Arch Linux

simple_user

Member

Registered: 2023-11-08

Posts: 2

the GUI (Virtual Box) does not work

I have installed console versions before and had no problems with them. now I need to put a GUI, I decided to use gnome.

my actions:

Basic installation of console version with optional gnome and dhcp package:
pacstrap -K /mnt base linux linux-firmware vim iwd dhcpcd gnome

boot loader settings => bootctl (don't know how it affects this):
/boot/loader/loader.conf
default arch.conf
timeout 3
console-mode auto

/boot/loader/entries/arch.conf
title Arch Linux
linux /vmlinux-linux
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root="UUID=....." rw resume=/dev/sda2

after rebooting, I had a problem. "initrd not found". i just rebuilt the kernel and that worked and now i have the same console version.

What do I do to get the GUI working?

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,454

Re: the GUI (Virtual Box) does not work

check the kernel file name

Edit: Ok, I'm going to assume that was just a typo in the post here. You get the GUI working by starting it. Have you read the GNOME wiki page?

Last edited by Scimmia (2023-11-13 06:53:38)

Wild Penguin

Member

Registered: 2015-03-19

Posts: 354

Re: the GUI (Virtual Box) does not work

I'm presuming you've not used any OS which doesn't boot into a GUI per default - or I've completely misunderstood your problem. You have posted here your bootloader configuration which has nothing to do with how you start the GUI. Neither does the initrd problem have anything to do with a GUI, but I see you got it resolved.

Just to check were on the same track: You are trying to install a GUI into an Arch Linux installation running in a VirtualBox VM (your topic could be interpreted as you want to install a GUI - i.e. a frontend - to manage VirtualBox VMs; in case you didn't know, you can manage your VirtualBox VMs trought the command line of the host OS, if you want. I honestly don't know which one is the problem from the topic, but the context seems to point on the former).

If so: you don't need to do a new installation (i.e. the pacstrap thing, bootloader configuration etc.) when you install new programs. Just boot into your already working installation and install programs (packages) from there. For example, the gnome package has been installed by the pacstrap script (command) you gave - but typically, you only want to install the base installation and a (somewhat minimal) set of basic tools with pacstrap (it probably works fine to install larger packages or sets, too, though - it's just more sensible to check the base installation works before downloading and installing gigabytes worth of software, and less error prone, too).

Arch does not start any GUI per default, even if you have one installed. Typically, most users not accustomed to olden days of starting GUIs in soime *ix (not wanting to do things the olden ways) want to use some display manager, but there are examples for both common ways to start it in the  Gnome wiki page, already pointed out by Scimmia.

Hope this helps!

Please let me know if we're (not) on the same track.

Last edited by Wild Penguin (2023-11-13 07:46:25)