What do I do now?

A

ajoeiam

Greetings

Installation was reasonably straightforward so that was good.
So I'm sitting there going well - - - I'm used to a gui desktop and at least some software (not just bald server setup - - - sorry).
So I find https://www.freebsdsoftware.org/blog/freebsd-desktop-user-guide.html
and start doing suggested steps.
Got the AMD graphics, set up XFCE and then did a reboot. (As well as earlier when suggested.)

Well now I get to where a CLI asks me for a login and then as soon as I type anything I'm switched to a blank screen with a cursor.

So - - - I've done something wrong - - - can I fix this or what other options do I have?

(Would like to have some desktop software including office stuff, X2Go, browser . . . .)

TIA
 
Its hard to tell which of those steps you followed, but you might try to get to that login again but this time, press control. alt and F2 (at the same time) and see if you can log in in on the different console.

which download did you make the initial install with?
 
Hard to tell.
If you followed the steps in The Handbook maybe you simply forgot to add your user to the video group?
ajoeiam said:
(Would like to have some desktop software including office stuff, X2Go, browser . . . .)
Click to expand...
first things first. Those are quite trivial, when your system is set up right.
First get you machine up and running.
Most problems are W-LAN and setting up the GUI with X11 and the right kernel module.

Since this is a fresh installation, so nothing valuable on it, maybe start over freshly, and stick strictly to the handbook (many third party sides mean well, but are not always up-to-date, sometimes incomplete, sometimes even not correct at all. And beware of any AI chatbot output; those can tell real junk):

After installation of basic system (RELEASE - not stable, not current! Those are future states of the system under delevopment, not yet finished, not released for production, better be not used for production at all, particulary not for a newcomer to the system.)
login as root, then you simply do
# pkg install drm-kmod automatically installs the kernel module ("driver") for your AMD GPU
# sysrc kld_list+=amdgpu this adds a line to /etc/rc.conf so the kernel module is loaded at booting
simply reboot to get the module loaded, or use # kldload ... to load it without reboot
# pkg install xorg installs X11
test, still as root, if X runs, by # startx
if the installation went correctly, you may now see X11 coming up with twm and three xterm windows
in one of that terminal windows, get the PID of the X11 session with # top
then kill that process to get back to your TTY. In top press [K] then enter the PID, then [ENTER]
Now add your user to the video group by # pw groupmod video -m username or with # bsdconfig
now install XFCE
# pkg install xfce
logout, login as user
edit your user's .xinitrc
# ee ~/.xinitrc (instead of ee you may also use vi, of course)
add as the last line xfce, save & exit the editor
now # startx
should work.
install the rest:
# pkg install firefox if you want that browser
# pkg install libreoffice
etc.

enjoy FreeBSD!
 
drhowarddrfine said:
ajoeiam So you weren't following the Handbook?
Click to expand...

Was using the handbook until I got to "Packages and Ports".

I can understand how to find software - - - but - - - - but - - - I'm supposed to know exactly ALL the various packages I want to use.

From this point there is little useful until it gets to DEs.

Like no destructions (or suggestions) so I looked for and found something - - - oh well my bad.

Started on a reinstall now.
 
I like to keep things to a minimum so after installing the base system I install xorg lxde-meta and chromium.

Initially I insalled xfce but eventually found lxde much more lightweiight and does what I need.

After booting up I run startx rather than some fancy login program.
 
I have been using lxqt for a long time and like it!

Rather not touch chromium though (grin! just don't like ms googly's idiocies!!)/
 
ajoeiam said:
I have been using lxqt for a long time and like it!

Rather not touch chromium though (grin! just don't like ms googly's idiocies!!)/
Click to expand...
I've been using LXDE for a long time and it does what I need so no reason to change, although from what I gather LXQT is functionally similar.

I've been using chromium forever, but each to his own.

It sounds like you have the basics covered if you can run a browser under FreeBSD.
 
Another nice setup guide from vermaden
vermaden.wordpress.com

FreeBSD Desktop

The FreeBSD Desktop series are about creating efficient desktop environment on the FreeBSD system. It is applicable to all supported FreeBSD versions – you can check which FreeBSD versions ar…
vermaden.wordpress.com vermaden.wordpress.com
Just follow his guide... I think there are some others around on the web too, but his stuff is quality. Or try 'robonuggie' on youtube, he has some good video tutorials on building a freebsd desktop.
 
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