How do I install new desktop themes?

[retroshaun]

Easy question I hope - how do I go about installing new desktop themes and fonts in Linux? I am running Armed Linux (total beginner!) which I presume (tho I really dont know!) used KDE is this correct?

Also, are there any recommended sites for such theme downloads?

Thanks
Shaun

[mrBen]

Try kde.themes.org (http://kde.themes.org/) If you have a recent=ish version of KDE then it will probably have the themes manager installed, from which you can manage your themes. Try the Control Centre thingy.

HTH

[retroshaun]

Where do I find control centre? The readme for the theme I downloaded mentioned that but all I have is Control Panel and in there its all system stuff - no desktop type utils at all. Any ideas?

Shaun

[mrBen]

OK, had a quick squint at the Armed Linux website - not been there before. It's possible that's you're not running KDE after all. Simplist way to check - do you have a panel at the bottom of the screen, like in Windows, but with a K where the start menu is? If the answer is yes, then you have KDE, if not, then no, you possibly don't.

Which is it? And if it is KDE, can you advise from documentation/KDE help/KDE about file which version you are using.

[retroshaun]

No I dont appear to have any of that :( I think I'm running something called "GNU Window maker: Window Manager for X" (it says additional support for MWM,KDE,GNOME and Sound).

Should I download and install KDE then? If so what distribution should I use for Armed Linux? I think its a Red Hat based distribution but I may be wrong.

Finally, on a slightly different point, I set up a new user a little earlier today and when I startx in that users login I get a TOTALLY different (pretty ugly and backward looking!) desktop - do I need to set up KDE etc for every user?

Thanks!
Shaun

[Necro Lin]

K,
First of all, each user can use a different window manager, user A) could be using KDE, then user B) could be using gnome.

Secondly, try to type 'switchdesk kde' or 'switchdesk gnome' before you use "startx" command. Most distros come with kde, gnome or both. The switchdesk command lets you switch between them.

Third, if you have either kde or gnome then you will have a control center icon on your panel (the bar thingy at the bottom of the screen), you will be able to set up background pics, themes, sounds etc using this tool.

[Necro Lin]

Crapola, I just checked out the site for Armed Linux too...looks like it may just come with WindowMaker.

You can download other window managers like Gnome from gnome.com, or their respective sites, but if you're a total newbie you may want to just download a distro like Mandrake. It's probably the easiest to use and comes with everything you need to make it look sweet, a lot of window managers and some really easy tools to configure it.

Good luck....wish I could help more :(