Fresh Gentoo Install - Gnome almost blank? (VBox)

iFergal · n00b Joined: 06 Jan 2014 Posts: 3

Hey,

So basically, I've installed Gentoo through VirtualBox on Win7. I've been following these videos to install.

I emerged Gnome and GDM. After installing, through my own account (not root) I used startx and everything seemed to be going fine, so I re-booted and it automatically loads Gnome so not sure what I can do to get into any terminal.

When Gnome loads up, it's almost blank. Just a grey desktop background, calender option on center top and on the top right, some very basic options (just larger text) and volume.

Nothing else. But if I leave it idle, it will show the time and date in the middle in large text, and with a different, kind of blue background. All previous options lost besides volume and can't get back to that previous screen.

If I hit escape it will also freeze.

If there's any files or such ye want me to post, I'll try, as long as ye give a way to access them if I can't stay in terminal.
Thanks!

Tony0945 · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 12:28 am Post subject:

Welcome to the new SmartPhone look of Gnome. You're better off with Mate or XFCE.

alexcortes · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 3:29 pm Post subject:

I don't have using Gnome for long time, but IIRC if you installed from 'gnome-base/gnome-light' you only have the "base" gnome. Now you have to install just what you need: Gnome-Shell, Gnome-terminal etc.

EDIT: did you select the gnome profile?

iFergal · n00b Joined: 06 Jan 2014 Posts: 3

Yeah, what happened to me was I was installing the normal version of gnome - was almost done, but kept on getting this same error for one package, can't quite recall what it was because I was busy and hadn't much patience for it. So, I emerged gnome-light and that went fine before rebooting.

How exactly am I to install the gnome-shell/terminal though? As it auto boots into gnome and I can't do anything in there.

But yes, I have the gnome profile selected.

@Tony: Yeah, I heard people favouring other environments over Gnome, just said I'd follow that tutorial. Probably would have been easier with the official documentation.

Might give it another go when I have time, or see if I can get Arch working, was getting a completely black screen on bootup for that, worse again.

alexcortes · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:51 pm Post subject:

@iFergal

1 - Switch to another tty: Ctrl+Alt+F1,F2,F3...
2 - Login
3 - Done

Cheers!

iFergal · n00b Joined: 06 Jan 2014 Posts: 3

Now I feel like an idiot. Used that so much during the install and never thought of it then! Aha.

Thanks mate!