How to install/remove different Desktop/Window Manager in Kali Linux 1.x

[blackMORE]

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## XFCE Desktop ##
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# How to install XFCE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base xfce4 xfce4-places-plugin xfce4-goodies
# How to remove XFCE in Kali Linux:

apt-get remove xfce4 xfce4-places-plugin xfce4-goodies
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## KDE Desktop ##
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# How to install KDE Plasma Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-plasma-desktop
# How to install Netbook KDE Plasma Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-plasma-netbook
# How to install Standard Debian selected packages and frameworks in Kali Linux:

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-standard
# How to install KDE Full Install in Kali Linux:

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-full
# How to remove KDE on Kali Linux:

apt-get remove kde-plasma-desktop kde-plasma-netbook kde-standard
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## LXDE Desktop ##
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# How to install LXDE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

apt-get install lxde-core lxde kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base
# How to remove LXDE on Kali Linux:

apt-get remove lxde-core lxde
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## GNOME Desktop ##
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# How to install GNOME on Kali Linux:

apt-get install gnome-core kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base
# How to remove GNOME on Kali Linux:

apt-get remove gnome-core
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## Cinnamon Desktop ##
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# How to install Cinnamon Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base cinnamon
# How to remove Cinnamon Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

apt-get remove cinnamon
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## MATE Desktop ##
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# How to install MATE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

echo "deb http://repo.mate-desktop.org/debian wheezy main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list && apt-get update


apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install mate-archive-keyring
# This installs the base packages

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-core
# Or this to install mate-core and more extras

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-desktop-environment
# Or this to install mate-core + mate-desktop-environment and even more extras.

apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base mate-desktop-environment-extra
# How to remove MATE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:

apt-get remove mate-core

Now the only problem is MATE doesn't show the nice Kali Linux Menu. Fix posted by Silver Moon (http://www.binarytides.com/install-mate-desktop-kali-linux/)

To fix this edit the following file.

leafpad /etc/xdg/menus/mate-applications.menu
In the file go down to the section named Internet and add the following line

<!-- Kali Linux Menu -->
<MergeFile type="path">applications-merged/kali-applications.menu</MergeFile>
So it should look something like this

.....
<!-- Internet -->
<Menu>
<Name>Internet</Name>
<Directory>mate-network.directory</Directory>
<Include>
<And>
<Category>Network</Category>
</And>
</Include>
</Menu> <!-- End Internet -->
<!-- Kali Linux -->
<MergeFile type="path">applications-merged/kali-applications.menu</MergeFile>
.....
Now save the file, Logout and Login back. The "Kali Linux" menu should display fine in Mate desktop's application menu.
Credits (http://www.blackmoreops.com/?p=9)

[teloris]

----
----
## LXDE Desktop ##
----
# How to install LXDE Desktop Environment in Kali Linux:
apt-get install lxde-core lxde kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base

# How to remove LXDE on Kali Linux:
apt-get remove lxde-core lxde

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## GNOME Desktop ##
----
# How to install GNOME on Kali Linux:
apt-get install gnome-core kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base

# How to remove GNOME on Kali Linux:
apt-get remove gnome-core




thanks for the great tuts....

my question is, how to make LXDE as default desktop (instead of Gnome) ??
i use netbook (1024x800) and i feel that LXDE is load faster than Gnome

[Zombay]

Recently installed KDE but I cant get it away anymore now :/
Used your commands etc. but it was still there.

[blackMORE]

thanks for the great tuts....

my question is, how to make LXDE as default desktop (instead of Gnome) ??
i use netbook (1024x800) and i feel that LXDE is load faster than Gnome


update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

[blackMORE]

Recently installed KDE but I cant get it away anymore now :/
Used your commands etc. but it was still there.

Which KDE desktop environment you installed? Some more info would help. A quick way to find these is via going through your bash history and revert them (apt-get install to apt-get remove) and finally, apt-get autoremove.

I would tread carefully when you're using autoremove, depending on what you've done to your system, it's got a nasty habit of removing useful stuffs.

[adRn]

update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

I've instealled i3 wm and it doesn't get listed there. How can I add it? I want to get automatically logged in at i3wm as root when I boot up. Thx in advance :)

[CleanZombie]

When I try to install them I get this happen, any ideas?


root@RedBox:~# apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base xfce4 xfce4-places-plugin xfce4-goodies
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package xfce4 is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source

E: Package 'xfce4' has no installation candidate
E: Unable to locate package xfce4-places-plugin
E: Unable to locate package xfce4-goodies

[blackMORE]

Fix sources list.


# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 _Kali_ - Official Snapshot amd64 LIVE/INSTALL Binary 20130315-11:02]/ kali contrib main non-free
# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 _Kali_ - Official Snapshot amd64 LIVE/INSTALL Binary 20130315-11:02]/ kali contrib main non-free

deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali main non-free contrib
deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali kali main non-free contrib

## Security updates
deb http://security.kali.org/kali-security kali/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.kali.org/kali-security kali/updates main contrib non-free

[blackMORE]

I've instealled i3 wm and it doesn't get listed there. How can I add it? I want to get automatically logged in at i3wm as root when I boot up. Thx in advance :)

can't remember exact package name.. type in apt-get i3 and use tab to see the list. One of them offers GUI.
by default your default WM won't change.

[CleanZombie]

Worked perfectly, thanks :cool:

[wy477d3rp]

So now that I have tinkered with alternative DE's for most of the night how do I remove them from the menu after removing them from the system. Because it seems they are all still there.

DISREGARD THAT - FOR ANYONE WHO DID NOT KNOW,
JUST FIND THE PACKAGES IN PACKAGE MANAGER AND DELETE THEM.
REBOOT YOUR COMPUTER AND YOU SHOULD BE BACK TO THE DEFAULTS!

Sorry,
iDerp'd

[thebrandon]

ok..i have just used the recommended above tutorial to install xfce and cinnamon...so i did both...then i restarted and now am missing my login screen

The name org.gnome.displaymanager was not provided by any .service files

is what my error message pops up when i log back in from my lock screen...

i cannot get a gui login screen after login from boot up or from the lock screen...

plzzzzz help meeee i like my login screen :)

also, for the only measure i would guess...i have removed them both and still no change...no login screen...

[NORDLANDVOLK]

http://repo.mate-desktop.org/debian wheezy main no longer exist (i try to install MATE),
please update.

[adRn]

So, I managed to install i3wm from console. I removed gnome-core and then with apt-get autoremove I wiped out gdm3.
I installed lightdm and then:
echo "user-session=i3" >> /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf

OPTIONAL: update-alternatives --config desktop-background

exec lightdm and you're done.

THANKS TO https://faq.i3wm.org/question/2483/howto-debian-wheezy-lightdm-i3/

[ShahbazParviez]

root@kali:~# apt-get install kali-defaults kali-root-login desktop-base kde-plasma-desktop
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

how to solve issue on latest ver 2

[itzzmeshashi]

Plzz help me with installing xfce on a fresh kali 2.0 install,gnome 3 is a bit laggy

Thank you

[kiba]

Plzz help me with installing xfce on a fresh kali 2.0 install,gnome 3 is a bit laggy

Thank you

similar question here.
I've installed i3-wm and want it be my default windows manager, but, when I try
update-alternatives --config x-window-manager or set XSession=i3 in /var/lib/AccountsService/users/root - it still relogins to Gnome and XSession= becomes empty, i think it's bug with accounts-daemon (like in this issue (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xfdesktop4/+bug/1318307)).

UPD: nevermind, fixed it with
echo i3 >> /root/.xsession