Arch Linux

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Can't get X/Gnome to work

So, after many attempts, I managed to install arch on its own partition. I have been following the guide in the wiki, but I am now stuck and installing X and Gnome.

I installed it, and I think I configured xinit properly but when I type startx:

1. while root: a window with green grass opens and I wait for the user selection window to pop up but nothing happens and all I am left with is Icon with "MyHost" underneath and non-working Shutdown/Logout buttons in the bottom-right corner

2. while regular user: three strange terminal windows open and computer freezes.

I am stuck now and as much as I am sick with Ubuntu, I am getting discouraged by this troublesome Arch configuration.:/

whitethorn

Member

Registered: 2010-05-02

Posts: 153

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Hey, I would suggest using /etc/inittab to start your gnome, do you have hal and dbus installed? What kind of graphic card do you have, and have you installed the drivers for it?

So to for hal and dbus.

pacman -S hal dbus

Then open /etc/rc.conf  and add dbus and hal to the daemons list.

As for graphic drivers, I have an nvidia card, I installed the nvidia drivers, and then ran nvidia-config before I was able to get gnome working properly.

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

I have nvidia card and I installed nvidia's proprietary drivers. I also enabled hal and dbus before I attempted starting x.
And so I arrived to this.

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Ok, I tried again and Atch automatically boots into X in which I cannot do anything because even though I can move my mouse and click things, only Reboot/Shutdown are available HOWEVER there is no effect when I click them.

BUT

with ctrl+alt+F1 I was able to get to prompt so I logged in as a regular user and tried startx. Here's the result:

Fatal server error: unable to move old log file ("/var/log/xorg.0.log" to "/var/log/xorg.0.log.old)"
Invalid MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 keygiving up
Xinit: resource temporarily unavailable (errno 11):
unable to connect to X server
Xinit: No such process
Server error

JohnVV

Member

From: Ann Arbor, Mi. U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-09-30

Posts: 107

Website

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

I am stuck now and as much as I am sick with Ubuntu, I am getting discouraged by this troublesome Arch configuration.hmm

well Arch is not the easiest , but it is well documented .
i have not had a problem fallowing the wiki

first the base install
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Off … tall_Guide

then xorg and alsa
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xorg
gdm
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Display_Manager
then gnome
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GNOME
then KDE

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Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Yeah, well I spent yesterday's evening and this morning removing Xorg and reinstalling it according to arch wiki and all I achieved was:

Fatal server error: unable to move old log file ("/var/log/xorg.0.log" to "/var/log/xorg.0.log.old)"

and then, when I removed manually "/var/log/xorg.0.log" and "/var/log/xorg.0.log.old)"

Fatal error: cannot find "/var/log/xorg.0.log"

Also, SUDO doesn't work even though I did EXACTLY as wiki says.
This is folly and frustrating.

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

It is getting boring/annoying. I downloaded newest Arch iso, installed it from scratch following wiki guide and ended up with EXACTLY the same error when trying to run startx

hokasch

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 1,461

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

1. while root: a window with green grass opens and I wait for the user selection window to pop up but nothing happens and all I am left with is Icon with "MyHost" underneath and non-working Shutdown/Logout buttons in the bottom-right corner

Do not start X as root. Also there is no "user selection", it just takes the user who is running "startx".

pleas post your .xinitrc and xorg.conf.

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

#!/bin/sh
#
# ~/.xinitrc
#
# Executed by startx (run your window manager from here)

# exec gnome-session
# exec startkde
# exec startxfce4
# ...or the Window Manager of your choice
exec xterm

xorg.conf

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "X.org Configured"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    ModulePath   "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "dri"
    Load  "dri2"
    Load  "glx"
    Load  "dbe"
    Load  "record"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Keyboard0"
    Driver      "kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Mouse0"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option        "Protocol" "auto"
    Option        "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Card0"
    Driver      "nvidia"
    VendorName  "nVidia Corporation"
    BoardName   "C51 [Geforce Go 6150]"
    BusID       "PCI:0:5:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     1
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     4
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     8
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     15
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     16
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

hokasch

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 1,461

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Why do you execute xterm if you want to start gnome? Try "exec ck-launch-session gnome-session" to start a gnome session, as described in the wiki.

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

I did not install gnome yet. I am trying to follow the guide to cover all the basis but I am stuck at testing X.

hokasch

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 1,461

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

three strange terminal windows open and computer freezes.

that should be xterm... if you have no kexboard/mouse, check for xf86-evdev-input or whatever is required for you

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Let's forget about freezing. I already scrapped that system and installed the new one in which the problem is inability to start X manifesting with this the error I stated:

Fatal server error: unable to move old log file ("/var/log/xorg.0.log" to "/var/log/xorg.0.log.old)"

JohnVV

Member

From: Ann Arbor, Mi. U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-09-30

Posts: 107

Website

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

you are obviously getting a bit frustrated .

take a day or two then reread the install guide and take notes -- wright a outline
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Off … tall_Guide
and beginners guide part 3
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beg … igure_ALSA
then the " table of contents "
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Table_of_Contents

simple points will do

then retry the install

1) install cd iso
2) install x and set daemons
3) install gnome and edit the int file

but be a bit more specific

think of this as a class the wiki and forum is the textbook and lectures
the install IS YOUR final exam

Last edited by JohnVV (2010-05-30 00:33:52)

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Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Thanks, but there is not much to write about. I am following this guide:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners'_Guide
skipping ALSA, mesa,  Input hotplugging and editing xorg.conf

I get to part "C: Test X" and when I initiate "startx", I get the said error.
That is it.

And yes, it is frustrating because Arch was the first distro that would not even boot from installation cd on my laptop and so I had to install it from ubuntu just to discover that it's no use. So today I got newest Arch Iso, which miraculously booted up and installed system again, only to encounter the same error. Plus ubuntu - my main system - is falling apart in most absurd ways.

Last edited by Lockheed (2010-05-30 00:38:18)

andonuts_388

Member

Registered: 2010-05-23

Posts: 15

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Make sure you follow the Beginner's Guide closely, there's lots of crucial stuff NOT in code boxes. Don't skip bits.

You will need to install mesa. You will also need to install input driver packages (xf86-input-mouse and xf86-input-keyboard). Following the input hotplugging section is also important as without hal (and dbus) your keyboard and mouse may not work in x.

CLOSELY follow thisguide to install the correct nvidia driver. Use nvidia-xconfig to generate an xorg.conf file. Even though that article ignores it, I think you should add 'nvidia' minus quotes to the MODULES=() array in /etc/rc.conf (someone please correct me on this if wrong).

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Thank you but all this I have already done.

This is what I am getting:  http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3504/30052010001.jpg

Last edited by Lockheed (2010-05-30 11:31:12)

andonuts_388

Member

Registered: 2010-05-23

Posts: 15

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Does running it as root help?

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Yes, X starts and I can type in the terminal. But I am not supposed to do stuff using root account, am I?

andonuts_388

Member

Registered: 2010-05-23

Posts: 15

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Run everything as root until you have completed the Beginner's Guide unless it explicitly says not to, e.g., using alsamixer.

hokasch

Member

Registered: 2007-09-23

Posts: 1,461

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Don't do that. It will help nothing to resolve your issue, and may screw permissions further.

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

So.... what should I do then?

Lockheed

Member

Registered: 2010-03-16

Posts: 1,542

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

I think it is something to do with permissions. I googled that "chmod +s /use/bin/Xorg" should help but it didn't.
Also, I still am unable to run anything with sudo, even though I've done everything right with visudo

andonuts_388

Member

Registered: 2010-05-23

Posts: 15

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Sorry, yes that was bad advice. It may be that you created the log file as root so don't have permissions when you run xinit as non-root user. Although, the /var/log/ directory should have root priveleges anyway. Try backing up (although you shouldn't need to) and deleting the Xorg log files in /var/log/, because I've had issues with log files in the past when I've run applications with sudo/gksudo.

Last edited by andonuts_388 (2010-05-31 15:36:32)

skunktrader

Member

From: Brisbane, Australia

Registered: 2010-02-14

Posts: 1,583

Re: Can't get X/Gnome to work

Check the permissions of ~/.Xauthority and ~/.ICEauthority