[SOLVED] Unable to start KDE

[tody4me]

I have an older computer, that I'm trying to install KDE on using Debian sarge. I downloaded all the packages and dependicies from the Debian web site. I have installed and configured all the packages using dpkg -i commands, instead of apt-get because there is no internet connection on this machine. I try to run startx to get an error number 3 when attempting to start. It says it's writing the authorization files, then comes up with /usr/bin/X11/X does not exist, and says that it can not connect to server. I am guessing that there may be a dependicy somewhere that I may need or need to reconfigure so that it would work, but I don't know which one. I also have KDE 3.4 binaries downloaded to try that, but it depends on qt-3.4 which I can't get to configure. It says g++ command not found. I have installed the c++ and g++ packages, still unable to get it to run. Any help would be appreciated as I would like to see if I can get KDE to run.

TIA

[Parcival]

Well, it sounds to me like you need to install the X server first (it has the job to draw all the graphics) before you're able to start KDE.

[tody4me]

says something now about not being able to find the mouse under configured mice. How do I change that?

Thanks again for all your help.

[happybunny]

check out your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file....there should be a mouse section.

Sometimes you have to change the Device /dev/mice to /dev/input/mice or /dev/psaux/mouse...

if you cat /dev/mouse or cat /dev/psaux/mouse and move your mouse, if your screen starts showing junk, that is where your OS thinks your mouse is....get it?

[tody4me]

Thanks HappyBunny for your help. I found the device after hunting around in /dev for it with your help. I also found that a big problem was the I was using xf86config and it was writing the config file as XF86Config and the server was using the XF86Config-4 file. Now I only get half a screen in X. I have tried to use the dpkg -reconfigure xserver-xfree86 command to try to update the config file.

[happybunny]

what do you mean "half"?

Top half bottom half? is your screen "bigger" than your actual monitor? etc...etc...

[tody4me]

I mean the bottom half of the screen, and it looks like the display is showing just the upper left portion of the screen in the bottom half of the monitor.

[happybunny]

that is odd.

In that XF86Config-4 file, what is your "DefaultDepth" set too? set it to 16, then look a little lower at Modes. X looks at your "Default Depth" setting, then starts with the highest resolution listed under than number.

So set your depth to 16, then modify the "Modes" section to a simple "1024x768" "800x600" and startx again.

keep us posted.

[tody4me]

Having a really hard time trying to edit files in the console. I'm trying to use 6 Improved (VIM) and I can't get the quit command to work when I'm done editing the file. I tried dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 and I can't find the place the output file is being written to so that I can use the newly configured file.

[tody4me]

Thank you HappyBunny for helping me get this issue resolved. KDE is now up and running on the desktop, it's just got a very large display which I'll fix now that X is up and running.

[happybunny]

right.

Change that Mode Line to include the highest res you want..."1600x1280" or whatever. Then you only need to restart X to get the new options...you dont have to completely reboot.

KDE will only show you the options listed in XF86Config-4, so right now you probably will only see the 2 you put in there.

Glad I could help