Q. How do I change default desktop / display manager under CentOS or Fedora Linux? I’d like to change default GNOME to KDE as desktop manager for all users.
A. There is a configuration file called /etc/sysconfig/desktop. This file defines default display manager and desktop name.
Display manager can be any one of the following:
[a] gnome (gdm)
[b] kde (kdm)
[c] xdm (xdm)
Desktop can be any one of the following
[a] KDE
[b] GNOME
[c] XFCE
Change Desktop from Gnome to Kde
Open /etc/sysconfig/desktop file:
# vi /etc/sysconfig/desktop
Set DESKTOP variable to kde:
DESKTOP="KDE"
DISPLAYMANAGER="KDE"
Save and close the file.
Now kde will be used for all users as desktop system. You can also accomplish this on a per-user basis by using the desktop switcher application from the extra preferences menu, or just type the command:
$ switchdesk kde
See also:
=> Quick way to switch from KDE to GNOME or viceversa
Im pretty sure you have to change the display manager to kdm
desktop=kde
display manager=kdm
you were on the right track, I just rememeber when I changed it last that I had to change the diplay manager to kdm and not kde, but that was in Suse
let me know if I’m wrong