Still no graphic desktop

[Matt Navarre]

Lloyd Hayes wrote:

> I have been told that the reason that I don't have a graphic desktop yet 
> is because my XFree86 Server is not configured right. I finally 
> downloaded the exact specs on my old laptop from Gateway and plugged 
> them into the configure file. No help.
> I tried each of the 4 configure methods from the menu. No good, nor does 
> the graphics menu work any more.
> I have attempted to switch from KDE to Gnome, to Windowmaker. Again, no 
> good.

How are you trying to start X Windows? If you're just expecting it to 
start, you're going to end up disappointed.

To start X you need to either type startx at the command prompt or edit 
/etc/ttys to start xdm (or kdm or gdm) on the console.

here's the handbook page on configuring xdm to start after boot:
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/x-xdm.html

Generally the step in section 5.6.2 is all you need to do, the rest is 
advanced options that you needn't be concerned with at this point. This 
info applies to kdm and gdm (KDE Display Manager and Gnome Display 
Manager, respectively)

To get your desired desktop to start you need to put the command to 
start it in $HOME/.xinitrc(for startx) or $HOME/.xsession(for xdm). To 
get KDE started (assuming it's installed) just type
'echo startkde >> .xinitrc' at the prompt. Assuming you're at the text 
console type 'startx'. KDE should start.


> I have tried several other things such as the one below:
> 
> # cd /usr/ports/x11/XFree86-4
> # make install clean
> 
> It then suggests that I 'make reinstall' or 'make deinstall'. I tried 
> reinstall first with it then suggesting that I 'make reinstall' again or 
> 'make deinstall'.
> 
> # make deinstall
> 
> # cd /usr/ports/x11/XFree86-4
> # make install clean
> 
> While this seemed to install ok, it was still no help. I'm still stuck 
> with line item commands.
> 
> When executing afterwards: XFree86 -configure  I get: Fatal Server Error
> xf86EnableIO: Failed to open /dev/io for extended I/O

Hmm, are you doing this as root? You need to be. Another alternative, if 
you have the specs for your monitor and video card, is 
/usr/X11R6/bin/xf86config. It'll ask you questions about your setup and 
generate a config file based on what you tell it. Try that, and if you 
still have problems post your config file and relevant log messages to 
the list, and we'll try to help.

> 
> Log says the same thing.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 

-- 
"We all enter this world in the same way: naked, screaming,
  and soaked in blood. But if you live your life right, that kind
  of thing doesn't have to stop there." -- Dana Gould