I am running RH 7.1 (x86). After the install, when I logged in my display was distorted all to hell. I updated to Xfree86 4.1 and the display is now fine. Even though I try to log in with a KDE or Gnome session, all I get is a black screen with a terminal console. I have to enter either "startkde" or "gnome-session" to actually get it up. My question is, what file do I need to edit to get it to enter the KDE of Gnome session when I log in? Thanks for any help.

are you implying to start out in the graphical login instead of the terminal.. that would be in your inittab file, your going to want to change your runlevel to 5.
or were you saying that when booting into graphical login, it only blacks out then going back to the terminal prompt?

I'm pretty sure my inittab file is set up right, but I could be wrong as I am still new to Linux/Unix. When my machine boots up, it comes to a graphical login interface. I give my login and password, then choose either KDE, Gnome, failsafe or default login. No matter which I choose (KDE or Gnome) I get a black and white pattern screen with an xconsole box, a terminal window, and an xsm: Default box that has four buttons (client list, check point, session log, and shutdown). In the terminal, I can type "startkde" or "session-gnome" and it will bring up that desktop, but I don't know why it's making me do that. Why isn't it just starting by itself? Any help would be greatly apriciated.

When my machine boots up, it comes to a graphical login interface. I give my login and password, then choose either KDE, Gnome, failsafe or default login. No matter which I choose (KDE or Gnome) I get a black and white pattern screen with an xconsole box, a terminal window, and an xsm: Default box that has four buttons (client list, check point, session log, and shutdown). In the terminal, I can type "startkde" or "session-gnome" and it will bring up that desktop, but I don't know why it's making me do that. Why isn't it just starting by itself? Any help would be greatly apriciated.

Hi! im newbie and Im having the same problem too. could someone help us, please?

well just for kicks try this after boot...


Ctrl_Alt_F2

then login to console as root...

#init 3

then do...

Ctrl_d

then login as a normal user...

$switchdesk kde

$startx


also do...

$cat ~/.Xclients

$cat ~/.Xclients-default

see what they say in them
should be something like this

[david@Microdot david]$ cat ~/.Xclients
#!/bin/bash

# Created by Red Hat Desktop Switcher

if [ -e "$HOME/.Xclients-$HOSTNAME$DISPLAY" ]; then
exec $HOME/.Xclients-$HOSTNAME$DISPLAY
else
exec $HOME/.Xclients-default
fi
[david@Microdot david]$ cat ~/.Xclients-default
# Created by Red Hat Desktop Switcher
exec startkde

try this...

echo $HOME
echo $HOSTNAME
echo $DISPLAY


Did you change some stuff around in /etc/passwd

i just did it, but i doesn't change nothing.
a other detail: when i start gnome-session the system show a message like "the window manager is not compatible with gnome and the mouse-clicks will not work properly", what can i do? the xsm window get me mad!! when i close it all the system reboot i just want my old gnome back...

another window manager is loading,

if you go to the configuration in gnome for the window manager you can change it to sawfish

well.... I'm a newbie but I found a work-a-round. This will actually be my forst "help another" type post.

This unhelpful, not working yet XSM (X Session Manager) appears to be before its' time. I can't get any apps to successfully save their sessions with it. I didn't ask for it... it just appeared after an XFre86 install and some kernel and glibc upgrades.

XSM jumps in after the GUI login and over-rides your GUI login desktop selection. XSM first looks for .xsmstartup files in home directories and if none are found (which is my case) it goes to the system.xsm file to get the load menu.

Just vi the /etc/X11/xsm/system.xsm file with the startup apps (in command line format) that you want. I commented out (# before the line) the options that were there already and simply put startkde or gnome-session to get the KDE or Gnome desktop to start.

Now.... I'm trying to figure out how to remove XSM and have the GUI login screen select my desktop.

Hope this helps,

Sylk