Slackware

[Toadie]

I deep six-ed Mandrake and installed Slackware (thanks to Grogan's tutorial).

I would encourage all newbies to try out Slackware. It is *much* less "weighty" than Mandrake.

However, i do have a todo list:

1. Get the mouse wheel working for my intellimouse explorer 3 USB.
2. Not sure how to get the KDE user login screen that appeared by default in Mandrake. I have to do a startx command to get KDE going in Slackware. And after doing that i get shoved straight into KDE logged on as root.
3. I seem to be having eyestrain issues when running this Linux box. I am not certain exactly where the current refresh setting for the monitor is. The monitor displays that i am running 85 Hz, so it may just be that i have been looking at this screen way more than i typically do since i decided to stumble into Linux.

I am guessing this are FAQ type things though. I will start researching them, but if someone can save me some research time...TIA.

Other than that...i am very impressed. Thanks again for your great tutorials Grogan. I am hoping i will have more success building the 2.6 Kernel on this box now that mdk is history.

Thanks,
-T

[Grogan]

You need to read the howto on configuring XFree86 in Slackware. There's a link to it in the main tutorial, or just go here:

http://www.bitbenderforums.com/vb22/showthread.php?postid=313121

All that stuff is covered there.

[Toadie]

Ah...sweet. Thank you.

[Cool Canuck]

Originally posted by Toadie
I deep six-ed Mandrake and installed Slackware (thanks to Grogan's tutorial).

However, i do have a todo list:


1. Get the mouse wheel working for my intellimouse explorer 3
USB.
You can also configure the Xserver by using the facilities in KDE. Makes it a little easier for the novice although it is good to learn by using the command line, scripts, etc.

Settings - Control Center - Peripherals - X Display: You can setup your Video Card, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse and Screen in here.


2. Not sure how to get the KDE user login screen that appeared by default in Mandrake.
How Slackware or any other dist, starts up, depends on the runlevel set.
Slack explains: http://www.slackware.com/config/init.php

And here's how: http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/node35.html.gz
(Grogan posted a link to this reference the other day. If you have not book marked it, do so now.)


And after doing that i get shoved straight into KDE logged on as root.
You need to create a regular user account for yourself. Log on and use this account for normal stuff. You can "SU" (substitute user) to root when you need that kind of access. It is not considered good practice to do normal operations as "root". You have no protection from your own stupidity.
Slack tells you how here: http://www.slackware.com/config/users.php
You can also use KDE. System - KUser (User Manager)

Have fun with your Slackware project.:)

[Grogan]

Note: Simply switching the runlevel in Slackware 9.x will not give you the KDM session manager login, it will give you GDM, the fugly gnome login manager. (if gnome is installed) You must edit the /etc/rc.d/rc.4 file.

Also note: Most of the information on the slackware website is old (slackware 7 era), and some of it is outdated. Much of it is still viable, but you have to be careful. (like the above... KDM used to be the one the script tried to start first but it was changed)

[Cool Canuck]

Thanks G. Obviously, I'm logging on from the command line. :) Good heads up on the dated info on the Slackware site. Although some what limited, I do refer to it on occassion.

[Toadie]

Thanks for the great info.

I have everything set up exactly like it was in Mandrake by following Grogan's Xconfig post...except that now everything seems way faster and more solid for some reason. What a bargain. hehe

I am looking forward to giving the 2.6 build another shot on Slack.

Again, thank very much for all the help everyone. This board rocks and its members are a real credit to the open source community.

BTW...There is a really kick-ass book on CD three of the four Slack cds. It is in a dir called "slackware-book." The info is a nice compliment to Grogan's stuff.

-T

[Toadie]

Originally posted by Grogan
Note: Simply switching the runlevel in Slackware 9.x will not give you the KDM session manager login, it will give you GDM, the fugly gnome login manager.

LOL...i saw that god awful daisy and thought the same thing.