Unable to switch to a new terminal after running KDE

EXE759 · 02-18-2006, 01:31 PM

I can change terminals fine before starting KDE, but after starting it, I get a blank screen. I've tried all six terminals. Even starting a new session in KDE results in the blank screen. The only way to exit from this seems to be my computer's power button. Thanks for your help.

Woodsman · 02-18-2006, 05:36 PM

The blank screen could be the result of how the Slackware default /etc/inittab is configured. Try toggling to virtual console 6 with Alt-F6.

Also, when in X/KDE, you must use the Ctrl key as an additional modifier key to toggle between virtual consoles. Thus, toggling to virtual console number 6 requires using Ctrl-Alt-F6.

See if the following helps:

Configuring Slackware for a GUI Startup---Part II

Understanding X Session Alt-Fn Keyboard Assignments

EXE759 · 02-19-2006, 07:18 AM

Switching to terminal 6 results in a blank screen also. I'm completely unable to switch to any terminal after booting into KDE, even a new KDE session.

Woodsman · 02-19-2006, 03:29 PM

Did you try with Ctrl-Alt-Fn? In KDE the Alt key is a standard modifier key to access program menus and the Ctrl key is necessary to toggle to the other terminals.

If you did try using the Ctrl key, then check your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file for the parameter:

Option "DontVTSwitch"

If you find that option then comment out the line, and if necessary restart X/KDE.

EXE759 · 02-19-2006, 03:48 PM

I've tried it using the CTRL key, and that parameter isn't in xorg.conf.

Woodsman · 02-19-2006, 04:45 PM

Try temporarily booting into a different GUI such as tvm. To do this, as normal user at the command line type xwmconfig and then select tvm.

Then type startx to launch X. See if you can toggle consoles.

If you can't, then the problem is not KDE but something else.

If you can, then exit X and restore your GUI to KDE by either running xwmconfig again or deleting ~/.xinitrc. Then open the KDE Control Center and explore the Regional and Accessibility section to see if there is something odd about your keyboard setup.

Another test is you can temporarily rename your user's ~/.kde directory by typing at the command line mv ~/.kde ~/.kde-old. Of course, do this before launching X/KDE. Then start X/KDE and see if you can toggle consoles. This test means temporarily losing all of your KDE configuration. But if the test succeeds, you then can rename ~/.kde-old to ~/.kde and investigate further.