I downloaded the Slackware packages from kde.org. I verified the md5sums
of all of the downloaded packages. I removed all of the kde* packages,
arts, qt, kdevelop, and quanta (there was no koffice package). I then
used installpkg to install all of the packages. I restarted X and kdm
doesn't look like it used to. I logged in and got two error messages while
starting kde.


The first message is:

-------------------------------------------------------
Error - KDesktop

Could not start process Unable to create
io-slave:

Klauncher said: Unknown protocol 'file'.
-------------------------------------------------------


The second error message is:

-------------------------------------------------------
Informational - arts message

Sound server informational message:

Error while initializing the sound
driver:

device: default can't be opened for playback
(Permission denied)

The sound server will continue,
using the null output device.
-------------------------------------------------------

All of the entries on one of my panels are gone. The menu has no
applications in it. My desktop is now empty, and I cannot create files on
the desktop. The stuff in my system tray is still functional, and kgpg still
works when run from the tray. It reports that it is using kde 3.2.1 in the
about information. I cannot change any settings through the kde graphical
interface. Kmail works in gnome. I was using Slackware current instead
of slackware 9.1. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Move your .kde directory under /home to .kde_old. Log back in and let KDE recreate everything. If you have old mail settings, etc. you can copy them back from their location in .kde_old to .kde.

As far as the sound issue goes, open up the KDE Control Panel, select Sound & Multimedia and then Sound System. Click on the Hardware tab and change 'Select the audio device' to Open Sound System.

No good. It still gives me the "Could not start process Unable to create io-slave:" error message anytime I try to do anything useful. The menu and desktop are still both empty. Anything else?

I can't open the control center, so I do not know about the sound thing.

Unfortunately, that was all I had. I've never had a major issue with KDE so I haven't had to poke around in it. When I did have issues, blowing away the .kde directory in /home worked. A google search on that error message might be your best bet unless someone else with far more knowledge than I comes to the rescue.

I've had no luck googling that. Thanks anyways. I emailed my original post to the person that built the packages, maybe he will be able to help me.

I had one more thought as I was driving home from work. Remove all of the packages that the README from kde.org says to. Then look in the /tmp directory. Remove any kde-user and ksocket-user entries. Blow away the .kde directory in /home. Then reinstall all the packages using installpkg and see what happens. Actually, you could first just try blowing away the stuff in /tmp after you've logged out of kde. Post any solution you get. I'm curious to see what fixes it.

Nope, that doesn't work either.

The only idea I have left is to check out the permissions of the directories in /tmp that are created by KDE. They should be owned by the user with permissions rwxrwx---. That's my final shot.

No. Thanks for spending so much time trying to assist me.

I'm convinced that those packages from kde.org are no good. I uninstalled them and reinstalled the 3.2.0 packages from slackware.com, and everything is working fine. I think I'll wait until the official packages are released into -current before I upgrade again.

I decided to do the same. I guess I'm stuck with unchangable menus.

I got a reply.

That explains everything. Bummer.

Wow, that make sense and all, but the weird thing is I'm running Slackware-current (totally up-to-date) and I upgraded to the KDE 3.2.1 from the slackware 9.1 packages on kde.org yesterday. Haven't had a problem yet. Now I'm a bit worried...lol

I just downloaded all of the packages into one directory and did an upgradepkg --install-new *.tgz, restarted KDE and it was ok. I had KDE 3.2 from Slackware-current previously installed and upgraded it instead of removing it and installing fresh so maybe that has something to do with it. It seems to be working ok so far....weird.

ummm... weird?

If you don't mind checking, can you change the window layout in Kate and make it stay that way when you close the app and then open it again? That was the main reason I ditched the 3.2.1 packages, I use Kate all day and I couldn't make the configuration stick, no matter what I tried - everything else seemed fine though.