First off- I am a total newb to linux. IM still trying to read s i cna learn bash code, and what the hell run-levels are.

I just installed Red Hat 9. The install went beautifully- but i was confused that the GUI installer never once asked for the RPMS cd's. Anyhow- i booted, and after Red Hat loaded, I logged in as <root> with my password- and i get the script:

[root@localhost root]#

I've been messing around with some commands, but nothing will get the actual GUI to boot. Can anyone tell me what to do??

2. I was running System commander 7 for ease of windows partitioning previous to installing redhat. Right after i got done installing redhat- the GRUB booter loaded- not system commander. After a couple of time selectin redhat off the GRUB list, i checked to see if my windows 98SE still worked, and it did. Next time i booted, system commander popped up- not GRUB- and i have never seen GRUB again. Another thing- Linux is not on System commander's OS selection list despite my efforts to have system commander read the boot record off the linux parition. Now i have to boot from an A: disk to start redhat. Is there a way around this?


Please answer! Several business issues for me if i dont get help....

Tazman

Once you get in to linux you can restore grub using:
/sbin/grub-install /dev/hda

To start the gui you can try:
startx

To boot into the gui automatically then edit /etc/inittab and change the "initdefault" line from containing a 3 to a 5.

Response to your first question:

First create a regular user account instead of using root.
Then simply type startx to start the GUI. If you want to start in the GUI at boot time, edit your /etc/inittab file and change your runlevel to 5 instead of 3.

Regards.

Thanks for the help, but uh, no go. The GRUB solution works. Now when i boot i get my GRUB, with the perty picture of the redhat logo and everything. However- I still cant vget the GUI to load.

I typed it the commands after logging in as root (commands dont work unless youre logged in). I got the following errors-

-bash: startx: command not found

-bash: edit: command not found

Pretty simple really. Also- while watching it go through the boot process i noticed that at one point it says it IS at runlevel 5. P.S.- i sitll dont know what runlevels are. Any explanation or a link to a place that explains them EASILY would be greatly appreciated.

Tazman

wheres that damn bash shell book... around here somewhere......

Did you install a GUI?
Try:
find / -name startx

oh - edit isn't a command trickykid just meant that you should edit it. Try "vi" or "pico"

err- i havebnt tied your solution yet, but when i installed it never asked for the RPMS cds, maybe thats it. I did install both GNOME and KDE and all of thier packages.


thanks guys!

Runlevels are simply modes at which different daemons and programs are automaticaly started and stoped.

Runlevel 5 for instance should automatically start X and all sorts or other stuff where as runlevel 3 should only boot you into a console.

You go into runlevel 6 when you shutdown and it stops everything.


Back to your question though, it sounds as if you havent got X installed. I'm a N00b myself so I have no idea how to get it to work.

If no one can help I would suggest a reinstall while looking out for anythign to do with window managers or X.

Another thing- i noticed it says "Id "x" respawning to fast shutdown for 5 minutes" or something. if i just hit enter it gives me the login prompt.