TEX4S Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I decided to give linux another chance (about the 6th chance) - I decided to go with kubuntu 8.1 because of the better looking GUI. After installing, and @ the desktop for the 1st time, I rec'd a msg to activate restricted drivers (my nVidia card) so I selected activate. I started looking around System Settings, and Display settings, selected to enable desktop effects (graphic effects maybe ?) and the screen went black. I could see the outline of a couple windows, and a cursor, but nothing more, when hitting alt-tab - I got the window (in normal viewing) to choose which window to select - but nothing else would change...everything stayed all black. I rebooted, and @ GRUB (this is now a tri-boot system) I selected Recovery Mode. Then I selected to repair X-server, then normal boot. I was then presented with a normal looking login window - then everything went black again after typing in my password and hitting enter. Obviously, this has to do with the drivers, and the desktop effects - my questions is: How do I get out of this mess - and how do I enable effects correctly in the future ? Also, since I am a complete linux noob, I am hoping for some laymans-terms replies, not a bunch of "OK go into terminal and activate Kung foo, type "su/user/debug idiots/234098/*&^%*&^ / bonehead....." thanks Then maybe someone can tell me why something as simple as a grfx driver can cause issues... (this is the 2nd time this has happened with kubuntu 8.1) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey_snake Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Then maybe someone can tell me why something as simple as a grfx driver can cause issues... You don't understand why bum graphics card drivers would give you graphics problems? :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titoist Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 u said that you can still view the outlines right? attempt to disable the restricted drivers settings. It should look like a hardware icon in the "taskbar" or whatever its called in kubuntu. I had the same issue with ubuntu. Disabling it would reset the whole graphics thing. To prevent this in the future, do all the updates first and everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted December 15, 2008 Veteran Share Posted December 15, 2008 Yeah, try it without enabling the restricted drivers for now. Also without the desktop effects. Let's see if we can get a running system - then add in things one at a time, instead of all at once and then you are in the deep end over your head. Also, typing things in a terminal is the best cross-distro way of helping. I don't use KDE, and even if I didn't use any of the *buntus, I would still be able to say: do a glxinfo | grep rendering and get what I am after. And, as a receiver of those instructions, it is easier for you to cut and paste than it is to follow a series of 5 or so click steps through menus and dialogs. Just look at it on the web page, select it with your mouse, and middle-click in a terminal. That's it. Please don't be so adverse to a tool that makes things easier for you, and for those offering help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEX4S Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 Yeah, try it without enabling the restricted drivers for now. Also without the desktop effects. Let's see if we can get a running system - then add in things one at a time, instead of all at once and then you are in the deep end over your head.Also, typing things in a terminal is the best cross-distro way of helping. I don't use KDE, and even if I didn't use any of the *buntus, I would still be able to say: do a glxinfo | grep rendering and get what I am after. And, as a receiver of those instructions, it is easier for you to cut and paste than it is to follow a series of 5 or so click steps through menus and dialogs. Just look at it on the web page, select it with your mouse, and middle-click in a terminal. That's it. Please don't be so adverse to a tool that makes things easier for you, and for those offering help. titoist - there is no taskbar - just a black screen with a couple of very faint lines which I assume are window borders... cant select or do anything.... thanks mark - I like your reply -- I will re-install do what you said and take it form there - and maybe get the answers BEFORE I do it. :D shaky_snake - Im curious, as for the crap drivers, whose fault do you think it is ? nVidia's or the *nix devs ? (like I said Im just curious as to your opinion) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted December 15, 2008 Veteran Share Posted December 15, 2008 ... shaky_snake - Im curious, as for the crap drivers, whose fault do you think it is ? nVidia's or the *nix devs ? (like I said Im just curious as to your opinion) You didn't ask me, but I like to answer. :p It doesn't matter if it is proprietary or open source. Sometimes there is bad code. However, with Open Source, it can be looked at by others and the problem identified. With a closed source proprietary module (like the ATI or nVidia drivers) if something doesn't work... where is the problem? :unsure: So let's stick with the Open Source stuff first. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Hiroshi- Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 (edited) Just installed Kubuntu myself, hoping I don't get the same error as you. Ok.. don't have your problems, KDE is playing nicely with my Geforce 7600... Edited December 15, 2008 by -Hiroshi- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elv13 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 ctrl+alt+F1 login as user rm ~/.kde* ctrl+alt+F7 ctrl+alt+backspace Your bug is caused by the bad packaging job done by Kubuntu. If you want KDE4, get OpenSUSE 11.1 beta or wait until Mandriva 2009.1 (spring). It will use KDE 4.1 instead of the current 4.1. KDE4 is evolving at a very high speed. 1 years ago it was nothing, not even a panel or desktop icon. KDE4.1 (july) is now totally outdated, KDE4.2 I have twice more feature on the desktop (4.1 do lack a lot of them). There is some KDE4.2 beta package out there for Kubuntu, but it will probably be even worst than the current one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted December 15, 2008 Veteran Share Posted December 15, 2008 ^^^ If you are recommending that he remove the kde configs so it can re-create them, you might want to use: rm -rf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeta_immersion Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 haha ... oh man ... that is class .. while that will work maybe this guy is having problems seeting up the right config (Xorg.conf in freebsd ... not sure about linux distros) ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEX4S Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 mark - I re-installed kubuntu - and didnt jack with the drivers yet. I let the software update everything then it needed to reboot - but I went back into XP64 to do some other stuff - I played around with OpenOffice a little for the 1st time - so far so good. What is the next step ? (the grfx stuff) Also, what is the easiest method for clearing up my GRUB - now when I have to choose an OS when starting/rebooting - I have 2 entries for kubuntu 8.10 - when I reinstalled kubuntu I put it in the same partition as the corrupt one - but I told the software to re-format the partition - but it left the entry in GRUB... Thanks - and Im sorry for all of the n00b questions - and really appreciate your patience. I may not know it yet, but I learn faster than most and you'll never have to teach/tell me more than once. @ Elv13 - I have mandriva 2009 - and like the looks of it as well - I will wait for 2009.1 and see what it has before I jump off of Kubuntu - but thanks for the heads up I like KDE as opposed to .... uhhh..... the other one :blush: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elv13 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 For grub, just edit /boot/grub/menu.lst (using admin right (sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst)) and clean/move blocks around. You can delete all junks starting with "#" they are comment and make the file looking more complicated than it is. About graphics, install compiz instead of activating KDE own effects. Compiz is installed in Ubuntu (not "k") so their package must be in beter shape than kde one. It has even more effects. Do not forget to install compiz settings manager and reactivate restricted drivers. You can install those from adpet or whatever they called it this time. EDIT: Do not forget that kde applications on Kubuntu crash all the time and most of the time it is caused by Kubuntu and not KDE). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted December 15, 2008 Veteran Share Posted December 15, 2008 mark - I re-installed kubuntu - and didnt jack with the drivers yet. I let the software update everything then it needed to reboot - but I went back into XP64 to do some other stuff - I played around with OpenOffice a little for the 1st time - so far so good.What is the next step ? (the grfx stuff) ... Well, if it were me, I would use it just like you have it for a while. Get a good run on it and that will help you become comfortable and familiar with your Kubuntu install, and help you be confident that it does work, as least with basic video. Then, what I would do is (once you are very confident it is working fine) is to enable the restricted video driver. And, without changing any desktop effect settings, make sure again, that it remains stable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEX4S Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 OK - thats what I kinda figured... kinda like OC-ing a system - so 1 setting, check it, then another... Right now Im in kubuntu - and viewing this via Konqueror (god awful slow) - can I use Firefox with this ? And if so, is it OK to use the latest ? I wont bother you with asking how to install software in kubuntu - I'll RTFM... well....unless you WANT to help :( Right now - I like the way everything looks - so far this is the most hopeful Ive been with linux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tin Man Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 ctrl+alt+F1 login as user rm ~/.kde* ctrl+alt+F7 ctrl+alt+backspace Your bug is caused by the bad packaging job done by Kubuntu. If you want KDE4, get OpenSUSE 11.1 beta or wait until Mandriva 2009.1 (spring). It will use KDE 4.1 instead of the current 4.1. KDE4 is evolving at a very high speed. 1 years ago it was nothing, not even a panel or desktop icon. KDE4.1 (july) is now totally outdated, KDE4.2 I have twice more feature on the desktop (4.1 do lack a lot of them). There is some KDE4.2 beta package out there for Kubuntu, but it will probably be even worst than the current one. As a warning if you wack your .kde directory you'll lose all of your bookmarks in Konquerer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted December 15, 2008 Veteran Share Posted December 15, 2008 OK - thats what I kinda figured... kinda like OC-ing a system - so 1 setting, check it, then another...Right now Im in kubuntu - and viewing this via Konqueror (god awful slow) - can I use Firefox with this ? And if so, is it OK to use the latest ? I wont bother you with asking how to install software in kubuntu - I'll RTFM... well....unless you WANT to help :( Right now - I like the way everything looks - so far this is the most hopeful Ive been with linux Do you not have Firefox already installed by default? As for installing, I highly recommend you use the built-in package manager, synaptic. I'm not familiar with the KDE menus, but it may just be called "package manager" instead of by its real application name, "synaptic". Worst case, you can start it up by opening a terminal and typing "synaptic". If you haven't used it before, it is a searchable mega-mall of software. You should get all of your apps from there, if at all possible. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elv13 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 ^^In 5 min, you don't make a lot of bookmark Andyes you can use firefox (It look more like you can't use Konqueror because it is too buggy). Just install it from adept. You can also try arora, a QT4 (KDE4 looking) browser. It is faster and "just work". I use it on my laptop because it is faster and if you don't need those anoying flash applet, it is perfect. You -can- install flahs on arora, but it will be supported by kubuntu only in 9.10... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEX4S Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 (edited) OK thanks you 2 OK, Just installed Firefox via adept - - damn that was easy - :D Also, I found the GRUB editor and fixed that as well... I am actually beginning to enjoy my computer again - I get so bored with it - I always buy more hardware - now I have something to do :) BTW - Firefox is alot faster than Konqueror Edited December 15, 2008 by TEX4S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Nice :) Just try not to go about re-installing it every time some configuration gets messed up. In your previous problem all you had to do was going into a shell (press CTRL+ALT+F1), login and edit the xorg.conf file (sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf) so it would not use that graphic driver, that's what was causing the problem. Next time explore all alternatives before reinstall. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
changturkey Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Kubuntu is not the best representation of what KDE4 can do. This is a personal opinion, after using it. Konqueror is a terrible web browser... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elv13 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Do you not have Firefox already installed by default?As for installing, I highly recommend you use the built-in package manager, synaptic. I'm not familiar with the KDE menus, but it may just be called "package manager" instead of by its real application name, "synaptic". Worst case, you can start it up by opening a terminal and typing "synaptic". If you haven't used it before, it is a searchable mega-mall of software. You should get all of your apps from there, if at all possible. :yes: Synaptic is GTK, it is not installed by default, same thing about Firefox. Adept and Konqueror are used for package management and web browsing (konqueror4 is not yet able to do the job, they should have taken Firefox ou Arora, Konqueror3 was almost perfect (acid compatible and all that) but the port seriously broke it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEX4S Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 Nice :)Just try not to go about re-installing it every time some configuration gets messed up. In your previous problem all you had to do was going into a shell (press CTRL+ALT+F1), login and edit the xorg.conf file (sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf) so it would not use that graphic driver, that's what was causing the problem. Next time explore all alternatives before reinstall. Regards. Thanks man, when it first happened, I was trying all different kinds of keystrokes to gain access to some kind of control panel to undo what I did - just could never guess the right one. But thanks - I'll keep your post in mind. I am not gonna mess with the little addons that the grfx driver does, right now it looks nice IMO - and I am gonna use this install to learn. I tried ubuntu - and loved it simply because of the logo, and orange is my favorite color HOOK EM HORNS ! But after tinkering around - I soon hated it and began to hate linux and everyone jumping on the ubuntu bandwagon. Of course my noob-ish opinion is simply based on the GUI and not the "insides" of the OS. I just installed another 1 TB hard drive and have nothing on it - so I partitioned off 40 Gb - and made it my Linux drive - so far so good. Thanks to everyone for the help = BTW where is a good site, with instructions for themes and wallpaper ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 For KDE and GNOME, respectively, some cool stuff can be found on these sites: http://kde-look.org/ http://gnome-look.org/ Most of the themes are installable via package manager, it's an easier way to install them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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