[SOLVED] After intalling fluxbox!! And editing the .xinitrc, now linux won't load the desktop!

CodyAcer · 08-24-2014, 10:50 PM

uhh.... guys i just install a fluxbox window manager, and edit the .xinitrc file as there tutorial to start the fluxbox..., but now my linux is useless i cant start to it, after logging in, in the login screen it just flashing back again..! to login screen. is fluxbox crash my default window manager?? this is my .xinitrc file..

Code:

bash ~/.fluxbox/startup &
exec fluxbox

but still i have access to my linux partition using ext2 program. to edit the .xinitrc and .fluxbox i tried to delete it once. but no success

astrogeek · 08-24-2014, 10:57 PM

It would help you to get a useful response if you could provide a few more details.

What distro and version is this?
Did you install Fluxbox using the package manager, or build from sources, or some other way?

CodyAcer · 08-24-2014, 11:00 PM

i install it using

Code:

sudo apt-get install fluxbox

and i have a Linux Lite 2.0
thank you for fast reply!

astrogeek · 08-24-2014, 11:26 PM

I am not familiar with Linux Lite but I see it is an Ubuntu LTS derivative... I also am not an Ubuntu user...

That said, since you installed from apt it is presumably a good install, and setting the .xinitrc correctly should be the way to make it work.

Since this the first time you have run it (another assumption) it is maybe due to there not being a ~./fluxbox/... directory in your home directory, or possibly Ubuntu requires some other method of calling startx. Your .xinitrc looks a little odd to me too, but maybe not.

You said that you followed a tutorial - can you give us a link to that please.

And I'll ask any Ubuntu users to drop in and comment on how you would start Fluxbox the first time.

NOTE: It is probably something simple - please don't do anything crazy in a panic, like delete configs or reinstall!

astrogeek · 08-24-2014, 11:32 PM

A little more info from an online Ubuntu man page (see man startfluxbox and man fluxbox in you system):

Code:

NAME

       startfluxbox - start a fluxbox session

SYNOPSIS

       startfluxbox

DESCRIPTION

       startfluxbox is a script which runs the file \~/.fluxbox/startup If it
       doesn't exist it will be generated.

       startfluxbox should be started from your ~/.xinitrc if you use startx,
       or \~/.xsession if you run a display manager, like xdm.

So boot to a terminal and try the above as a good starting point...

Code:

In your ~/.xinitrc (or .xsession per above)

exec /usr/bin/startfluxbox

CodyAcer · 08-24-2014, 11:39 PM

thanks. for reply astrogeek but.. sorry for very2x noob reply i dont know how to boot in console mode(but dont worry ill search it in google). after i boot from console.. what should i type to start fluxbox?? just type startfluxbox? as the link you gave to me??

astrogeek · 08-24-2014, 11:44 PM

From some random Ubuntu forum... not sure it applies to you but can't hurt to try...

Quote:

Boot to console?

The standard way is to hold down (or repeatedly tap) the Shift key while you boot. Grub should present you with a menu. Choose the second option, to go into recovery mode; then choose, Drop to root shell prompt.

CodyAcer · 08-24-2014, 11:50 PM

ok.. ill reboot and try it..!

rokytnji · 08-24-2014, 11:54 PM

Just posting. To see this thread tommorrow since I am going to bed.

Code:

harry@harry-Latitude-XT2:~$ ls -all
total 200
drwxr-xr-x 34 harry harry 4096 Aug 24 21:54 .
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  root  4096 Aug 18 14:40 ..
drwx------  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .adobe
-rwxr-x---  1 harry harry  124 Aug 18 14:40 .asoundrc
-rw-------  1 harry harry 2202 Aug 24 23:44 .bash_history
-rwxr-x---  1 harry harry  435 Aug 18 14:40 .bashrc
-rwxrwxr-x  1 harry harry  834 Aug 20 09:02 .battery.sh
drwx------ 12 harry harry 4096 Aug 24 22:04 .cache
drwxrwxr-x  6 harry harry 4096 Aug 19 11:33 Comics
drwx------ 23 harry harry 4096 Aug 20 18:53 .config
-rw-r--r--  1 harry harry 1487 Aug 20 12:22 .conkyrc
-rw-rw-r--  1 harry harry 2743 Aug 19 12:01 .conkyrcbk
drwx------  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .dbus
drwxr-xr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 Desktop
-rw-r--r--  1 harry harry   23 Aug 18 14:42 .dmrc
drwxr-xr-x  4 harry harry 4096 Aug 21 15:12 Documents
drwxr-xr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 20 20:06 Downloads
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .fonts
drwx------  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 24 21:54 .gconf
drwxr-xr-x 24 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .gimp-2.8
-rw-r-----  1 harry harry    0 Aug 18 22:12 .gksu.lock
drwx------  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 20 10:14 .gnome2
drwx------  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 18:31 .gnome2_private
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .gstreamer-0.10
-rwxr-x---  1 harry harry   20 Aug 18 14:40 .gtk-bookmarks
-rwxr-x---  1 harry harry  104 Aug 18 14:40 .gtkrc-2.0
-rw-------  1 harry harry  696 Aug 24 21:54 .ICEauthority
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 19 11:01 Icons
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 19:29 Images
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 19 21:39 Isos
drwxr-xr-x  4 harry harry 4096 Aug 24 21:54 .lastpass
drwxrwxr-x  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .local
drwx------  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .macromedia
drwx------  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 19 16:06 .moc
drwx------  4 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .mozilla
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 20 18:53 .mplayer
drwxr-xr-x 10 harry harry 4096 Aug 19 11:02 Music
drwxr-xr-x  5 harry harry 4096 Aug 20 18:53 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 Public
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 21 12:51 Screeny
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 19:29 Scripts
drwxr-xr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 Templates
drwx------  4 harry harry 4096 Aug 18 14:40 .thumbnails
drwxr-xr-x  3 harry harry 4096 Aug 19 10:25 Videos
drwxrwxr-x  2 harry harry 4096 Aug 20 09:28 Wallpapers
-rwxrwxr-x  1 harry harry  458 Aug 20 08:59 .weather.sh
-rw-------  1 harry harry  117 Aug 24 21:54 .Xauthority
-rw-rw-r--  1 harry harry 7575 Aug 18 14:40 .xscreensaver
-rw-------  1 harry harry  108 Aug 24 21:54 .xsession-errors
-rw-------  1 harry harry  210 Aug 21 16:10 .xsession-errors.old
harry@harry-Latitude-XT2:~$ inxi -zv7
System:    Host: harry-Latitude-XT2 Kernel: 3.13.0-24-generic i686 (32 bit gcc: 4.8.2) 
           Desktop: Xfce 4.11.6 (Gtk 2.24.23) info: xfce4-panel dm: lightdm 
           Distro: Ubuntu 14.04 trusty 
Machine:   System: Dell product: Latitude XT2 Chassis: type: 8
           Mobo: Dell model: 0HJ48R Bios: Dell v: A01 date: 05/07/2009
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo U9600 (-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 6379 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 800 MHz 2: 800 MHz
Memory:    Using dmidecode: you must be root to run dmidecode
Graphics:  Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:2a42
           Display Server: X.Org 1.15.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1280x800@60.1hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express x86/MMX/SSE2
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.1.3 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller 
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:293e 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.13.0-24-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection
           driver: e1000e v: 2.3.2-k port: efe0
           bus-ID: 00:19.0 chip-ID: 8086:10f5
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Intel WiFi Link 5100
           driver: iwlwifi v: in-tree: bus-ID: 0c:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:4232
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
           WAN IP: <filter> IF: eth0 ip: N/A ip-v6: N/A 
           IF: wlan0 ip: <filter> ip-v6: <filter> 
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 180.0GB (12.4% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: D2CSTK181M11 size: 180.0GB serial: OCZ-OQ3UU619XQCH1EJ6
           Optical: No optical drives detected.
Partition: ID-1: / size: 8.6G used: 3.7G (46%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
           label: N/A uuid: 99517a34-0f9f-42d4-af4c-82ae817fb057
           ID-2: /home size: 157G used: 18G (12%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 
           label: N/A uuid: 52dc4336-761c-4976-ac02-0851fa022abc
RAID:      System: supported: N/A
           No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
           Unused Devices: none
Unmounted: No unmounted partitions detected
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 50.5C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 161 Uptime: 1:53 Memory: 526.2/1968.7MB 
           Init: Upstart v: 1.12.1 runlevel: 2 default: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.2 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111 running in x-terminal-emul) inxi: 2.2.1 
harry@harry-Latitude-XT2:~$ cat /etc/lsb-release.dpkg-old
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=14.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=trusty
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Linux Lite 2.0"
harry@harry-Latitude-XT2:~$  exixt

I don't have fluxbox installed yet on this so no .xinitrc file yet exists on my Linux lite 2.0 install.
Did you hand make yours or was yours made after the your fluxbox install automagically.

I ask because I run Fluxbox only on my M/C shop desktop.
Usually either startx or startfluxbox or startx fluxbox. One of those 3 work for me from init 3 command line boot up screen.

rokytnji · 08-24-2014, 11:57 PM

Also. On a desktop I am pretty sure Ctrl+alt+t or cntrl+alt+F1 will drop you out of a desktop and into a shell prompt.

CodyAcer · 08-25-2014, 12:04 AM

auh.. ok see you tomorrow!

astrogeek · 08-25-2014, 12:21 AM

Hope you got it Cody!

I also must step away for a bit, but just to recap in case you are still stuck:

At boot, you should get to options including recovery and root prompt by holding down the shift key.

Alternatively, as rokytnji says, if you can boot to the login prompt then Ctl-Alt-F1 should get you to a shell prompt (if not, try Ctl-Alt-F2).

Once you are at a shell prompt, cd into your home directory and create or edit both .xinitrc and .xsession (wont hurt to cover both bases)...

If you are not sure how to edit from the shell try nano or pico, both are simple editors. See man nano and man pico for options... but something like:

Code:

cd /home/myusername
ls -a (will list all files and directories if you need to see what is there)

nano .xinitrc

Add (must be last line executed, usually last line in file...)

exec /usr/bin/startfluxbox

Post back here on progress, see you later!

CodyAcer · 08-25-2014, 03:48 AM

nothing happens even i put the line

Code:

exec /usr/bin/startfluxbox

in the end of .xinitrc

my linux lite started in the login screen but after it its flashes again into the login screen i cant do anything now.. the only i can access my linux is to mount it up in the windows7! is there a way to restore it? or not anymore.. fluxbox crashes my system wierd ey?

rokytnji · 08-25-2014, 08:15 AM

Quote:

my linux lite started in the login screen but after it its flashes again into the login screen i cant do anything now.. the only i can access my linux is to mount it up in the windows7! is there a way to restore it? or not anymore.. fluxbox crashes my system wierd ey?

Sounds like with your skill set using linux that maybe a reinstall is best for you and just run the default xfce.

There may be more to your problem than just a bad line .xinitrc is why I say this.
Before any Linux install I do. No matter if Puppy or Linux Lite.
I check the md5sum of my downloaded iso first before using something Like Unetbootin or Free Iso Burner to make my bootable media in Windows.

I mention all of this because some default configs for fluxbox. Like in my AntiX Debian testing installs, are located in /etc/skel.

Code:

harry@harry-Latitude-XT2:~$ cd /etc/skel
harry@harry-Latitude-XT2:/etc/skel$ ls
Desktop  Documents  Downloads  Music  Pictures  Public  Templates  Videos
harry@harry-Latitude-XT2:/etc/skel$ ls -all
total 140
drwxr-xr-x  22 harry root   4096 May 31 23:08 .
drwxr-xr-x 142 root  root  12288 Aug 25 07:17 ..
drwx------   3 harry harry  4096 Apr 18 01:07 .adobe
-rwxr-x---   1 harry harry   124 Apr 17 20:56 .asoundrc
-rw-------   1 harry harry   131 May 31 23:08 .bash_history
-rwxr-x---   1 harry harry   435 Apr 17 20:56 .bashrc
drwx------   9 harry harry  4096 May 31 23:07 .cache
drwx------  20 harry harry  4096 May 31 15:21 .config
drwx------   3 harry harry  4096 Apr 18 01:57 .dbus
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 21 04:54 Desktop
-rw-r--r--   1 harry harry    23 Apr 17 20:10 .dmrc
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 May  1 19:04 Documents
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 18 05:02 Downloads
drwxrwxr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 21:02 .fonts
drwx------   3 harry harry  4096 May 31 23:07 .gconf
drwxr-xr-x  24 harry harry  4096 Apr 18 01:05 .gimp-2.8
-rw-r-----   1 harry harry     0 May 31 23:09 .gksu.lock
drwxrwxr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:43 .gstreamer-0.10
-rwxr-x---   1 harry harry    20 Apr 17 20:56 .gtk-bookmarks
-rwxr-x---   1 harry harry   104 Apr 17 20:56 .gtkrc-2.0
-rw-------   1 harry harry   330 May 31 23:07 .ICEauthority
drwxrwxr-x   3 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:10 .local
drwx------   3 harry harry  4096 Apr 18 01:07 .macromedia
drwx------   4 harry harry  4096 May  7 01:52 .mozilla
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:10 Music
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:10 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:10 Public
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:10 Templates
drwx------   4 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:56 .thumbnails
drwxr-xr-x   2 harry harry  4096 Apr 17 20:10 Videos
-rw-------   1 harry harry    54 May 31 23:07 .Xauthority
-rw-rw-r--   1 harry harry  7575 Apr 18 06:07 .xscreensaver
-rw-------   1 harry harry   108 May 31 23:07 .xsession-errors

And yes. Linux Lite uses /etc/skel. So. Hail Mary Pass coming here.
Can you handle copying the .xinitrc that Ubuntu should have made in /etc/skel and copy it over to overwrite what you made
in /home/(your user name?

Because maybe skel is overridng your home made /xinitrc and the 2 different ones cause a conflict.

You can compare the one in skel with

Code:

cat /etc/skel/.xinitrc

with your one in /home/username. If you have a corrupt Linux Lite Iso download though.
Everything I say is just moot.

I will be busy today working on motorcycles and other stuff so it will be awhile till I get back on here.
astrogeek knows his stuff and I respect his advise on this forum.
He walks the walk besides talk the talk so to speak.

If you did not md5sum check your Linux lite iso before making a boot media. All your problems might stem from a corrupted
downloaded iso. Hence that is why I mention a reinstall may be a smarter choice for you. You can pull off what you want to keep off of your install to external usb or dvdrw as a backup of pictures, bookmarks, emails, etc.......

Be sure and md5sum though before doing any linux install. It saves headaches like this later.

Happy Trails, Rok

frankbell · 08-25-2014, 07:43 PM

The correct entry in .xinitrc is

Code:

exec startfluxbox

http://fluxbox-wiki.org/category/how...mand_line.html