Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:

Message

asiddens · Post by **asiddens** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 3:36 pm

I just finished install gentoo and got it to boot up to a command line interface. Next step is that I need GUI. I've heard good things about XFCE so I did emerge xfce. That took forever and when it was done I typed "xfce" and hit enter. I got the message "Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:" I couldn't figure out what in the world was wrong with it, so I decided to try gnome. I did emerge gnome. Then when I type "gnome-session" I get "(gnome-session:###): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:" I'm sure this is probably just some n00b mistake, but I'm not sure what to do.

ralph · Post by **ralph** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 4:23 pm

You have to start X by typing startx.

To start gnome simply create the file .xinitrc in your homedirectory and put gnome-session in it.
Then startx and everything should work fine.

asiddens · Post by **asiddens** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 5:58 pm

Ok, I tried that. I also tried putting .xinitrc in my /home/[username] directory as well, and that didn't work. Although I guess I should ask exactly how I'm supposed to "put gnome-session in it." I simply typed "gnome-session". Is there something else that I'm supposed to type?

What happens when I type "startx" is that a bunch of text scrolls and it says something like server error: no screens found and it ends with some IO error. I could write it all down and type it up if it'd be helpful in figuring out the problem.

rwallace · Post by **rwallace** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:17 pm

The easiest thing to do is to use a login manager like gdm. If you did an emerge gnome then it should be installed. Edit /etc/rc.conf and uncomment and change DISPLAYMANAGER and uncomment XSESSION and change it as well.

So, you should have

Code: Select all

DISPLAYMANAGER=gdm
XSESSION=Gnome

or

Code: Select all

DISPLAYMANAGER=gdm
XSESSION=Xfce4

Then start it with

Code: Select all

/etc/init.d/xdm start

You can change the desktop around and play with different stuff with the Session menu.

To make (xdm|gdm) start on boot do

Code: Select all

rc-update add xdm default

ralph · Post by **ralph** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:35 pm

Ok, I tried that. I also tried putting .xinitrc in my /home/[username] directory as well, and that didn't work. Although I guess I should ask exactly how I'm supposed to "put gnome-session in it." I simply typed "gnome-session". Is there something else that I'm supposed to type?

What happens when I type "startx" is that a bunch of text scrolls and it says something like server error: no screens found and it ends with some IO error. I could write it all down and type it up if it'd be helpful in figuring out the problem.

You probably need to configure your x-server by running

Code: Select all

xf86config

as root first.

After that you can put gnome-session into your .xinitrc by simply using an editor like nano.

Code: Select all

nano -w .xinitrc

Or you could simply type

Code: Select all

echo gnome-session > ~/.xinitrc

on the commandline as user (not as root).

After that type startx as user and you should be fine.

Good luck!

postja · Post by **postja** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 7:04 pm

run xfce_setup.

then you should be able to run xdm and have it start xfce as your DE

idl · Post by **idl** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 7:08 pm

Before anything else, read this!. Things will become very clear.