KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

[scorpiusmaximus]

I just built a new computer for my brother. I set it up at my home with my keyboard, mouse & monitor, originally with Edubuntu so the kids could run Edubuntu using Gnome desktop manager.
I then installed the Kubuntu-Desktop via apt-get so my brother could log in using KDE. KDE worked just fine until I tried to switch back and log on using the Gnome desktop manager. It said I was configured to use KDE and if I wanted to run Gnome I would have to re-configure. (I do not have the exact wording, unfortunately.)
This was a minor problem and I figured I'd find a solution later so, I then I took the computer to my brother's house and hooked it up using his keyboard, mouse & monitor. Now it only boots into the Edubuntu desktop without using either KDE or Gnome desktop managers. How do I correct this problem?

[integr8e]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

Now it only boots into the Edubuntu desktop without using either KDE or Gnome desktop managers.

What do you mean? What desktop manager are you using (KDM, GDM, LDM, XDM, . . .)? You may want to verify that you have both KDE and Gnome installed, although, unless you installed something like the Enlightenment desktop, I'm pretty sure you're running either a KDE or Gnome session. What makes you think you're not?

[scorpiusmaximus]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

I originally installed Edubuntu, that uses the Gnome Desktop. I then installed "kubuntu-desktop" from apt-get so I could use either Gnome or KDE desktop manager/environment by choosing at Logon. This is so the kids can log on to Edubuntu using the Gnome Desktop Manager and my brother can log on to Kubuntu using the KDE. (K Desktop Environment) KDE starts to load (because everything goes blue, the normal KDE startup) then it goes into the Edubuntu screen and gives me a message stating what I said above. Part of the message says "The user-switcher is unavailable because Gnome Desktop Manager is unavailable." It is obvious that KDE is not available. It just will not go to the blue Kubuntu KDE.
I should be able to choose/use either desktop manager/environment to log on. I do it on my other computer all the time. Incidentally, besides the "user switcher" message, when I try to restart this computer, "Restart & Shut Down" are unavailable on the menu. I have to use "Switch User" to log off and then from the "Log On" screen, choose "Shut Down or Restart." I have not yet tried to see what other parts of the Edubuntu Desktop do not work because it clearly says Gnome is not available.

[integr8e]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

I should be able to choose/use either desktop manager/environment to log on.

You can change users and login to different desktop environments (such as Kubuntu or Edubuntu), but I'm pretty sure you can have only one desktop manager - such as KDM or GDM - set to be used by your computer. There should be a dropdown menu on the login screen that allows you to choose what environment you want to use. If you cannot change desktop environments, there is a KDE version of Edubuntu available in the repos; you can also install all the Edubuntu packages in Kubuntu. However, I don't think you will be able to change desktop managers (if I'm wrong, please correct me).

. . . when I try to restart this computer, "Restart & Shut Down" are unavailable on the menu. I have to use "Switch User" to log off and then from the "Log On" screen, choose "Shut Down or Restart."

What video driver are you using?

[marshallbanana]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

If you use edubuntu does synaptic list 'kubuntu-desktop' as installed (ie. did it install correctly)?

[Fintan]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

Lets begin at the biginning. When you installe4d kubuntu-desktop you were asked if you wanted to use KDM (kde login manager) or GDM (gnome login manager) which one did you choose?

[silverfox]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

Firstly, look at '/etc/X11/default-display-manager' to determine what your default is. I've never used Edubuntu so I can't tell what you should find though I suspect it will be 'edm'


run '/etc/init.d/edm stop' or whatever the default is

run '/etc/init.d/kdm start' or '/etc/init.d/gdm start' for Kde or Gnome respectively.

If this gives poor graphics performance try this instead

'startx /usr/bin/startkde --:1' or '/usr/bin/startgde'

Using stop and start, you can change your desktop whenever you wish

[scorpiusmaximus]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

Well, I am fairly new to Linux but I thought I knew what I was talking about. Apparently not.
So, the desktop manager and the environment is different?
When I installed kubuntu-desktop, it did ask me which I wanted to use as log in manager and I selected KDE. It does use the KDE Logon.
Kubuntu-desktop did install correctly. I used it to configure a few things. But, I am more familiar with the Gnome Terminal and I needed to set up my ATI drivers, which I have done one hundred times in Ubuntu and I know how to do it correctly, now. (in Ubuntu or Edubuntu, either one)
I am currently using the Linux Restricted Drivers which is not giving me all of my available desktop configuration options. I assumed this was due to the ATI drivers, which I am now all too familiar with.
The problem arose when I logged off and chose to change my Logon Session to Gnome. That is when I got the message about User Switching and Gnome being unavailable. Then, I try to log back on using KDE Session and it starts to load but then goes back to the default Edubuntu screen where User Switching is unavailable via the panel and Shutdown and Restart are missing from the Shutdown Menu. It will not log onto KDE. And, although, the screen it does log on to looks like the Gnome desktop, (Edubuntu) it says it is not using Gnome either.
I have not yet had the opportunity to check Synaptic but I am pretty sure kubuntu-desktop is installed since I used it after the install. All of the programs that load with kubuntu-desktop are available.
I will try the command line suggestions tonight or tomorrow to see what happens.
Do I need to reconfigure anything since some of the equipment changed or is this automatically detected? Would this be a reason for the problem?

[integr8e]

Re: KDE & Gnome Desktop Managers on a new computer

Do I need to reconfigure anything since some of the equipment changed or is this automatically detected?

You may want to run the command

sudo update-grub