Change from Gnome to KDE -How-SOLVED (2024)

Want to change from Gnome to KDE - I googled and found this

KDE is installed if you did apt-get install kde, you just have to make X Windows aware that you want to use KDE instead. There are a few ways to do this, this is just the way I do it personally:

1. Create a file in your /home/yourusername/ directory called .xinitrc (note the period at the front)
2. Open this file up in a text editor and put two lines in it:
Code:

exec startkde
exec gnome-session

3. Put a # sign in front of the desktop environment you *don't* want to use, for instance you want KDE:
Code:

exec startkde
#exec gnome-session

Will it work ?

BP

Yeah, that way could work if you are starting X with startx, you would want those window manager sessions at the end of the file so they were the last thing run in it.

However, this is 2011 and most people don't do it the oldschool way. If you are using the Gnome Display Manager and you install the, kde-full, metapackage you would be able to choose either a Gnome or KDE session from the login screen. That would be the normal method these days. Easier too, no need to edit a file to change Desktop Environments, just log off and back on with the one you want.

It is possible point session in ~/.dmrc. For example, for Gnome

[Desktop]Session=gnome

Peter.

theblackpig wrote:...frome what you say I could re install gnome and then I would have achoice?

Yes. Be aware of several points, however:

• - You'll have a lot of duplicated functionality (e.g., Ark and File Roller)
  - You'll end up with very messy menus
  - Well-behaved Gnome apps run fine in KDE, and vice-versa, so there's really very little reason to have both DEs installed

How to get help with a technical problem
Debian Wiki | Debian FAQ | Debian Installation Guide | Avoid a broken install

Thanks Peter

Regards
BP

Yes, you could have even more than those two if your system has the space for all the necessary packages. You could also have lighter window manager sessions like IceWM or others also available from the logon page.

I mentioned the above for completeness, I recommend you also consider the advice dasein gave you, it is good advice. What we have been writing about is a way to have each discrete Desktop Environment or Window Manager available to log into and that might be a good way to compare them, but it is not necessarily the most efficient way to use a system. What dasein suggested is the way you will probably use your system after you have decided which apps are your favorites for the tasks you use your computer for.