i3 won't load when config file copied to home

py9mrg · 2019-04-14 19:48:27

I recently installed Arch for the first time. Then I installed the full Gnome DE, followed by i3 - in both cases following the wikis carefully. Both seem to work fine when logging in with GDM (I get the problem explained later when logging into both i3 or i3 + Gnome).

The problem arises when I come to try and do some configurations of i3, as per their User's Guide, i3 won't load. Specifically, where they say "To change the configuration of i3, copy /etc/i3/config to ~/.i3/config (or ~/.config/i3/config if you like the XDG directory scheme) and edit it with a text editor." The first time I log in to i3 I get the wizard and all is fine. If I leave the generated config file in the default location, everything is fine. But as soon as I copy that file to either of the mentioned locations then i3 doesn't load. All I get is the status bar and a rotating cursor. No key commands or mouse clicking work and I have to shutdown with the power button. If I log into Gnome and deleted the copied file, then everything works again. Any ideas?

cirrus · 2019-04-14 20:10:06

Hi and welcome to the forum
All ive got is it could be a misconfigured ~/.i3/config, feel free to use a sane pastebin to share it for us to peruse, in the interim you could try this old ~/.i3/config of mine, edit the

bar {
  output DVI-0
        status_command i3blocks

to suit, and anything else that might hinder your set up,
good luck.

[edit] This line will need edited/removed also

bindsym $mod+d exec ~/i3dmenu.sh & mpg123 ~/sonar.mp3

Last edited by cirrus (2019-04-14 20:21:35)

py9mrg · 2019-04-15 17:29:38

Hello,

Thanks for the welcome and help. Using your config file works fine, thanks a lot for that. I'm not sure what is wrong with the autogenerated file but it looks like you had the right diagnosis. I would pastebin it for you - but I appear to have inadvertently deleted it while fighting with the problem yesterday.

Thanks again.

cirrus · 2019-04-15 20:36:25

I'm glad you got it sorted, if you are now happy with results will you please remember to edit your first post and add [Solved] to the title as suggested here ..
How to post

Regards

Arch Linux

#1 2019-04-14 19:48:27

i3 won't load when config file copied to home

#2 2019-04-14 20:10:06

Re: i3 won't load when config file copied to home

#3 2019-04-15 17:29:38

Re: i3 won't load when config file copied to home

#4 2019-04-15 20:36:25

Re: i3 won't load when config file copied to home

Board footer