Thread: newbie question: how to start ubuntu?

  1. #1
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
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    Unhappy newbie question: how to start ubuntu?

    I just installed Ubuntu, the installation went smooth and everything, GRUB installed and loaded just fine. Once the OS booted, I was prompted for a user name and password (this is still in the DOS style mode) and it took me to the console, but now, how do I start up the big fancy GUI that's suppose to come with it?

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    Dr Dipshi++ mike_g's Avatar
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    type: startx or was it xstart? I always get it confused.

  3. #3
    and the hat of sweating
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    Also, make sure it started in the right init mode. I think it should be in init 5 to run X Windows.

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    type: startx or was it xstart? I always get it confused.
    I am fairly sure that it is startx, but in the first place Ubuntu is usually good at hand holding, so this situation is surprising.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  5. #5
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    If the install didnt get to the desktop manager, then I'd hazard a guess that you installed the server edition? That doesnt come with the GDM so startx wont do much

    If this is the case try

    sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
    That will download the desktop manager and should get you started. Naturally, you need a network connection for this to work. If you are on wireless and dont feel comfortable setting up wireless with ifconfig and the rest, I'd download the desktop edition and start again

  6. #6
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
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    Yup, startx is the one. But then it said
    # X: couldn't stat /etc/X11/X (no such file or directory) aborting.
    I looked this up, and apparently installing the xorg package would work. When I tried to do that, it said it couldn't find it. Supposedly the x-window-system or xorg-x11-sdk would also work, but it can't find them either. And the CD I was sent is in the ROM.

    Now what?
    Last edited by Yarin; 08-14-2008 at 03:32 PM.

  7. #7
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    The cd should install all of the X-Org stuff as well as Gnome.

    As I said, if you have the server, follow the instructions I gave, if you have got this far on the Desktop edition then I would imagine the install failed as it certainly should take you right up to the run-level that has GDM.

  8. #8
    Dr Dipshi++ mike_g's Avatar
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    sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
    Have you tried that? It should install x11 and gnome for you. Then you just have to run through the x11 setup wizard and you should be good to go.

  9. #9
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
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    I didn't see your first post, (using an expired page) sorry.

    But yeah, I have the Server Edition.
    When I try the command you gave, I get the same error
    E: Couldn't find package ubuntu-desktop
    I'm assuming it should at least asked for an internet connection?

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    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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  11. #11
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yarin View Post
    I didn't see your first post, (using an expired page) sorry.

    But yeah, I have the Server Edition.
    When I try the command you gave, I get the same error

    I'm assuming it should at least asked for an internet connection?
    Yes indeed. You need to download the packages to get them to install. You could download the packages manually to a keydrive or another CD, but the dependencies would make this a major pain in the backside.

    Choices:
    1. Work out how to connect to the web via the command-line. This isnt too hard with Ethernet and a tutorial or two, but can be a pain with wireless
    2. Download the desktop edition and start again. If you intend to use the system with a GUI then this is the best option (the server edition has a few kernel tweaks that you wont notice, no desktop manager and different default packages on the CD like a LAMP setup, BIND etc...). You can add these packages to the desktop edition if you wish - the editions have the same repositories

  12. #12
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
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    I'll just download the desktop edition. Thanks for everyones help.

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