Working inside a VirtualBox virtual machine. Installed Arch Linux using the Archinstall method. Chose KDE as the DE and SDDM as the greeting screen.

Managed to log in once, but after adding a language and rebooting, I didn't seem to be able to change the keyboard layout, making entering the correct password impossible. I have tried looking up how to switch the keyboard layout, but am coming up with nothing. What is the key combination to change the keyboard layout in SDDM?

Setting up a different virtual machine now.

  • Tomorrow_Farewell [any, they/them]
    ·
    5 months ago

    What happened?

    I don't know beyond the fact that only Grub got installed and, apparently, nothing else. Upon starting the virtual machine, I was still offered to boot into the Arch installation environment. I have run archinstall again to make an installation without Grub, and am running an installation on a clone of that virtual machine where I have opted into using Grub.

    Are you familiar with the syntax of Linux commands?

    Depends on what you mean. I am not a frequent CLI user in general.

    Currently, I am not sure how I am supposed to login as root.

    EDIT: also, Ctrl+Alt+F2 just produces a black screen. Ctrl+Alt+F1 works, but the other problem persists.

    EDIT 2: I still do not know how to switch between keyboard layouts in SDDM, and I can't find information regarding that.

    • Responsabilidade@lemmy.eco.br
      ·
      5 months ago

      I don’t know beyond the fact that only Grub got installed and, apparently, nothing else. Upon starting the virtual machine, I was still offered to boot into the Arch installation environment. I have run archinstall again to make an installation without Grub, and am running an installation on a clone of that virtual machine where I have opted into using Grub

      It seems like VirtualBox doesn't automatic removed the iso file from the boot options. Try change this configuration at the VirtualBox and select the boot to be at the virtual driver

      Currently, I am not sure how I am supposed to login as root.

      At the archinstall script you must've set the root password, right? At the SDDM login screen, you must press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to enter the TTY3 (a big whole full screen terminal) asking for a login. Type root, press enter and then it will ask for your password. Type the password you set in the archinstall script (note: in the terminal we do not have a visual feedback from the password field, but it's being written. Just trust the process) and press enter. Now you are logged in as root

      • Tomorrow_Farewell [any, they/them]
        ·
        5 months ago

        It seems like VirtualBox doesn't automatic removed the iso file from the boot options. Try change this configuration at the VirtualBox and select the boot to be at the virtual driver

        Not sure what you are suggesting, but it seems that the hard drive is the last active option in the boot order for that VM. I assume you are suggesting to make it the priority boot device?

        At the archinstall script you must've set the root password, right?

        I did, and I remember it.

        At the SDDM login screen, you must press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to enter the TTY3 (a big whole full screen terminal) asking for a login. Type root, press enter and then it will ask for your password

        Alright, I did that and run the command.

        I still don't know how to switch between the keyboard layouts, and with this installation I opted for the US keyboard layout to be the default one, but have since added one more layout to the list. I couldn't place the keyboard layout widget for some reason, and there is no indication of what layout is chosen on the SDDM screen at all.

        Right now, the user is blocked due to too many attempts to enter password, so I will have to wait.

        • Responsabilidade@lemmy.eco.br
          ·
          5 months ago

          Not sure what you are suggesting, but it seems that the hard drive is the last active option in the boot order for that VM. I assume you are suggesting to make it the priority boot device?

          Exactly

          I still don’t know how to switch between the keyboard layouts, and with this installation I opted for the US keyboard layout to be the default one, but have since added one more layout to the list. I couldn’t place the keyboard layout widget for some reason, and there is no indication of what layout is chosen on the SDDM screen at all.

          Right now, the user is blocked due to too many attempts to enter password, so I will have to wait.

          Read my other comment. Maybe this is the breeze setting that does not have any way to change layout at the logging screen. Also I suggest you to reboot your VM after these changes you made

          • Tomorrow_Farewell [any, they/them]
            ·
            5 months ago

            Exactly

            Didn't work.

            Read my other comment. Maybe this is the breeze setting that does not have any way to change layout at the logging screen

            This issue seems to be resolved now, but the only layouts that I can switch between are the ones I manually set in the settings of the OS after I managed to change the login screen to a different one that allowed me to input the password in English.

            This is weird, considering that on the previous installation, without having to manually set multiple layouts, I was able to switch between different layouts, but only outside of the 'bad' login screen. For clarity: the 'bad' login screen currently does allow me to switch between different layouts.

            Also, in case you wouldn't mind helping me with this other thing that is outside the scope of the initial complaint: where do I find the KDE cube options? It doesn't seem to be in the Window management options, nor do I see a downloadable version of the such. The KDE plasma version is 6.0.5.

            • Responsabilidade@lemmy.eco.br
              ·
              5 months ago

              I'm glad you solved!

              Also, in case you wouldn’t mind helping me with this other thing that is outside the scope of the initial complaint: where do I find the KDE cube options? It doesn’t seem to be in the Window management options, nor do I see a downloadable version of the such. The KDE plasma version is 6.0.5.

              Well, I may take a look, but I'm not a KDE user at all. I'm on Gnome for over 5 years already.

              Try Settings > Window Management > Desktop Effects > "Windows Management" section > Overview and configure it.

              However looks like to make it work, you should have at least 3 virtual desktops.

              I suggest you to open a new thread with this question, cause I really don't know enough about KDE

              • Tomorrow_Farewell [any, they/them]
                ·
                5 months ago

                Try Settings > Window Management > Desktop Effects > "Windows Management" section > Overview and configure it

                The problem is that there is no such option there, which is why I'm asking.

                It seems that I need to install kdeplasma-addons. I will need to look into how people usually use pacman, as it keeps asking me to login as root.

    • Responsabilidade@lemmy.eco.br
      ·
      5 months ago

      EDIT 2: I still do not know how to switch between keyboard layouts in SDDM, and I can’t find information regarding that.

      It depends on the theme you're using. Change the file /etc/sddm.conf and comment the line where KDE is setting the theme. Should be something line

      [Theme]

Current=blablabla
ThemesDir=blablabla

      Just comment putting a hashtag before these lines

      Maybe you have to edit using Vim, Emacs or Nano at the tty

      The keyboard layouts should be at the top of the logging screen at the default sddm theme