Newbie trying to select a desktop.

johnsmith · posted: 2015-09-16 21:31

I am delighted that I can still use my ancient Gateway laptop thanks to AntiX. I have many questions but I'll search for answers before posting.

I get the"no Pinboard" message when I boot and I believe that selecting a desktop will correct it. I would like to select a permanent desktop and I assume that Rox is the default that loaded when I installed AntiX. I found the following instructions on the Rox tips and tricks page:

By default, antiX uses the root window and does not set a desktop. It can be toggled from the fluxbox or icewm menus - WM's>Rox>Pinboard.

To make it permanent, right click the ~/.fluxbox/startup or ~/.icewm/startup file >open as text> and uncomment the 'rox' line to read: [followed by the lines of code to edit.]

...which I'm willing to try, but my first problem is, I don''t know where to find those files. I looked through my File Manager and didn't find them.

I have been running Puppy on a somewhat less ancient IBM Thinkpad for a couple years, but I don't know how to use the Terminal or create command-line apps. Any help will be appreciated.

skidoo · posted: 2015-09-16 21:49

What version of antiX are you running?
Are you running live session, or have you installed to hard drive?

Did you go out of your way looking for trouble (looking to learn)?
There's no reason you should have wound up fiddling with terminal/console to have a fully working desktop session.
If you don't know where to find"~/.fluxbox/startup" ...ouch.
~/ is standard linux shorthand (including puppy linux) for /home/yourusername/

How did you arrive at the point where you're seeing a"no pinboard message"?
After you chose"roxterm" at the session login screen?

right-clicking any shortcut icon displayed to rox desktop exposes a context menu.
One of the menu items is"Rox Filer", a flyout submenu wherein the"Options" rox settings dialog can be opened.
There you'll find a checkbox governing whether or not pinboard is displayed.

edit:
I haven't tested"What happens if logged into a desktop session as 'root' user?"
If you are, in fact, logging in as root... that's not a recommended / supported usage scenario for antiX
and probably explains why the"apparent bug" you're experiencing hasn't been noticed by other users nor by betatesters.

dolphin_oracle · posted: 2015-09-16 23:43

a couple of questions:

How did you log in? It sounds like you logged in as a root user. Try logging in as a regular user.

After that, you can try different desktops by selecting one from the menu>Desktop>Other Desktops and trying them out.

jdmeaux1952 · posted: 2015-09-18 01:01

Go checkout Dolphin Oracle's YouTube page for tons of videos on antiX and MX-14.
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFWlej2CSKlXW5uE9opXukQ"
linktext was:"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFWlej ... 5uE9opXukQ"
====================================

johnsmith · posted: 2015-09-18 01:30

Well, I apparently did something right because I no longer get the"no pinboard"message. I'm using release 15.0--Killah, I believe it's called--and it is installed on the hard drive. I don't boot from a CD or thumb drive.

I assume I am logged in as a root user, but I don't really know.

I'll check out Dolphin Oracle's YouTube videos and trust that they will answer most of my newbie questions. Thank you, jdmeaux1952. (Is that the year you were born? You mean I'm not the only one here over 60?)

One quick question. How do I permanently disable Cronky without having to go to Menu>Desktop>Cronky on/off? It might be helpful to some users, but it's just screen clutter for me, and I don't want it to display when I boot.

Thanks to all who repllied.

skidoo · posted: 2015-09-18 04:45

I assume I am logged in as a root user, but I don't really know.

Open a terminal. Look at the prompt string.
If it is"root@antix1" that's a clue...

How do I permanently disable Cronky

Wait! If you disable Cronky, the rrest of yrour dresktop will be Lronely!

Open the antiX controlCentre, click"Session" tab, click"User Desktop-Session".
This open various config files in text editor.
desktop-session.conf {---- search for conky (note: you won't find cRonky) and set the pref to False.
Effective next login, cronky won't bother ya no more.

eugen-b · posted: 2015-09-18 09:47

I remember, I used to have similar"stupid" questions a year ago. But I didn't ask them all at once... __{{emoticon}}__ Welcome to Linux, johnsmith!

johnsmith · posted: 2015-09-19 01:42

skidoo wrote:
I assume I am logged in as a root user, but I don't really know.
Open a terminal. Look at the prompt string.
If it is"root@antix1" that's a clue...

How do I permanently disable Cronky
Wait! If you disable Cronky, the rrest of yrour dresktop will be Lronely!

Open the antiX controlCentre, click"Session" tab, click"User Desktop-Session".
This open various config files in text editor.
desktop-session.conf {---- search for conky (note: you won't find cRonky) and set the pref to False.
Effective next login, cronky won't bother ya no more.

Yes, indeed, conky without the letter r. In any case I'm not finding the config file you mention.