Desktop help [Solved]

[bradhamilton]

Newbie problem - I didn't like the Thunar behavior, (paste into folder, rather than intuitive drag and drop between folders), so I started investigating other FM. I liked PCManFM much better, and installed it for use, but then I noticed that the "Desktop" folder was really a folder (?!?), and I no longer had access to my (real?) Desktop. I can no longer change backgrounds on my desktop (or even right mouse-click to bring up the Desktop dialogue!).

I would just like to return to the "default" behavior, but uninstalling PCManFM and rebooting did not "return" the expected Desktop behavior.

How do I fix this, short of re-installing MX? As a follow-up question, does anyone have a recommendation for a "better" (more intuitive?) FM to use with XFCE?

Thanks!

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.12.20-amd64 [6.12.20-1~mx23ahs] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.12.20-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro
  Desktop: N/A wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.6_ahs_x64 Libretto
    Jan 12 2025 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Dell product: Vostro 15 5510 v: N/A serial: <superuser required> Chassis:
    type: 10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Dell model: 07KTNC v: A00 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: Dell v: 2.31.0
    date: 12/11/2024
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 50.3 Wh (93.1%) condition: 54.0/54.0 Wh (100.0%) volts: 15.7 min: 15.0
    model: SMP DELL XDY9K15 type: Li-poly serial: <filter> status: discharging
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device Mouse serial: <filter>
    charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes status: discharging
CPU:
  Info: model: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11370H bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Tiger Lake gen: core 11
    level: v4 note: check built: 2020 process: Intel 10nm family: 6 model-id: 0x8C (140) stepping: 1
    microcode: 0xBA
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 4 tpc: 2 threads: 8 smt: enabled cache: L1: 320 KiB
    desc: d-4x48 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 5 MiB desc: 4x1.2 MiB L3: 12 MiB desc: 1x12 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 717 high: 1219 min/max: 400/4800 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 1033 2: 753 3: 400 4: 1131 5: 400 6: 1219 7: 400 8: 400
    bogomips: 47923
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling mitigation: Microcode
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Enhanced / Automatic IBRS; IBPB: conditional; RSB filling;
    PBRSB-eIBRS: SW sequence; BHI: SW loop, KVM: SW loop
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel TigerLake-LP GT2 [Iris Xe Graphics] vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel
    alternate: xe arch: Gen-12.1 process: Intel 10nm built: 2020-21 ports: active: eDP-1
    empty: DP-1,DP-2,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:9a49 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Sunplus Innovation Integrated_Webcam_HD type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 3-6:3
    chip-ID: 1bcf:2a02 class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.20.0 driver: X: loaded: intel
    dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 509x286mm (20.04x11.26") s-diag: 584mm (22.99")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 mapped: eDP1 model: ChiMei InnoLux 0x152e built: 2020 res: 1920x1080 hz: 60
    dpi: 143 gamma: 1.2 size: 340x190mm (13.39x7.48") diag: 394mm (15.5") ratio: 16:9
    modes: 1920x1080
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 24.2.8-1mx23ahs renderer: Mesa Intel Xe Graphics (TGL GT2)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Tiger Lake-LP Smart Sound Audio vendor: Dell driver: sof-audio-pci-intel-tgl
    alternate: snd_hda_intel, snd_soc_avs, snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a0c8
    class-ID: 0401
  API: ALSA v: k6.12.20-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl bus-ID: 00:14.3
    chip-ID: 8086:a0f0 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Dell RTL8111/8168/8411 driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: Unknown lanes: 63 link-max:
    gen: 6 speed: 64 GT/s port: 3000 bus-ID: 3b:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel AX201 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 3-10:4 chip-ID: 8087:0026
    class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 3.0 lmp-v: 5.2
    sub-v: 2184 hci-v: 5.2 rev: 2184
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:4 sco-mtu: 96:6 link-policy: rswitch sniff link-mode: peripheral accept
    service-classes: rendering, capturing, object transfer, audio, telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 1.82 TiB used: 166.73 GiB (8.9%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:5 vendor: Crucial model: CT1000P310SSD2 size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: V8CR000 temp: 30.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 980 PRO 1TB size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: 5B2QGXA7 temp: 31.9 C scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 40 GiB size: 39.08 GiB (97.69%) used: 12.2 GiB (31.2%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme1n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 320 MiB size: 319.4 MiB (99.80%) used: 5.3 MiB (1.6%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme1n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 875.04 GiB size: 860.23 GiB (98.31%) used: 154.53 GiB (18.0%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme1n1p4 maj-min: 259:4
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 16.16 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    dev: /dev/nvme1n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram0
  ID-3: swap-3 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram1
  ID-4: swap-4 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram2
  ID-5: swap-5 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram3
  ID-6: swap-6 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram4
  ID-7: swap-7 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram5
  ID-8: swap-8 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram6
  ID-9: swap-9 type: zram size: 492 MiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 dev: /dev/zram7
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 47.0 C mobo: 43.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): fan-1: 0
Repos:
  Packages: 2325 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2316 libs: 1201 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 9
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb https://mxrepo.com/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
    2: deb https://mxrepo.com/mx/repo/ bookworm ahs
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/deb/ stable main
Info:
  Processes: 288 Uptime: 7m wakeups: 140 Memory: 15.37 GiB used: 2.6 GiB (16.9%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

[CharlesV]

Hi, so. first off the Desktop IS a folder (almost everything is in linux )

There are quite a few different FM's that can work, thunar is native to xfce and if you drag and drop a file, even into a folder, it should work fine. And you can always right-button drag and drop to get a Move | Copy | cancel button (I highly advise this one - ever have since it showed up in windows... dont let the FM make your decision for you! )

As for other FM's... if you run MX Package Installer and type in File Manager you will see five or listed. Dolphin and Nemo are probable the majors. But if you change to the Enabled Repo's tab you will also find a bunch more including these excellent one's:
- doublecmd (double Commander which is excellent )
- konqueror
- xfe

As for your desktop not changing backgrounds ... try creating a new profile (MX Menu User Manager ) .. switch to the new one and see how that works. If you have abilities you dont have on YOUR profile, then something has buggered up and you can either:
a) Create a new profile for you and then copy / sync your files over to it. (Copy/Sync tab )
b) hunt down what is going on with your current profile.

If you want hunt it down, you will learn more about xfce and linux ... just give a shout if you choose to do this and I / someone will help with that.

[ceeslans]

Just to get a better picture of your current situation: could it be that you uninstalled Thunar?
If so, you may have (unintentionally) removed xfdesktop4 ... that would also explain the failure to bring up the right-click desktop dialogue.

[bradhamilton]

Hi, so. first off the Desktop IS a folder (almost everything is in linux )

Yup- I get it, but I've never seen this particular behavior in different DE's - Cinnamon, KDE, etc.

"There are quite a few different FM's that can work, thunar is native to xfce and if you drag and drop a file, even into a folder, it should work fine. And you can always right-button drag and drop to get a Move | Copy | cancel button (I highly advise this one - ever have since it showed up in windows... dont let the FM make your decision for you! )
As for other FM's... if you run MX Package Installer and type in File Manager you will see five or listed. Dolphin and Nemo are probable the majors. But if you change to the Enabled Repo's tab you will also find a bunch more including these excellent one's:
- doublecmd (double Commander which is excellent )
- konqueror
- xfe"

Thanks - I've used Dolphin in KDE and Nemo in Cinnamon, but I want to stick with XFCE - trouble-free except for little issues like this.

"As for your desktop not changing backgrounds ... try creating a new profile (MX Menu User Manager ) .. switch to the new one and see how that works. If you have abilities you dont have on YOUR profile, then something has buggered up and you can either:
a) Create a new profile for you and then copy / sync your files over to it. (Copy/Sync tab )
b) hunt down what is going on with your current profile."

Thanks! - I actually was able to get my Conky visible on my desktop by shutting off the XFCE compositor, so the suggestion to look at profiles will be helpful, for sure.
I was also just thinking of backing up my data to a backup drive, re-installing MX from scratch, and then putting all my data & customizations on the "new" /home, which is probably just a variant of your suggestion above - I just hate to lose control over my data for something new that I've never tried (Copy/Sync tab?)

"If you want hunt it down, you will learn more about xfce and linux ... just give a shout if you choose to do this and I / someone will help with that."

[Jakob77]

bradhamilton

If I was you I would stay with Thunar and take my time with it.
Thunar comes with Xfce and fits Xfce, and in my world playing with some other File Managers might be a risk to Thunar
If I was going to play with it I would be on a test computer with a snapshot ready for restore.
And I know I won't accept much wrong with Thunar before I have to do a new install.
I want Thunar to work perfectly.
Maybe the problem can be solved without a new install but If the configuration is simple, a new install can just be fast and good training for a newbie. :-)

I don't know if I understand your "drag problem" correctly.
It is very rare I use the mouse like that in Thunar. It can happen but in general I think it is too sloppy to handle files like that in Thunar.
But there has been an update a while ago that made me notice that 'right click -> insert' did not work as it did before so I have to use insert in the top menu, or click in the target folder and press Ctrl + V
That does not make me wonder if I have to look for another file manager but I have not decided yet if have to file a complaint about the horrible inconvenience. ;-)


***Edit: Sorry about my Danish menu and bad English. Maybe it is not "'right click -> insert'" but "'right click -> paste'" that is sometimes missing when the window is full of files.

[bradhamilton]

Just to get a better picture of your current situation: could it be that you uninstalled Thunar?
If so, you may have (unintentionally) removed xfdesktop4 ... that would also explain the failure to bring up the right-click desktop dialogue.

Thanks - removing Thunar was one of the things I tried (bad idea!) I'll take a look now...yup, that was the issue - now all I have to do is try to hide all the folders that showed up on my desktop.

I guess I'll try to figure out how to get Thunar to do as I wish, rather than force me to paste a copied item into a folder,rather than just a "direct" drag and drop...

[i_ri]

Thunar

The drag/drop operation performs a move when the source and target folders are on the same partition but it results in a copy when the source and target are on different partitions.

[CharlesV]

And you can always right-button drag and drop to get a Move | Copy | Cancel menu !

[bradhamilton]

Thunar

The drag/drop operation performs a move when the source and target folders are on the same partition but it results in a copy when the source and target are on different partitions.

Thanks for the explanation - now I understand the "behavior" better! I finally decided to go with PCFileManager as my default FM, and I'll keep Thunar around as a backup, if needed.

[bradhamilton]

Just to get a better picture of your current situation: could it be that you uninstalled Thunar?
If so, you may have (unintentionally) removed xfdesktop4 ... that would also explain the failure to bring up the right-click desktop dialogue.

Thanks - removing Thunar was one of the things I tried (bad idea!) I'll take a look now...yup, that was the issue - now all I have to do is try to hide all the folders that showed up on my desktop.

I guess I'll try to figure out how to get Thunar to do as I wish, rather than force me to paste a copied item into a folder,rather than just a "direct" drag and drop...

I shot my foot full of bullet holes on this one. I solved the issue as follows:
-Backed up my /home directory to an external drive.
-Used my most recent disk clone to restore the disk to the last good "known" state.
-Used the drive in bullet #1 to bring /home up to date, and (most importantly)
-Re-cloned my current drive once again.

I give out advice like this to others who have lost data - I'm glad I finally took my own advice!