Can't get KDM to work

Keithj · 09-09-2006, 05:53 PM

My Ubuntu installation works fine in Gnome, but I much prefer KDE.

I did sudo apt-get install kde and then ditto kubuntu-desktop, whereupon I got an error message that

kubuntu-artwork-usplash
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/function
line 82 {: too many arguments
basename: extra operand 'hdb3'
Try basename --help for more info

basename --help was no help at all.

hdb3 is the drive Ubuntu is installed on.

When I boot the machine, it now gives a KDE login page, then starts Gnome. I've not dared to remove Gnome, because I suspect that would leave me without any desktop system at all.

I've tried sudo dpkg-reconfigure kubuntu-desktop - I get the same error message every time.

What am I doing wrong? How do I get past this "too many arguments" thing?

IBall · 09-11-2006, 01:33 AM

Just a stab in the dark, seeing as no one else has helped yet...

AFAIK, you don't need to install kde and then kubuntu-desktop - just kubuntu-desktop is sufficient.

Try removing KDE, and then install kubuntu-desktop using aptitude rather than apt-get.

I normally end up resolving these problems with trial and error

--Ian

grabro · 09-11-2006, 12:14 PM

Hi

My problem is similar. I also much pefer KDE and installed kubuntu-desktop but unfortunately during the install when asked what DM to use I clicked GDM and therefore
I still have a Gnome desktop.

So how do I switch to KDM so that it will install KDE instead on Gnome?

grabro

binary_y2k2 · 09-11-2006, 03:23 PM

change the contents of /etc/X11/default-display-manager to "/usr/bin/kdm"

IBall · 09-12-2006, 03:18 AM

On either KDM or GDM, you should have the option of choosing KDE or Gnome. Click "Sessions" on the login screen, and select which one you want and then login.

The only real difference between KDM and GDM is that one is based on Gnome and one based on KDE. They both will launch any desktop.

--Ian

Keithj · 09-13-2006, 01:58 PM

Thanks for those. Nothing fixed it, I'm afraid. Something, somewhere in Ubuntu is adding an extra argument somewhere in the config process, and it's crashing out. Apt-get or Aptitude makes no difference - both tell me the latest version of kubuntu-desktop is installed. dpkg-reconfigure gives me the same "hdc3" error every time.

I can run KDE software in Gnome, and have been doing so. KDM just won't run - it does the login bit OK, then switches to Gnome. It's "OK" but doesn't really fit my way of working.

I guess it's one of those little mysteries. Ubuntu is back on the "try again some day" list, and the machine is running Fedora - flawlessly!