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Old 06-21-2001, 01:32 PM   #1
Daniel
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XWindows?


I installed Linux now, but Im not sure if i have xwindows or not, i do know that when i load linux it doesnt goto xwindows, it goes to the, i dont know what you call it, the text based dos type area of linux. If i have xwindows installed, how do i get to it, if not where can i get it?
 
Old 06-21-2001, 01:53 PM   #2
trickykid
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type startx at the prompt. what distro did you install? and what kind of install did you do? if it was a server install, x won't be there and would then need to be installed. if you installed with like a workstation install, x should be there.
 
Old 06-21-2001, 02:46 PM   #3
rabidundead
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Exclamation it's not called x-windows, but here..

it is called the x window system, this is distinct and seperates it from the micro$oft trademarked product, Windows. It is generally looked down upon to call it x-windows. you can call it by its proper name, or just call it 'X'. This is just FYI, not trying to be mean. Nevertheless...

What the text mode is - is called Bash. From here, you can get to X by typing: startx

you can also go to any graphical login by its name:

'gdm' is the GNOME login manager,
'kdm' is the KDE login manager,
and
'xdm' is the X (generic) login manager.

for future reference, try running a search for what you want to know (i have a feeling its already been asked at this forum about a billion times), and read the howto on X at www.linuxdoc.org

LDP site will be your best freind! (Next to LinuxQuestions!)

hth (hope this helps)

Later
--------
Rabid
"um, uh, hmmm, ran out of quotes, guess i'd better start thinking of some!" :smash:
 
Old 06-21-2001, 02:56 PM   #4
Daniel
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Yes from now on we shall call it the X Window System, not XMicro$oft Windows.

Last edited by Daniel; 06-21-2001 at 03:24 PM.
 
Old 06-21-2001, 03:34 PM   #5
trickykid
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not to be mean or anything, but let anyone call it whatever they want. there are some people who still can't say linux right, but that doesn't mean we need to remind them everytime its said wrong.
if someone wants to call it X windows, then go right ahead, it can be called X, X windows, GUI, Desktop, X window system...... who cares, don't take it so personally. at least their not calling it just Windows.
 
Old 06-21-2001, 04:45 PM   #6
jharris
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Re: it's not called x-windows, but here..

Quote:
Originally posted by rabidundead
What the text mode is - is called Bash. From here, you can get to X by typing: startx
That's not quite true now is it! The 'text mode' is correctly called the shell, and bash is just one of the many shells, although its seems to be the one that comes as default with most Linux boxes... other offerings include (t)csh, zsh and ash to name but a few.

I'd agree with Trickykid, let people call it what they want... I tend to say X becuase I'm lazy and its short... I also usually don't spell it wrong either

Jamie...
 
Old 06-21-2001, 09:10 PM   #7
Daniel
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Mouse problem

Ok so i ran startx and i do have X, however when i installed i must have imporperly set up my mouse. So i went to the bash, or shell and ran /usr/sbin/mouseconfig, but it said somthing like "Only root can run this file" or some jargan about not being able to run it.
 
Old 06-22-2001, 01:01 AM   #8
jondowd
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What I've heard is that "the text based dos type area of linux" is most accurately referred to as a "command line interface" This would be true for what one sees when presented with a "DOS Prompt" as well.
 
Old 06-22-2001, 01:26 AM   #9
rabidundead
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just forget it

classic example of: 'you can't please all the people all the time'.



i am simply encouraging respect for the author's' wishes that it be called anything but x-windows, for the purpose they (and I) have stated. by all means, call it 'blue' for whatever i care.



personally, it reminds me too much of stuff that breaks.



bash, ash, command-line, shell..... i give up.



my name is mud.



Later.

--------

Rabid

"xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

"windows":smash:

"take your pick."
 
Old 06-22-2001, 10:30 AM   #10
notlinus
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Rabid - you mean Harry Mudd?

Continuing the semantics of this thread and completely ignoring the more recent question of the original poster, I suggest ex-windows, as many of us indeed are ex-windows...

Back to Daniel - do what it says. Log in as root and run the mouse configuration file. You will find that there are a lot of configuration sorts of things that require you to be root. That is on purpose - it is to protect the system from a "user level" user mucking things up. Log in as root, make the changes you need to, then log back in as your regular user account to actually use the system. That's the recommended approach.
You can also "temporarily" be root by typing su at the CLI (command line interface, Dos like prompt, shell prompt, whatever). You will be prompted for the root password. su means Super User. To back to normal mode type exit.

Remember that you may log in multiple times on your machine, each with different levels of privilege. I will sometimes get lazy and leave one TTY logged in as root, and switch to that one when I need to root around, but keep my GUI clean and at user level.

One of the niceties of Linux - almost feels like 3D multitasking.
 
Old 06-22-2001, 10:52 AM   #11
Daniel
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Thanks,
Im not at my computer at the moment, but just to clarify when i get there, i log in as root with my ussual password, or do i just type su after logging in as dan, or do i log in as su?
 
Old 06-22-2001, 12:23 PM   #12
trickykid
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su stands for substitute user, or some say super user since most of the time you su as root for some administrative tasks. i rarely ever su into another user account.

to su into as root instead of logging in as root do as follows:

Code:
# su root
# password for root: enter password
# now do what is necessary to do as root
# logout
when all done, logout to return back to being logged in as whoever.

either that, or you can just log in as root. or you can switch terminals, ctrl-alt-F2 thru F6 since you would already be in F1 sort of saying, but then login as root there and you can switch back by ctrl-alt-F1.
 
Old 06-22-2001, 12:33 PM   #13
jharris
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su'ing

Its also worth noting that if you su from one user to another, say root => jharris then you often want to use
Code:
su - jharris
the - makes su parse the users login files (.profile, .cshrc, etc) so that any environment settings that user usually gets are set.

TrickyKid - su = Substitutue User? Kewl, I always assumed it was "switch user"...

cheers all!

Jamie...

Last edited by jharris; 06-22-2001 at 12:48 PM.
 
Old 06-22-2001, 12:45 PM   #14
trickykid
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i guess it could be switch user too... i have heard them all i think.

cool tip though given. i learn something everyday.
 
Old 06-22-2001, 11:37 PM   #15
Daniel
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Ok:
Lilo-Check
Mouse-Check
Printer-Status Unknown, it apears to be setup properly, but when i print somthing it never arives at the printer, no error messages, it just never shows up.
SoundCard-Not Working, I ran sndconfig and got the following error and when it went to test the sound it came back with the error somthing like "Cannot run isapnp program: Don't know what to do with CONFIGURE CTC002b/200778295..."
I have a Creative Labs sound blaster.
Modem-Talking to friend about it.... Talking to friend about it.... He doesnt know. Where do i begin to setup my modem? I didnt find anything about modems under man, and the info i found at LDP basicly said "To setup your modem, Configure your modem using linux, by typing on your keyboard/moving and clicking mouse." I really wanna get modem working, so i dont have to keep restarting, going to windows, asking a question, and going back. I dont really know how to shutdown in linux, i log off and it just takes me back to the shell, i type exit it takes me back to the login screen with that ugly pixilated penguin, can he be changed?

Ok thats about it, i get all those things working, and im MS free for life, well actualy one day because im getting a new PC tommorow, or sunday :P, not that thats bad it just means im wasting my time working with linux.
 
  


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