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Old 04-25-2005, 11:57 AM   #1
henrikanttonen
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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Finland
Distribution: Puppy Linux with FluxBox
Posts: 40

Rep: Reputation: 15
Using window manager or desktop. How?


I just installed Debian because it seemed better from the Mandrake system I was running. At least it came with a lot more packaged software than Mandrake did, which is great in my case since I've never been able to succesfully compile anything from source. Yes, I'm a newbie.

My problem just is that I'd like to use a desktop like KDE or window manager like Fluxbox. I do not know how. I installed them, but don't even know how to launch them. I'd like the system to boot straight into the desktop. Now it says it's Starting X display manager: xdm, after which the screen blacks out for a moment and then it goes to the prompt (where I quite honestly don't know how to do much of anything). Previously when I tried KDE and installed that using tasksel, it said that K Desktop Manager has launched, but again, nothing but prompt.

Last edited by henrikanttonen; 04-25-2005 at 12:32 PM.
 
Old 04-25-2005, 01:03 PM   #2
fancypiper
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Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Sparta, NC USA
Distribution: Ubuntu 10.04
Posts: 5,141

Rep: Reputation: 60
Do you know if you are using kdm, xdm or gdm for your gui login (never could understand why people don't like to see any error messages on boot) manager?

Personally, I prefer the command line log in (it always works, it seems) and use an .xinitrc file in my home directory to control my X stuff.

Here is my .xinitrc file for a reference. I use fluxbox and run the gnome-panel in it for a quick launch panel.
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

# Start gkrellm and put it in the slit
# When configured correctly, gkrellm will run fetchmail the fetchmail daemon
# if you have a .fetchmailrc file correctly set up with permission of 600
gkrellm -w &

# Start the keyboard hotkeys
acme &

# Run the Gnome panel
gnome-panel &

# This will run a screensaver as your background
# /usr/X11R6/lib/xscreensaver/hopalong -root &

# Start the screensaver daemon
xscreensaver -no-splash &

# Finally, I start my window manager
# Fluxbox that I installed by compiling from source code
exec /usr/local/bin/fluxbox
# Fluxbox that I installed by rpm
# exec fluxbox
# exec kde
#exec gnome-session

# Sample .xinitrc entries for starting evilwm
# Merge X resources from ~/.Xdefaults
# [ -f $HOME/.Xdefaults ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xdefaults
# Set the background and root cursor shape
# xsetroot -solid \#400040
# xsetroot -cursor_name top_left_arrow
# Start evilwm - snap to borders within 10 pixels
# /usr/bin/evilwm -snap 10 &
# Transfer control to xclock - killing xclock (with Ctrl+Alt+Escape, say)
# will exit our session
# exec xclock -digital -padding 2 -g -0+0
# Mandrake links
Mandrake home page
Mandrake Users website (needs money to access now)
Software management configuration: Easy urpmi config for Mandrake
Software management: urpmi mini-HOWTO
Software management: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Urpmi But Never Dared Asking Before
You didn't install the developmental packages? As root, command:
urpmi gcc
An Introduction to the Midnight Commander. You can install it by commanding:
urpmi mc
Midnight Commander home page

Last edited by fancypiper; 04-25-2005 at 01:04 PM.
 
Old 04-25-2005, 01:57 PM   #3
henrikanttonen
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Finland
Distribution: Puppy Linux with FluxBox
Posts: 40

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
I basically use xdm, but I just discovered an error message which could very well be the cause of the problem: x server error: no screens found

That's nice and everything. What do I do now? Should I start a new thread?
 
Old 04-25-2005, 02:08 PM   #4
samael26
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: France, Provence
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 848

Rep: Reputation: 30
hi,

try this :
Code:
dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
That should do the trick. Beware : lots of questions to answer ..
 
Old 04-25-2005, 02:09 PM   #5
fancypiper
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Sparta, NC USA
Distribution: Ubuntu 10.04
Posts: 5,141

Rep: Reputation: 60
Are you using xorg or XFree86?

# Find X server version
X -showconfig

I don't get a GUI/my resolution isn't what I want
# Configuring X
Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO - video cards
The Linux XFree86 HOWTO
Configuring XFree86 for a Non-Specific Linux Distribution
Common X configuring tools:
Debian - dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
Mandrake - XFdrake
SuSE - sax2
Red Hat Linux 9: Red Hat Linux Reference Guide Chapter 7. The X Window System
Redhat 7.3 down - the setup utility leads to several config tools
Redhat 7.3 up - redhat-config-xfree86
You may have one or more of these tools:
XF86Setup
XFree86 -configure
Xconfigurator
xf86cfg
xf86config
xconf
ATI Linux drivers
If you need the nVidia driver, you want the Linux IA32 driver unless you are using a 64 bit CPU

Last edited by fancypiper; 04-25-2005 at 02:13 PM.
 
  


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