how do I switch between two desktop managers?

newbiesforever · 01-05-2010, 10:04 AM

If I install a new desktop manager without uninstalling the old one, how do I specify which one to use? I wanted to look at LXDE, so to see what would happen, I installed it without uninstalling KDE. KDE apparently just sat underneath, and was unaffected. I didn't keep LXDE, but I might, if I could switch back to KDE to do work until I understood LXDE. (Keeping up-to-date in MEPIS will force me to learn KDE 4 despite that KDE 3 was fine, so I might as well examine other desktop managers.)

pljvaldez · 01-05-2010, 10:58 AM

Usually you just log out and then select LXDE from the Session Manager on the login screen.

Perromuerto · 01-05-2010, 11:08 AM

IF your system starts with a session manager, it usually has a list of the available desktop managers. If your system boots straight in to a session, see the scripts in "/etc/X11/xinit". There is a script named "xinitrc" that actually initiates the X11 system with a given desktop manager. There can be a lot of scripts named like "xinitrc.kde", "xinitrc.fluxbox" and so on. The "xinitrc" script is a symbolic link to the default startup.

lumak · 01-05-2010, 03:21 PM

Additionally, you can set the default per user by copying any of the /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc* to $HOME/.xinitrc

newbiesforever · 01-05-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pljvaldez

Usually you just log out and then select LXDE from the Session Manager on the login screen.

Okay, I successfully did that. I thought the options would be there in plain sight, but not quite: I had to click on "the session type" and select one. Thank you.

Since KDE has to be my default until I figure out LXDE, I'll wait until then to tamper with the X11 scripts or files.