No icons in Gnome

[Tyr-7BE]

I know I know...I posted this in Window/Desktop Managers, but it's been getting few replies due to the lack of traffic that forum receives.
I did a search on this in the forum, and I found a solution in which the line gmc --nowindows & or something like that is added to the .xinitrc file. I tried it and it didn't work. I'm running Debian, and I apt-got Ximian Gnome. I know that I'm running gnome, as the panel is at the bottom of the screen and is fully useable. The problem is that there are no desktop icons. When I type "gmc" in the terminal, I get the outlines of two icons, but the pictures aren't detailed...they're just grey shapes without text underneath them. What do I have to do to get icons on my Gnome desktop?
Also, I remember that when I was running Mandrake, it was possible to right-click on the desktop and Gnome would bring up a menu (one of the possible options was to add a lanucher). Now when I right-click, all I get is the enlightenment config menu. Is there something in Ximian gnome that I'm missing? Thanks.

[prince_kenshi]

My icons usually appear when I run file manager. I think it's because gnome hasn't actually been started yet. I prefer that the icons not be there though.

[TheMuso]

When you installed GNOME, did you install task-gnome-apps? That should install it for you as a depency.

I personally prefer helix GNOME.

Hope this helps.

[ 02 March 2001: Message edited by: DJ-dOoK ]

[Tyr-7BE]

Thanks for the swift reply guys. DJ-Dook...I'm not sure whether it did install task-gnome-apps. It would explain a lot though (namely the HUGE lack of Gnome utilities and the complete abscense of screensavers). I could have sworn it got it as a dependency as well, but I'll give it a try.
Doesn't Helix == Ximian? I thought that Ximian was its new name now that it's an official company.

[GodSpira1]

Well I don't know if this is the same problem, but in LM 7.2 and 8 Gnome doesn't show icons if you load it from kde's log in manager.

If you do startx startgnome though, (or don't use graphical log in) gnome's icons are there.

[Tyr-7BE]

GodSpira1...just tried it and it doesn't work :( DJ-Dook: I apt-got the task-gnome-apps package...still nada. Here's what I have figured out though: If I select "file manager" from a drop-down menu, fsck-all happens. Same thing if I open up a terminal and type "gmc". However, if I type "gmc" as root, sometimes I'll get some crappy results. Example: just before I tried the startx startgnome thing, I typed "gmc" as root. I then went from the drop-down programs menu to "file manager". That produced an icon-like substance on the desktop. For those of you running gnome, take a look at your "home folder" icon. See that grey colour behind the text? Imagine that icon without any detail or text...just an outline of a folder filled with grey. That's what I got...wasn't able to click on it or anything. When I type gmc as root, I get the warning that I'm running gmc as root and could potentially damamage my system. Hrmmm..permissions problem? That seems unlikely, as typing "gmc" as a user doesn't return an error...just doesn't return results. I'm considering purging the apt-gotten version of gnome and installing the whole thing from source, as this apt-gotten one seems full of holes. Any suggestions before I do such a drastic thing?

[Lorithar]

*hrrms*

This rather sounds like a problem that gnome is having locating the icons themselves.
I dunno where gnome stuffs icons.. I can't even find mine right now ... but.. I suspect there is a configuration param that tells it where they are ... perhaps this is the issue?

[Tyr-7BE]

damn...I have two icons there, and the two icons that partially show up are those two. It seems that something is missing. In my /home/conor/.gnome-errors file it tells me that it couldn't contact the Gnome file manager...that's important. I also found an uninstalled gnome component: task-helix-gnome (sounds important huh?). The real problem with this is that apt-get has failed me miserably. It sends me on a big dependency run...first it tells me that in order to install task-helix-gnome, I need to install gnome-games. To install gnome-games, I need to install gnome-card-games (why these are required for a functional desktop is far beyond me). In order to install gnome-card games, I need a set of libraries (something like gnomesomething6). A dependency of task-helix-gnome is gnomesomething9. gnomesomething6 and gnomesomething9 conflict with each other, so I can't apt-get my file manager because gnome needs to have a card game included.

[Tyr-7BE]

I'm seriously considering just installing from source and laying it all over what I have now and hoping that will fix it. I tried to apt-get X before, and it failed miserably. Looks like tonight may be the night for a compile-fest :)

[rod]

If you have lynx installed you may want to try, as root:

lynx -source http://go-gnome.com | sh

Regards,
Rod

[Tyr-7BE]

Originally posted by rod:
If you have lynx installed you may want to try, as root:

lynx -source http://go-gnome.com | sh

Regards,
Rod
Unfortunately, go-gnome detects that I'm using a debian system, adds the ximian ftp site to my sources.list file, and then tries to apt-get it for me. Works just as well as when I try it (which doesn't work at all).
My Normal Desktop (http://members.tripod.com/Dakkon_Blackblade_17/normal.jpg)
Desktop after selecting "file manager" from the Programs menu (I know...I switched window managers...I can confirm that it does exactly the same thing under enlightenment (http://members.tripod.com/Dakkon_Blackblade_17/littlewhile.jpg)
/home/user/.gnome-errors (http://members.tripod.com/Dakkon_Blackblade_17/gnomeerrors.jpg)


Does anyone know what's going on? It seems that no matter how I try to install this thing it won't work! RPM won't work, neither will apt-get. I'm gonna try compiling from source if nobody knows what's up *shudder*
If it helps I could post the entire .gnome-errors file.

[ 02 March 2001: Message edited by: Tyr-7BE ]

[Aikidoka]

Have you tried chaning window manager from E to sawfish? I doubt it would work but it couldn't hurt to try.

Does Ximian's web site has any other info. aside adding the ftp source to the sources.list and apt-get install task-helix-gnome?

[Tyr-7BE]

Originally posted by veloctTX:
Have you tried chaning window manager from E to sawfish? I doubt it would work but it couldn't hurt to try.


Does Ximian's web site has any other info. aside adding the ftp source to the sources.list and apt-get install task-helix-gnome?

I wish. It seems you have 3 options with debian. I've tried two: I've tried apt-getting and RPMs. Both of them failed, apt-get due to some sort of hardcore dependency problem, RPM due to a stupid error msg (something like "line 2270: should not reach this."...I'm getting reeeeeeally tired of this). I'm currently browsing for the link to the source so I can compile it.
And I tried changing the window manager...still no dice. Thanks for the ideas though.

[ovf]

Try deleting the ~/.gnome/metadata.db file
and rescann the devices by right clicking on the Desktop.

[Tyr-7BE]

Originally posted by ovf:
Try deleting the ~/.gnome/metadata.db file
and rescann the devices by right clicking on the Desktop.
Didn't work :( I can't rescan the devices because the gnome menus don't work without the file manager.

[Tyr-7BE]

FSCKING APT-GET! I just spent 2 hours removing this and adding that, trying to get the very last Helix package to download. I FINALLY get the very last Gnome package to download. What does it do? F*ck-all!. I still have no Gnome icons, nor do I have gmc. The one and ONLY difference now is that when I attempt to start gmc, I get a message that gmc is not responding to the save yourself command and I have to remove it! *grumble grumble*. I'm convinced that the problem is gmc, as the Gnome help pages say that the desktop is a backend of gmc, and gmc ain't running. Ideas? Sympathy? I need it...I just completely re-vamped my system, decreasing the versions on just about everything by about 2 months, only to try to make it compatible with Helix (Ximian). If only Ximian had supported Sid to begin with, I would have never had a single problem!

[TheMuso]

How did you originally install GNOME?

[Tyr-7BE]

Originally it was by apt-get. The tech support guy at Ximian says "yeah just get rid of this newer library...Ximian Gnome uses this older version and you should be alright." Uhh...yeah, but ummmm...what about the dozens of other packages that depended on that library that weren't a part of gnome? Had to downgrade every single one! Still thinking about compiling from source...maybe 1.4 beta 1?