Still no graphic desktop

[Matt Navarre]

On Wednesday 16 June 2004 09:14, Lloyd Hayes wrote:
>  >How are you trying to start X Windows? If you're just expecting it to
>
> start, you're going to end up disappointed.
>
> Oops...
> I was expecting the graphical desktop to start automatically. However I
> also tried startx, and I played with xdm. Whatever I was doing kept
> coming up with errors about no screen.

Aha! a clue! You are missing at least the Screen section of your XFree config 
file. The Screen section tells the X server what combination of monitor, 
video card, resolution and color depth to use.

I'm guessing that your XF86Config file isn't configured right(or at all). Try 
the xf86config command I mentioned earlier, I've had better luck with that in 
general than the XFree86 -configure route in the past.

Don't feel bad, configuring X is one of the most common stumbling blocks for 
new FreeBSD users, especially people coming from a Mac or Windows background. 
Most Linux distros configure X automagically at install time, FreeBSD doesn't 
for a couple of reasons: A) X isn't part of the base system, it's an add-on 
like any other port. B) There's a stronger "learn how to do it" meme 'round 
these parts than, say, the Linux or Windows camps. Linux (at least the "main" 
distros) has much more a "Mom should be able to use it" mentallity. C) It's 
usually not a stumbling block for long, and you end up learning a bit about 
the system in the process. Think of it as a learning experience :) Or just 
keep repeating "That which does not kill me can only make me stronger".

>
> Lloyd Hayes
>


-- 
"We all enter this world in the same way: naked, screaming,
 and soaked in blood. But if you live your life right, that kind
 of thing doesn't have to stop there." -- Dana Gould