Knoppix 6.4.3: Desktop / PCManFM settings persistence

**cpm** · 12-28-2010, 08:41 PM

I've created a Knoppix 6.4.3 USB drive from the CD and set up persistent storage.

When I change the desktop background, or adjust PCManFM settings (e.g. preventing partitions automatically mounting), they are lost when I log out of LXDE (which then starts a new LXDE session) or reboot Knoppix. The contents of ~/.config/pcmanfm/LXDE/pcmanfm.conf seem to get reset.

I've tried deleting and recreating the persistent storage (knoppix-data.img) and deleting the ~/.config/pcmanfm directory so that it gets recreated.

Anyone else see this, know what's going on, or know of a solution?

Thank you

**utu** · 12-31-2010, 09:34 PM

I am also struggling with these, but have no solutions to offer as yet.

**cpm** · 01-01-2011, 12:12 PM

Thanks for confirming it's not just me. Here's a workaround I've discovered:

Configure PCManFM settings and the desktop as required.
Copy the settings to "LXDE.conf" in the "pcmanfm" directory:
$ cp ~/.config/pcmanfm/LXDE/pcmanfm.conf ~/.config/pcmanfm/LXDE.conf
Recursively remove knoppix's write permission from the pcmanfm directory structure:
$ chmod -R u-w ~/.config/pcmanfm

Obviously subsequent changes now won't persist.

I boot into Knoppix from a USB drive to back up my OS system partition. If PCManFM auto-mounts all partitions, this could affect the integrity of my backups.

Thanks.

**utu** · 01-01-2011, 05:23 PM

I've added 'umount -r /media/sda3' to my rc.local file.
My main ntsf file then initially shows as unmounted unless OS icon is
single-clicked on PCManFM. Pretty slim protection.

Peculiarly, and fortunately, other ntsf files on
sda1 and sda2 are not automatically mounted by default
as is sda3 here.

This is a bad choice of default in PCManFM and a critical
error somewhere in the init structure of K6.4.3 IMHO.
I'd like it to be difficult for knoppix, the user,
to access my ntsf files.

I note several other places where changed default choices do not
survive re-boot in K6.4.3 that were no such nuisance in K6.2.1.
These include the cube background jpg, firewall settings, and
alsamixer settings.

**utu** · 01-05-2011, 02:27 AM

When I had a similar problem in 6.2.1, kl522 offered
the following suggestion, which I now understand:

Edit /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart
such that the @pcmanfm line reads @pcmanfm --desktop
That is, delete the --profile LXDE.

I think this will empower the PCManFM gui's to control
desktop preferences as one would expect.

Cheers, and belated thanks to kl522.

**MountainMan** · 01-06-2011, 04:33 PM

[QUOTE=utu;122417

Edit /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart
such that the @pcmanfm line reads @pcmanfm --desktop
That is, delete the --profile LXDE.
.[/QUOTE]

This worked like a charm for me

**westcoast** · 01-23-2011, 08:07 AM

I opened the autostart file in LeafPad but when I try to save the edited file back into LXDE I get the message 'can't open file to write'. Anyone help me out?

**Werner P. Schulz** · 01-23-2011, 10:23 AM

... you must be root to change this file. Start with 'Run' and type 'gksu leafpad'.

Greetings Werner * http://www.wp-schulz.de/knoppix/summary.html
"Build personal Recovery-CD with Knoppix (Knoppix remaster)"