XFCE desktop

Hi Paul,

 You should be able to just install the XFCE packages from the Mandriva installer. XFCE packages come as part of the full Mandriva distribution unless I am not mistaken, so this should be as easy as going into the software installer and clicking install on the relevant xfce packages you want.

Once you have installed it, simply log out of Gnome to see your login screen (the bit where you put your username and password in at the startup of your Linux system) and choose XFCE from the session list, rather than Gnome, which is the default.

Let me know how you get on.

Regards,

Ali

I've recently discovered this, but when I go to the "Install and Remove Software", I see several xfce choices, but don't know which one to select. Also, once I've successfully installed xfce, if I don't like it, will I be able to go back to gnome? And how would I do that?

To get started with xfce, install the task-xfce package. This package depends on a standard set of additional xfce-related packages so you end up with a usable xfce desktop environment. If you see any other xfce packages you think may add desirable functionality, you can install them at any time.

If, after you try out the xfce desktop environment you want to return to using Gnome, simply log out from your xfce session, then in the login manager window select gnome in the session menu (in a manner similar to what you were directed to do to log into xfce by Ali).

If, at some point you decide to remove (un-install) xfce (and all its related packages), the simplest way will be to [peform the following steps in the Mandriva Software Package Manager:

1. enter "xfce" (no quotes) in the Find text entry field (top) and press the ENTER key. This will find and list all packages with xfce in the name.

2. Clear the check box (left) for any installed xfce package in the list.

3. Press the Apply button (bottom) to remove the de-selected packages.

HTH,