xdm

The problem was that xdm tried to start, despite my "gdm should be default" maybe it's supposed to do that, but at least it didn't work.

Upgrading a laptop.... magnio 2005

During the installation I was asked whether I wanted xdm or gdm to be my default graphical display manager, and I chose gdm and rebooted.

Upgrading a laptop.... magnio 2005

The second (and recommended) way to use X is with xdm or X Display

Debian GNU/Linux : Guide to Installation and Usage John Goerzen

Basically, xdm gives you a nice graphical login prompt on the X virtual console (probably VC 7), and you log in there.

Debian GNU/Linux : Guide to Installation and Usage John Goerzen

Once you install X, you can enter the X environment by typing startx or via xdm, depending on your choice during configuration.

Debian GNU/Linux : Guide to Installation and Usage John Goerzen

Anyway, at some point I decided that Xfce was a bit too resource hungry, logged in as root using 'su root' in the terminal and installed lxde instead while retaining the xdm login manager and rejecting the gdm which is the default for lxde, AFAIK.

Ubuntu Forums kaurman 2010

I can see the background image that I have on my xdm screen peeking through, so it MUST be possible to utilize the whole screen ...

LinuxQuestions.org jencraigson 2010

I could reproduce the behaviour even on the xdm login screen, when I typed in my sed expression as the name.

LinuxQuestions.org Tinkster 2010

As the system started to complain about missing themes anyway, I removed xdm and gave gdm a try after all (installed & removed by using 'su root').

Ubuntu Forums kaurman 2010

I installed both, xfce and xdm (naturally, using su root = being logged in as root while doing so).

Ubuntu Forums kaurman 2010