KDE 2.0.1 and Redhat 7 problems

[Louie1961]

I have redhat 7 running with gnome installed as my default desktop. I wanted to try the new release of KDE, so I went to the KDE.org website and downloaded all of the rpm's specific to my version of redhat. I installed all the packages without a problem. However, the installation instructions indicate that I need to add KDE's binary installation directory to my path., and update the .Xclients file in the /home directory.

Here's my problems:

1. How do you go about modifying the path in linux? I am familiar with it in DOS/windows, but haven't a clue in linux
2. in my system, .Xclients resides in the /root directory, not the /home directory
3. I modified the .Xclients file as per the instructions, and tried to use the "switchdesk" tool to set the default desktop to KDE. HOWEVER, switchdesk gives me the error messgae "KDE not installed"

Anyone have any suggestions/clues? Has anyone tried to install KDE 2 in redhat before? Thanks in advance, and please, no comments about all of the redhat bugs

 

[MGMorden]

.Xclients is in root b/c you're most likely logged in as root. when you you login as your normal self (as you should be when not configuring/installing), it will be in your home directory (i.e, if your username is louie then it will be in /home/louie). To add a directory to the path edit /etc/profile and then look for the statement that declares the path variable and add the kde install dir or if one isn't there add PATH=$PATH:/opt/kde/bin (or change /opt/kde/bin to the appropriate directory for your system).

 

[Louie1961]

Thanks, That info will help. I actually figured out that the issue was with the Redhat Switchdesk application. It was looking for startup scripts in the old KDE file locations. While this probably isn't the best way to fix it, I created a symlink from the current KDE directory to the one deskswitcher was looking at. It all works nice now. I am very impressed with KDE 2.0.1, but still not sure I will abandon Gnome yet. I like the feel of Gnome better for some reason. But I will use both for a while. why not, I triple boot windoze and two versions of Linux (redhat and SuSe) so it's not too out of charecter! LOL

 

[MGMorden]

Yeah. KDE 2.0.1 still has some bugs which make me dislike using it (though I like the interface and such, just not the bugs). So my solution is to use KDE for general use and WindowMaker when I'm programming. That way nothing breaks or does something unexpected when I really need the reliability.