Modifying Startx for new default

NiallC · 01-09-2005, 09:54 AM

Hello,

(Slackware current (10.)), 2.4.28 kernel)

KDE is my current default desktop when I issue:

# startx

How can I make Gnome my default ?

I don't see a way to switch when KDE is launched, and I've poked around the X11 directory with no success.

Can anyone point me to the correct conifiguration file to alter this?

TIA!

Niall.

kilgoretrout · 01-09-2005, 10:19 AM

Try this:

$ su
<enter root password>
# cd /etc/X11/xinit
# mv xinitrc xinitrc.bad (this backs up your old xinitrc which is linked to kde)
# ln -s xinitrc.gnome xinitrc (creates new link to start gnome)
# exit
$ startx (this should start gnome)

From what I can see xinitrc is a link to whatever default desktop that you want to use all of which are listed in /etc/X11/xinit with the names <window manager>.xinitrc. I think it's just a matter of linking to the right file to change your default window manager.

NiallC · 01-09-2005, 10:27 AM

Hmm......that didn't work!?

From my limited knowledge, it looked like it might, but KDE just fired on up again.

I hadn't thought about linking, etc...

Thanks though....but it still seems to be defaulting to KDE.

cccc828 · 01-09-2005, 10:34 AM

Code:

xwmconfig

kilgoretrout · 01-09-2005, 10:48 AM

If you take a look at the startx script in /usr/X11/bin it appears that the script looks first for an xinitrc in your home directory, then proceeds to the global one in /etc/X11/xinit. Actually it's a hidedn file(/home/<username>/.xinitrc). Check to see if there is such a file in your home directory.

NiallC · 01-09-2005, 11:21 AM

that file was there in my home directory, but modifying it isn't enough. Now I can't get a window manager to start at all. I'll just modify it back for now

slakmagik · 01-09-2005, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cccc828

Code:

xwmconfig

I do an end-run around that, myself, but it is the default way and should not fail. Have you tried that yet?

Possibly saying what exactly does happen (rather than 'can't get a window manager to start at all') would help. Any particular messages when this happens?

(Also, if you're sticking with Slack, you should update your distro.)

NiallC · 01-09-2005, 11:42 AM

urgh....I actually didn't read that post.

That worked perfectly.

Sorry for the confusion.

Thank you all! )and special thanks to cccc_)

Niall.