linux-change-the-default-linux-window-manager

FOR YOUR SETTINGS ONLY If you use "startx" to start your X Windows manager then in your home directory (/home/username) (Many light distributions like Slackware, archlinux, DSL, etc. use .xinitrc

cp .xinitrc .xinitrc.bak //backup any existing file settings

nano .xinit.rc

exec xfce4

NOTE: IF YOU'RE USING gdm YOU HAVE TO REMOVE GDM'S CONTROL OF THE BOOT... update-rc.d -f gdm remove to return to debian Gnome GDM control use update-rc.d -f gdm defaults

comment the above and uncomment one of the following to change your window manager

exec ion

exec jwm

exec wmaker

exec startkde

exec icewm

exec blackbox

exec gnome-session

exec startfluxbox

exec startxfce4

exec xfce4-session

exec openbox

exec startlxde

NOTE that the "." in front is intentional, that indicates that it's a "hidden file" ALSO NOTE that the windows manager should be the LAST line in the file (so that all "helper" applications are running in the GUI Environment and that when the .xinitrc script finishes so does your X Session...

If you use XDM (graphical login) then

cp .xsession .xsession.bak nano .xsession

FOR CENTOS/REDHAT nano /etc/sysconfig/desktop

nano /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf

System -> Preferences -> Startup Applications ls /etc/xdg/autostart

FOR THE WHOLE COMPUTER cd /etc/X11

ls /usr/share/xsessions //this will list the desktops registered with GDM e.g. gnome.desktop IceWM.desktop ssh.desktop xfce.desktop

nano xfce.desktop

[Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Name=Xfce Session Name[da]=Xfce-session Name[fr]=Session Xfce Comment=Use this session to run Xfce as your desktop environment Exec=startxfce4 Icon= Type=Application

NOTE I've left some of the alternative language stuff in (fr = french)...