Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

Ark · 2007-01-23 18:26:26

First post and I'm already whining

Freshly installed off the 150MB CD .iso, rebooted, woah, command line! I'm not very good with command lines, never have been. Is there any way to get a GUI? Or am I going to have to run some complicated script? All answers are appreciated

manmower · 2007-01-23 18:33:13

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xorg should get you on your way. Once X is installed you can install a WM/DE to run on top of it.

kth5 · 2007-01-23 18:34:55

That 150MB iso you installed off from probably was the "base cd", meaning you have the base of the system but that's it. You have to install X, a windowmanager/-environment and all the other stuff you want. A desktop environment is not necessarily considered part of the base in arch speak.

Interesting link for configuring X: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xorg

You will be able to find lots of other infos on the wiki where this link points to. Good luck, and remember: Arch is made for the experienced User.

Ark · 2007-01-23 18:38:15

So does this mean that the CD didn't come installed with a GUI? That's fine, I just hope it isn't too complicated to install, the only shell commands im familiar with at the moment is cd and ls! Thanks anyway!

PS: How do I get the GUI onto the computer then? Do I need to burn it to a CD and then load it on? I have an inbuilt wireless card so maybe I could dl it, but I have no idea how to configure it.

picpak · 2007-01-23 18:45:54

Basically, you should run

pacman -S xorg
hwd -x

and you'll be on your way. After that, you can choose between desktop environments. As a new user, you'd probably prefer Gnome...I use Xfce. You can install it with

pacman -S gnome gdm

.

Now put gdm in your list of DAEMONS in /etc/rc.conf, and reboot. You can do this by running

nano /etc/rc.conf

(scroll down to the bottom, where it says DAEMONS=. In the brackets, put gdm.) Then run

reboot

Now log in and you'll be in Gnome. Enjoy!

Ark · 2007-01-23 18:48:57

Thanks but when I type pacman -S xorg it says

error: could not open sync database: extra
have you used --refresh yet

Any ideas ? I typed --refresh and [return]ed but nothing happened [/code]

picpak · 2007-01-23 18:52:01

Run

pacman -Sy

Also, after you get Xorg installed: what is your video card? You'll also want to install that. Run

pacman -S xf86-driver-the-name-of-your-driver

obviously replacing the-name-of-your-driver with -- suprise -- the name of your driver.

Then edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and replace your driver with the newly installed one. You can do that by running

nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Go down to the "Device" section, and where it says

Driver      "vesa"

change it to your driver. Mine is

Driver      "i810"

Hope that helps!

Ark · 2007-01-23 18:54:26

tried pacman -Sy; still didn't work. Lot of stuff flashed by and then got the same error message as last time I'm using the base (150mb) version btw, if that is any help thanks for helping

kozaki · 2007-01-23 18:59:10

Ark > welcome on board

Did you consider having a look @ arch-install-guide ?

Arch FAQ (just over your post) is also a good way to start

Ark · 2007-01-23 19:01:02

Yes, but nothing is in there about how to enable even a simple gui thanks

picpak · 2007-01-23 19:03:29

Try http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners_Guide . It was created a little while ago, so it may not have everything yet, but it's supposed to be the middle between the Installation Guide and getting a GUI.

magnum_opus · 2007-01-23 19:04:26

Ark wrote:

tried pacman -Sy; still didn't work. Lot of stuff flashed by and then got the same error message as last time I'm using the base (150mb) version btw, if that is any help thanks for helping

try

ping www.google.com

you might not be connected to the net, i know thats happened to me in the past and it gives me the line about refresh.

lucke · 2007-01-23 19:04:35

Perhaps you need to make your wi-fi going first.

I'm utterly ignorant when it comes to wi-fi, so you'll have to rely on someone else to help you ;-) I might only suggest you to "ping www.google.com" to check whether you actually have no network connectivity.

kozaki · 2007-01-23 19:14:07

Well you do install GUI, there's no way to "enable" some app you did not install, right ?
That's where Install Guide comes, as it says how to configure the packages manager, thereafter be able to install whatever you need/want

# Package Management
1. Pacman
2. Accessing Repositories

Package management is the very first tool to get on Arch (like other Linux distros).
That's as soon as you get your network workin, Ark.

In short :
- Network
- Packages anager (conf is located in /etc/pacman.conf)
- X
- the rest

Ark · 2007-01-23 19:29:28

I'm trying to enable my wifi card (ipw2200) but I'm still getting the usual error message when I run pacman -S wireless_tools.

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup

I didn't know it'd be THIS hard

manmower · 2007-01-23 19:34:31

You'll need to be connected to download anything with pacman.

Don't you have access to a wired connection somewhere?

picpak · 2007-01-23 19:35:23

Well, maybe -- just maybe, you can

wget ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/0.8/os/i686/wireless_tools-29pre10-1.pkg.tar.gz
pacman -A wireless_tools-29pre10-1.pkg.tar.gz

?

Ark · 2007-01-23 19:37:25

Nope anyway that I can download the required files for the wireless card setup onto a USB/CD and then execute them from there?

kozaki · 2007-01-23 19:45:42

yes !
Do you know how to mount the cd (with arch linux base on it) ?
If so you mount it, then install the package you need with something like this :

# pacman -A /mnt/cd/path_to_the_package_you_wann_install.pkg.tar.gz

Now, plugin an ethernet cable would be the easier way, as it doesn't need any package to connect you.

Better yet if you're lost with comand line would be to install with Arch full CD.
Also there's an ISO 100% based on Arch that lets you with a fully functional GUI after install. It's called Underground Desktop 029 (torrent here)

Ark · 2007-01-23 19:48:39

Well Im downloading the full arch CD now and plan to install that; will that come preconfigured with a gui? Shells are definitely not my strong point. Also will that come with the packages to configure my wi-fi card? I'm getting pretty close to just installing a windows; ty

kozaki · 2007-01-23 19:58:04

Yes they'll be there (but I cannot ganraty you that your wireless will be supported as this is something you need to check first).

Now to be *happy* with Arch you'll need to use the console.

If you're not ready to learn, then better go for Underground (see previous post) or another GUI OS.

Good luck to you

Ark · 2007-01-23 20:08:00

Sorry it took so long to reply, didn't notice page 2

I am very much willing to learn the command line, but at first I'd just like a nice simple gui and a functioning wifi connection thank you. So is there any way to configure my wifi card without already having access to the internet? Thanks

kozaki · 2007-01-23 20:21:11

O, ok then.

Yes you can look for the package into the cdrom.
mount it and install wireless-tools
Better allways have the guide &/or wiki with you (I always use them as i do not pretend to know all their content).

Basically you do like this :
1) mount cd
2) install wireless-tools with

# pacman -A /mnt/iso/arch/pkg/wireless_tools-xxx.pkg.tar.gz

(please replace "iso" with the path to where you mount the cdrom)

Now I'm telling you again (but last time ) ; Underground Linux *is* arch (same tools, conf, repositories, etc.). The biggest difference is that it gives you Arch in a nutshell : everything you need to start is there after install, including KDE & most probably wireless stuff (again, if yours is Linux compatible)

Ark · 2007-01-23 20:24:27

Thanks for replying, I'll try that. If all else comes to fail, I'll get underground. Thanks

Btw, what is your first language? I can speak some basic french or german if you want

Ark · 2007-01-23 21:15:15

Quick q: which package do I unpack to install the X environment. Thanks :D:D

Arch Linux

#1 2007-01-23 18:26:26

Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#2 2007-01-23 18:33:13

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#3 2007-01-23 18:34:55

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#4 2007-01-23 18:38:15

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#5 2007-01-23 18:45:54

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#6 2007-01-23 18:48:57

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#7 2007-01-23 18:52:01

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#8 2007-01-23 18:54:26

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#9 2007-01-23 18:59:10

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#10 2007-01-23 19:01:02

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#11 2007-01-23 19:03:29

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#12 2007-01-23 19:04:26

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#13 2007-01-23 19:04:35

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#14 2007-01-23 19:14:07

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#15 2007-01-23 19:29:28

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#16 2007-01-23 19:34:31

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#17 2007-01-23 19:35:23

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#18 2007-01-23 19:37:25

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#19 2007-01-23 19:45:42

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#20 2007-01-23 19:48:39

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#21 2007-01-23 19:58:04

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#22 2007-01-23 20:08:00

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#23 2007-01-23 20:21:11

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#24 2007-01-23 20:24:27

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

#25 2007-01-23 21:15:15

Re: Übernoob question: how do I get a GUI?

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