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installing a new windows manager 2

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fortytwo

Technical User
Apr 18, 2000
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I am new to linux and have installed redhat 6.1 on my machine.&nbsp;&nbsp;I want to change the user interface from xwindows to something else.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone got any suggestions what I can use instead and where I can get it and how I install it?&nbsp;&nbsp;I can't figure it out!<br><br>Will <p>fortytwo<br><a href=mailto:will@hellacool.co.uk>will@hellacool.co.uk</a><br><a href= test site</a><br>
 
um xwindows is the actual graphical system, you are wanting to change the windows manager (fvwm, fvwm95, KDE, Gnome) you dont change XWindows, if you download any of the windows managers, they should have instructions in how to install them onto Xwindows. But unless you have a specific windows manager in mind, I cant help you much. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href= </a><br>Experienced in : C++(both VC++ and Borland),VB1(dos) thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, HTML, Visual InterDev 6(ASP(WebProgramming/Vbscript)<br>
 
Do you know where I can get hold of KDE?&nbsp;&nbsp;How do I install it once I have got it?<br><br>What windows manager would you recommend? <p>fortytwo<br><a href=mailto:will@hellacool.co.uk>will@hellacool.co.uk</a><br><a href= test site</a><br>
 
if you are using RedHat 6.1 KDE should already be the default Windows manager, check linux.tucows.com, freshmeat.com, linux-mandrake.com(if you have or want mandrake distro instead)<br><br>I recomend KDE, its easy and its the fastest one so far. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href= </a><br>Experienced in : C++(both VC++ and Borland),VB1(dos) thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, HTML, Visual InterDev 6(ASP(WebProgramming/Vbscript)<br>
 
I seem to be using xwindows.&nbsp;&nbsp;Is this a different sort of thing to KDE?<br><br>Sorry for the thick questions, I was brought up on windows and am trying to convert! <p>fortytwo<br><a href=mailto:will@hellacool.co.uk>will@hellacool.co.uk</a><br><a href= test site</a><br>
 
There's no such thing as a thick question :)&nbsp;&nbsp;The only stupid questions are the one's that you know you should ask, and then don't...<br><br>Anyway...&nbsp;&nbsp;X is the standard Unix graphical environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you start X, you are starting a graphics driver that knows how to talk to your graphics card.&nbsp;&nbsp;You will probably be using the XF86_SVGA driver - most cards seem to be covered by this driver.<br><br>X comes with lots of functions for displaying graphics.&nbsp;&nbsp;A windows manager sits on top of X and does what it says - it manages windows.&nbsp;&nbsp;The windows manager is started from one of several possible X files that live in your home directory.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, .Xsession.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'd suggest you do a &quot;ls -a&quot; in your home directory and then have a look at the &quot;.X*&quot; and &quot;.x*&quot; files to get a feel for what is going on.<br><br>Probably the easiest way on a RedHat based system to change your default windows manager is to go to a normal shell prompt and run &quot;desktopcfg&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This will give you a list of available windows managers.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you have installed KDE, it should be listed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Choose a windows manager and select OK.&nbsp;&nbsp;The next time you start X, the windows manager you chose should start up.&nbsp;&nbsp;(As a quick aside, from past experience I think that whenever you install a windows manager RPM on a RedHat based box it updates the list of available windows managers.&nbsp;&nbsp;These then become available to &quot;desktopcfg&quot;.)<br><br>If KDE is not available, put your original RedHat CD in the drive and load the KDE RPMs from it, and then go into desktopcfg.<br><br>Hope this helps. <p> <br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href= > </a><br>--<br>
0 1 - Just my two bits
 
Also on a Mandrake 7.1 Distro, using Graphical Login( I assume Redhat 6* does GUI logon as well) down near the bottom of the logon prompt, you can chose which Windows Manager you wish to Start up into , when you type in your logon, and password to enter X. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href= </a><br>Experienced in : C++(both VC++ and Borland),VB1(dos) thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, HTML, Visual InterDev 6(ASP(WebProgramming/Vbscript)<br>
 
BTW, it's not Xwindows.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's either X or X Windowing System.<br><br>The Window Managers I used to use were Enlightenment and WindowMaker.&nbsp;&nbsp;KDE blows, sorry, makes X to much like Windows.<br><br>-cm<br>
 
Try this trick to change your Xwindows Manager.

create a .xinitrc file in ~yourhomedir then edit the file with vi or pico or any of your favourite text editor and type;

# Choose my WM
#
enlightenment #Start Enligtenment WM
gnome-session #Start Gnome WM
#
# and so on and so forth.

and make sure you remark one of them whenever you choose to use the other like this;

If you want to use Enligtenment,

# Choose my WM
#
enlightenment #Start Enligtenment WM
#
#gnome-session #Start Gnome WM
#
# and so on and so forth.

remark &quot;#gnome-session&quot; first char with a &quot;#&quot; sign.

--Moonshi
 
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