my Radeon 8500 has OGL acceleration

So, I done apt-get install gnome and let everything do it's stuff.

I then done a reboot to be safe and tried to log into Gnome. The box just sits there. Does nothing. I can ctrl+alt+backspace back to KDM and log into KDE OK, but Gnome doesn't want to play.

I tried switching to GDM, in case it was something to do with that, but it wasn't.
And, boy is that a bitch to get rid of when you don't know what you're doing
I accidently made it the default and it has no options to log into KDE. Anyway, i figured it out and I'm back to KDM

Anyone have any ideas on what's wrong with Gnome?

I'm still a noobie, but I can usually follow decent instructions OK

TIA,

St0rm-X

Maybe your default x-window-manager isn't metacity. Try running "update-alternatives --config x-window-manager" and select metacity. Then start GNOME.

Thanx sims.

I done what you suggested and my WM was sawfish.

I changed it to Metacity, but unfortuately, still the same result

Strange. Where exactly do things stop? Before the GNOME splash-screen?
Try running xinit, then gnome-session. If that doesn't work, maybe something is wrong with gnome itself. I'm sorry, but I've never had this problem so I'm not sure.

Yup, stops before the splash screen.
As soon as I hit enter, kdm disappears and I am left with whatever background I have in kdm and sits there doing nothing.

I tried xinit, gnome session but it's the same result. I'm just left with the empty desktop and the terminal window and the following message.....

SESSION_MANAGER=/local/silver-machine:/temp/.ICE-unix/3047

look at XFree log file and you .xsession-error file. Check if your mouse is well configured(/dev/mouse ,protocol, etc...)and that you installed all necessary fonts.

If it is not installed, try to install it via apt.

apt-get update

apt-get install gnome
# or maybe
apt-get install gnome-core

X starts OK. I can use KDE, ICEWM etc. The only thing that doesn't work is Gnome