Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

ArcherLinf12f11 · 2009-05-23 03:12:24

Hello,

I am attempting to migrate a computer from ubuntu to ArchLinux. I'm not new to linux, but I am unfamiliar with ArchLinux. I've Installed ArchLinux from the wiki instructions without much problem, and when I reboot, it sends me to the command line. Is ArchLinux nothing more than a command line OS? It appeared to have a GUI (like nautilus for Ubuntu) in some pictures that I have seen. Is there a command to start up ArchLinux GUI from the prompt?

baw · 2009-05-23 03:19:08

Welcome to Arch.

You need to install X and a desktop environment to get started. If you follow the Beginner's Guide (http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners_Guide) that should get you to a finished DE install.

fukawi2 · 2009-05-23 05:47:44

Arch doesn't assume what you want to do with it. It doesn't assume that you want a DE, so it doesn't install it. All it assumes is that you want a basic, working Linux kernel with the basic tools to do more.

Welcome to the Arch way

Zeist · 2009-05-23 06:37:07

ArcherLinf12f11 wrote:

Is ArchLinux nothing more than a command line OS? It appeared to have a GUI (like nautilus for Ubuntu) in some pictures that I have seen. Is there a command to start up ArchLinux GUI from the prompt?

All linux distributions are command line OS:es somewhere at the bottom. In arch you don't get a graphical desktop environment installed by default, but, as the previous two posters have stated you can install one yourself if you want one, which it seems you do.

windtalker · 2009-05-23 15:52:20

After installing your DE of choice, you also need to add it to your daemons.
I use kdemod3 so in my damons is kdm3.

DAEMONS=(syslog-ng network netfs crond alsa hal kdm3 cups)

Very little if anything is selected or done for you in Arch as opposed to decisions being made for you.

IcePik · 2009-05-23 16:25:50

In arch you have to make your own decisions and choices as to exactly what you want on your system and it lets you set up the system and tweak it to your liking. It simply doesn't try to assume what you want, you have to tell it what you want, how much of it you want and can tweak it to your computing needs.

Peasantoid · 2009-05-23 16:28:20

See this link: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Cat … _(English)

milasch · 2009-05-23 16:47:12

I too migrated from ubuntu... And the beauty of arch linux is that you can do anything you want with it! I'm in love with it! So far the best linux distro I've ever used! Its wikis are awesome and you know, it just works!!!

graysky · 2009-05-23 17:29:54

milasch wrote:

I too migrated from ubuntu... And the beauty of arch linux is that you can do anything you want with it! I'm in love with it! So far the best linux distro I've ever used! Its wikis are awesome and you know, it just works!!!

+1

I started w/ Debian but wasn't satisfied with the rate at which packages got updated which prompted the logical transition to Ubuntu (same package manager, init.d, etc.) After a few months I discovered Arch and it has taken over. Setup wasn't as easy, but it's a much leaner distro and the rate of package updates is very fast. Finally, Arch has one of the best user communities [forums] I've seen.

ArcherLinf12f11 · 2009-05-24 03:14:14

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.

Ok, just trying to get Xorg window manager to start right now. When I try "startx" I get several errors. 6 EE errors.

(EE) Failed to load module "type1" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) Failed to load module "freetype" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) Failed to load module "kbd" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) Failed to load module "mouse" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) VESA(0): No matching modes
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

(log stuff here)

xinit: No such file or directory (errno 2): unable to connect to X server
xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error.

I think I've read every existing wiki and forum from google on this, and none seem to cover my exact problem. I created a xorg.conf file with hwd, but still startx does not start. Any thoughts?

Last edited by ArcherLinf12f11 (2009-05-24 03:14:35)

Wintervenom · 2009-05-24 03:32:32

Try X -configure instead.

Last edited by Wintervenom (2009-08-03 14:09:55)

ArcherLinf12f11 · 2009-05-24 03:48:05

Less errors but still fails:

Fatal server error:
Caught signal 11.  Server aborting

(log stuff here)


Aborted

Looks like

pacman -S xf86-video-via

might work, but it's not in the repos - only available in the ABS.
Installed ABS, but I have no idea how to download the files for xf86-video-via, or how to find them. (the wiki shows how to install them, so I just need to find them)

Last edited by ArcherLinf12f11 (2009-05-24 04:43:15)

fukawi2 · 2009-05-24 05:07:05

xf86-video-via is in the AUR (not ABS), and you can read up on that here:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/AUR

yaourt is your friend when it comes to the AUR:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/AUR

Nezmer · 2009-05-24 12:16:38

You should try starting X without xorg.conf (back it up for now) . X should pick vesa as driver and start (If you didn't install the right X driver yet) .

btw , It might be useful If you tell us what is your exact GPU model .

This wiki page might be useful too . I installed 'xf86-video-openchrome-svn' from AUR for my nephew and It works great for him .

graysky · 2009-05-24 12:24:14

You can use your ubuntu /etc/X11/xorg.conf in Arch by the way. Also, post your GPU specs as Nezmer requested.

oddsocks · 2009-05-24 12:45:43

I think the failures are due to uninstalled modules.

Can you see if you installed the packages by doing:

pacman -Q xf86-stuff-here

where stuff here can be input-mouse for the mouse module. If you get nothing, it means you are missing the package.

I think the wiki Xorg page has the information on some of the important modules you need to install, refer to that if you are missing the packages.

Some, like type1, aren't necessary, but others, like mouse and kbd, mean no input, so make sure to get them installed

I had this problem when I didn't have input-synaptic installed on my laptop Arch install

ArcherLinf12f11 · 2009-05-24 15:20:28

I can't believe what I just did worked.. haha. Awesome, thanks everyone.

*Deleted xorg.conf
*downloaded xf86-input-mouse and xf86-input-keyboard with pacman
*Installed xorg-input-drivers and xorg-video-drivers with pacman
*Installed xf86-video-openchrome with pacman

Typed startx and the window manager loaded successfully.

Thanks!

Arch Linux

#1 2009-05-23 03:12:24

Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#2 2009-05-23 03:19:08

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#3 2009-05-23 05:47:44

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#4 2009-05-23 06:37:07

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#5 2009-05-23 15:52:20

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#6 2009-05-23 16:25:50

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#7 2009-05-23 16:28:20

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#8 2009-05-23 16:47:12

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#9 2009-05-23 17:29:54

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#10 2009-05-24 03:14:14

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#11 2009-05-24 03:32:32

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#12 2009-05-24 03:48:05

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#13 2009-05-24 05:07:05

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#14 2009-05-24 12:16:38

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#15 2009-05-24 12:24:14

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#16 2009-05-24 12:45:43

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

#17 2009-05-24 15:20:28

Re: Migrating from Ubuntu - Question on ArchLinux install

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