Arch Linux

nick.meharry

Member

Registered: 2012-02-05

Posts: 2

Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

This is my first Arch install. Things seemed to be running fairly well, and had even gotten
XFCE4 to run with compositing. However, it fell apart when I tried to have the desktop
environment auto-start. After following instructions from a couple of places, I seem to have
gotten myself stuck. I don't remember exactly what I did, and I've tried to undo most of it.
Now when I run `startxfce4` (which worked fine previously), my console quickly fills up with
the following line:

    /usr/bin/startxfce4: X server already running on display :0

This is odd, because it's booting to runlevel 3 (according to `/etc/inittab`), which from what
I've read shouldn't start X. `ps ax | grep x` doesn't show anything relevant.

Contents of `/var/log/Xorg.0.log` can be found here: http://codepad.org/n2WyPYNN

Would reinstalling xorg and xfce4 fix this? How would I do that? While I'd like to have the
desktop start on boot, I'll take being able to start it manually. I can do neither at this
point.

On an unrelated note, when the system is booting, it spends 30 seconds waiting on udev's
uevents, even though I've set the `UDEV_TIMEOUT=5` in `/etc/rc.conf`. Any ideas on that?

brebs

Member

Registered: 2007-04-03

Posts: 3,742

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

I would suspect that you're starting X by accident in /etc/inittab - would be useful to show that file.

karol

Archivist

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 25,440

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

The timeout thing: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 9#p1047659

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,611

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

I would suspect that you're starting X by accident in /etc/inittab - would be useful to show that file.

Or in your /etc/rc.conf file in the DAEMONS array.  You might post that as well.

Let us assume that X is running somewhere.  What happens if you switch to console 7, where the first X screen usually lives.  Press Ctrl-Alt-F7.  To get back to the console, use Ctrl-Alt-F1.  Some thing for all the other consoles. 1 through 6 are text and support logins.  7 through 12 are reserved for X displays.

Any chance you have gdm, xdm, kdm or slim running?

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skunktrader

Member

From: Brisbane, Australia

Registered: 2010-02-14

Posts: 1,668

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

This is odd, because it's booting to runlevel 3 (according to `/etc/inittab`), which from what
I've read shouldn't start X. `ps ax | grep x` doesn't show anything relevant.

The process is called X not x

karol

Archivist

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 25,440

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

Have you tried running it on another display? Something like 'startxfce4 -- :1'.

lilsirecho

Veteran

Registered: 2003-10-24

Posts: 5,000

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

My system uses xfce4 Desktop and I start it in /etc/rc.local.......

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nick.meharry

Member

Registered: 2012-02-05

Posts: 2

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

Responding to each individually:

I would suspect you're starting X by accident in /etc/inittab
- would be useful to show that file.

Ok, see http://codepad.org/RPivdYNg.

Or in your /etc/rc.conf in the DAEMONS array. You might post
that as well.

http://codepad.org/n1Fh23z1

What happens when you switch to console 7

I get a blank screen with a blinking cursor in the top left corner.
Consoles 1-6 work fine.

Any chance you have gdm, xdm, kdm, or slim running?

`for dm in gdm xdm kdm slim; ps ax | grep $dm` shows nothing.

The process is called X, not x.

I checked both, nothing relevant showed up.

Have you tried running it on another display? Something like
'startxfce4 -- :1'.

Same thing happens. Screen is blank, and after switching back to console 1
(where I started it, I'm typing this on 2), the screen is filled up with
a very similar message:

/usr/bin/startxfce4: X server already running on display :1

My system uses xfce4 Desktop and I start it in
/etc/rc.local.......

Thanks. I'll try that once I can get it to start in the first place.

Roken

Member

From: South Wales, UK

Registered: 2012-01-16

Posts: 1,340

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

Have you installed proprietary graphics drivers? Do you have an /etc/X11/xorg.conf file? if so, try moving it (sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak)

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hleung

Member

Registered: 2011-01-10

Posts: 20

Website

Re: Trying to run XFCE4, no longer works

Well, here are a few things I did to make XFCE4 startup:

Install X:
$ pacman -S xorg-server xorg-server-utils xorg-utils xorg-xinit

Next, as Roken suggested, install proprietary graphics driver.  Search for the one that is compatible with yours by typing:
$ pacman -Ss xf86-video

I assume you have all of this already, but I'm pointing it in case you missed something.  If you want to autostart upon login of a specific account, do this:
1) log into you accout
2) cp /etc/skel/.xinitrc ~/
3) echo "exec startxfce4" >> ~/.xinitrc
4) sudo reboot

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