startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

maxbaroi · 2014-07-30 20:30:14

Hey all,

I just did a fresh install of Arch as a Virtualbox guest on my Macbook Pro. I have virtualbox-guest-utils installed, and my module-loading file looks fine.

I haven't installed a proper windows manager/desktop environment yet, I've just been testing with xorg.

When I login as root, startx works just fine. When I login as a normal user I can't execute startx without typing "sudo startx", and when xorg launches it freezes.

I searched for similar issues, but I couldn't find someone who had the exact issue I currently have.

Any help would be appreciated.

Trilby · 2014-07-30 20:31:44

What actual error messages and results do you get when you try to run as a regular user?

What is in the user's xinitrc? Do you have twm and xterm installed?

Last edited by Trilby (2014-07-30 20:33:43)

karol · 2014-07-30 20:33:21

Trilby wrote:

editting ... standby

Trilby · 2014-07-30 20:34:24

Ha, sorry Karol (and maxbaroi), I grossly misjudged the initial post the first time arround.

karol · 2014-07-30 20:43:26

No problem, but I have to say it's a let down. I expected sheer epicness and got 'meh' <throws popcorn at Trilby>
;-)

maxbaroi, what's the output of the commands you run? Anything interesting in the logs?
Which version of xorg-server are you running?

maxbaroi · 2014-07-30 20:51:57

My .xinitrc for my regular user is just:
/usr/bin/VBoxClient-all

Yes, I have xterm and xorg-twm installed.

The error message I got running startx without sudo from my regular user account is:
X.Org X Server 1.16.0
Release Date: 2014-07-16
X Protocal Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 3.15-2-ARCH x86_4
Current Operating System: Linux arch-box 2.15.7-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Jul 28 20:06:17 CEST 2014 x86_64
Kernel command line: BOOT_IAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=9e59517b-19b7-4ea5-aab0-5911f46d5093 rw quiet
Build Date: 25 July 2014 10:42:31PM

Current version of pixman: 0.32.6
Before reporting provlems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Wed Jul 30 13:40:29:2014
(==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
waiting for X server to shut down (EE) Server terminated successfully (0). Closing log file.

And when I type sudo startx, I see the xorg desktop environment, but it's completely frozen: can't type, can't switch windows, can't close windows, etc.

Last edited by maxbaroi (2014-07-30 21:10:00)

Trilby · 2014-07-30 21:01:44

maxbaroi wrote:

Server terminated successfully (0). Closing log file.

Well, that's pretty self explanatory. Nothing went wrong.

But it just has nothing to do. So I gather the vbox command is not doing what you want it to do (see edit). Can you start a wm (eg twm) from your user's xinitrc?

EDIT: or it is doing what it's supposed to an exiting. You need to put something in your xinitrc or when it is done, it exits successfully.

Last edited by Trilby (2014-07-30 21:04:06)

karol · 2014-07-30 21:04:12

Did you type this in here?

(==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xprg.conf.d"

I'm not sure if it should say 'xprg'.

maxbaroi · 2014-07-30 21:14:19

Yeah, Karol. I typed it out because the shared clipboard isn't working.

Trilby: Adding "exec twm" at the bottom of my .xinitrc totally worked. I have no idea why startx works in root without that line, but now startx works for regular users. Thanks.

It's weird though, I don't remember having to add that to my .xinitrc file in previous installs. But I guess that doesn't really matter.

karol · 2014-07-30 21:18:32

root doesn't use your user's ~/.xinitrc.

Trilby · 2014-07-30 21:39:46

In the absence of an xinitrc, startx starts some "default" programs like twm and a few xterms. When rightly followed the wiki to add that vbox line to the top of your xinitrc, it was assuming that you *had* an xinitrc (most users do!). But as you didn't already have one, I gather you created the file with just that line. The presence of the file prevented startx from reading the systemwide xinitrc.

Time to go edit a wiki page.

EDIT: nevermind, it's already there - you didn't follow it close enough The wiki says to copy the systemwide template xinitrc first if it doesn't exist yet.

Last edited by Trilby (2014-07-30 21:41:23)

maxbaroi · 2014-07-30 21:59:47

It's a big wiki. Sometimes you overlook things. Thanks for the advice.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-07-30 20:30:14

startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#2 2014-07-30 20:31:44

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#3 2014-07-30 20:33:21

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#4 2014-07-30 20:34:24

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#5 2014-07-30 20:43:26

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#6 2014-07-30 20:51:57

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#7 2014-07-30 21:01:44

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#8 2014-07-30 21:04:12

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#9 2014-07-30 21:14:19

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#10 2014-07-30 21:18:32

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#11 2014-07-30 21:39:46

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

#12 2014-07-30 21:59:47

Re: startx and xorg work fine when logged in root, other users have issues

Board footer