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Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

Graphical Environments, Managers, Multimedia & Desktop questions.
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broadsworde
Posts: 20
Joined: 2017-03-01 13:50

Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#1 Post by broadsworde »

In preparation for migrating from Ubuntu to Debian when Stretch is released, I installed 8.7.1 on a VM using the debian-8.7.1-amd64-netinst.iso media, and selected no desktop environment as I want to use the minimal lxde-core.
The installation completed without error, and once booted I then installed lxde-core, again without error.
I then rebooted expecting LXDE to start automatically, but no such luck.

Having researched online, I tried starting LXDE manually, so far without success:

Code: Select all

# startlxde
** Message: main.vala:99: Session is LXDE
** Message: main.vala:100: DE is LXDE
(lxsession:823): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:

# exec startlxde
** Message: main.vala:99: Session is LXDE
** Message: main.vala:100: DE is LXDE
(lxsession:823): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:

# lxdm start
bash: lxdm: command not found

# startx
bash: lxdm: command not found

# update-alternatives --config x-session-manager
update-alternatives: error: no alternatives for x-session-manager
I thought lxde-core would be stand-alone, but do I need to install other packages, like xserver-xorg, lightdm?

Thanks

arochester
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Re: Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#2 Post by arochester »

You have no xorg installed. X.org is the backend graphical system used by all major desktop environments.

Debian does not use sudo by default. You will not have sudo unless you install it. Sudo allows you to run individual commands as root.

You will have no browser, unless you install one.

You will have no sound unless you install something like pulseaudio. PulseAudio is one of the sound systems most commonly used in Linux.

broadsworde
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Re: Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#3 Post by broadsworde »

Many thanks arochester. I just installed lightdm, rebooted and now I have the LXDE GUI. I'll now install the things I need/want.

ruffwoof
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Re: Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#4 Post by ruffwoof »

apt-get update; apt-get install numlockx pavucontrol
are amongst others that you'll probably want to install

peer
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Re: Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#5 Post by peer »

minimal: lxde-core xorg lightdm
I also install:
network-manager (network-manager-gnome wireless-tools voor wireless)
alsa-utils alsamixergui libalsaplayer0 (sound)

broadsworde
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Re: Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#6 Post by broadsworde »

Genius peer, thanks very much.

I have been trying to get the sound to work, I'd installed alsa-utils and alsamixergui, but didn't know about libalsaplayer0... just installed that and I can once again hear!

Question on xorg, do I really need this, the gui seems to be working fine with just lxde-core and lightdm? What will xorg do for me?

Thanks

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None1975
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Re: Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#7 Post by None1975 »

broadsworde wrote:Question on xorg, do I really need this, the gui seems to be working fine with just lxde-core and lightdm? What will xorg do for me?
Thanks
X.Org (X Window System) provides the components for a standalone workstation running the X Window System. It provides the X libraries, an X server, a set of fonts, and a group of basic X clients and utilities. Higher level metapackages, such as those for desktop environments, can depend on this package and simplify their dependencies. It should be noted that a package providing x-window-manager should also be installed to ensure a comfortable X experience.
Source https://packages.debian.org/jessie/xorg
OS: Debian 12.4 Bookworm / DE: Enlightenment
Debian Wiki | DontBreakDebian, My config files on github

broadsworde
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Re: Can't Start LXDE on Minimal Debian 8.7.1 Install

#8 Post by broadsworde »

Many thanks None1975, I'm convinced.

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