Newbie here, just doing final tweaking on the new setup

I've got Linux 9.1 (received just before the 9.2 release), and for awhile tried the Gnome GUI default on login. I also tried KDE, and decided I preferred it.

The problem I currently have is that on booting into Linux, I still get the GNOME GUI interface, but it doesn't do anything. I have to press the "logout" key several times and then the Mandrake Control Centre. It asks me for my root password and then, after I enter that, it allows me to relogin - which gives me KDE.

I've tried to force the system to use KDE when booting, but had no luck either with reinstalling 9.1 or with going into ROOT and trying to fiddle with the login settings there.

Is there someplace I should go to fix this?

I haven't seen anyone with this problem, which means I'm missing something blindingly obvious, or nobody's tried anything quite this stupid before - I have faith in the human race, SOMEBODY must have tried something quite this stupid before. ^_^

maybe you should have a look at Mandrake control center, Boot section, DrakBoot : the login mode might be set to autologin with Gnome. Just change it to Kde, or either click on "No, i don't want autologin" so you'll be asked for username, password and desktop manager on boot.
http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak...html#id2921002

I just rechecked the Drakboot, and it was already set for KDE. Just to be on the safe side, I deselected and reselected - it still says "KDE".

I've got LILO set as the boot manager.

I'll post the results after I do a reboot.

Nope, no joy. It's still loading as Gnome instead of KDE.

I'll try without autologin and see how it goes.

go to your home dir (eg. /home/YOURNAME)

look for .xinitrc or .xsession

look for something like:

exec /usr/local/bin/gnome

and change the path to the path of the window manager you want to use:

exe /usr/local/bin/flubox

-is mine

Maybe this works differently with the autologin for Mandrake? I'm having trouble finding files with that name and info.

I was unable to find .xinitrc or .xsession while poking around in my home directory - apparently Mandrake doesn't boot up in that manner.

However, I think I found a clue:

In /home/(username)/.gconf/desktop I have another subdirectory, /gnome, with a number of subdirectories below that.

There is no /.gconf/kde

Shouldn't there be a .gconf file for KDE rather than this?

In Your home directory, You have file .desktop with line DESKTOP=GNOME. Just replace gnome with KDE. This works for Mandrake 9.2 (I have no expirience with previous Mandrake versions, but I think it will work).

Found, changed, and IT WORKS!!!!!

Thank you very, very much.