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I am trying to install tightvncserver on my Raspberry Pi. After installation I attempt to start the vncserver :1, but I get font errors:

vncserver :1
Couldn't start Xtightvnc; trying default font path.
Please set correct fontPath in the vncserver script.
Couldn't start Xtightvnc process.

31/10/13 12:06:39 Xvnc version TightVNC-1.3.9
31/10/13 12:06:39 Copyright (C) 2000-2007 TightVNC Group
31/10/13 12:06:39 Copyright (C) 1999 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge
31/10/13 12:06:39 All Rights Reserved.
31/10/13 12:06:39 See http://www.tightvnc.com/ for information on TightVNC
31/10/13 12:06:39 Desktop name 'X' (Raspberrypi-AES-rSDU-MPR:1)
31/10/13 12:06:39 Protocol versions supported: 3.3, 3.7, 3.8, 3.7t, 3.8t
31/10/13 12:06:39 Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901
Font directory '/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/' not found - ignoring
Font directory '/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/' not found - ignoring

Fatal server error:
could not open default font 'fixed'
31/10/13 12:06:40 Xvnc version TightVNC-1.3.9
31/10/13 12:06:40 Copyright (C) 2000-2007 TightVNC Group
31/10/13 12:06:40 Copyright (C) 1999 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge
31/10/13 12:06:40 All Rights Reserved.
31/10/13 12:06:40 See http://www.tightvnc.com/ for information on TightVNC
31/10/13 12:06:40 Desktop name 'X' (Raspberrypi-AES-rSDU-MPR:1)
31/10/13 12:06:40 Protocol versions supported: 3.3, 3.7, 3.8, 3.7t, 3.8t
31/10/13 12:06:40 Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901
Font directory '/usr/share/fonts/X11/Speedo/' not found - ignoring
Font directory '/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/' not found - ignoring
Font directory '/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/' not found - ignoring

Fatal server error:
could not open default font 'fixed'
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  • 3
    and your question is?
    – lenik
    Commented Nov 18, 2013 at 23:39

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
8

I ran into the same problem today and I could get rid of some of the warnings by installing the two packages:

sudo apt-get install xfonts-75dpi
sudo apt-get install xfonts-100dpi

Update

I got it working using x11vnc rather than tightvncserver or vncserver

  1. This post set me on track. So first I connect to my PI using ssh

    ssh pi@rasperrypi

  2. Install x11vnc

    sudo apt-get install x11vnc

  3. Start the X and then start x11vnc

    startx &
x11vnc &

  4. Now on my Mac I open the Finder and hit CMD + K and connect to my raspberrypi using vnc://raspberrypi

    enter image description here

  5. Voila

    enter image description here

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1
  • I just installed Xtightvnc, on jessie. This include installing xfonts-base. However there was an error about missing the 75dpi fonts. I reinstalled xfonts-base as described in another answer here, still no 75dpi fonts. So indeed I needed to apt-get install them separately as described here, to get rid of the error. It would appear that xfonts-base no long includes 75dpi but tightvnc requires it.
    – Zeph
    Commented Apr 14, 2016 at 1:34
6

The fonts are missing because the xfonts-base package is not installed on your server. Install it with

sudo apt-get install xfonts-base
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  • 1
    Welcome to Raspberry Pi! Whilst this may answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here (including why this will work), and provide a link for reference.
    – Steve Robillard
    Commented Jul 7, 2014 at 19:03
  • You should explain why the OP should install xfonts-base. Right now your answer is going to get closed for being too vague/no explanation.
    – RPiAwesomeness
    Commented Jul 7, 2014 at 21:32
  • what's not to understand here? "I get font errors" -- "install xfonts-base", simple as that.
    – lenik
    Commented Jul 8, 2014 at 6:35
  • 1
    Very clear, concise without chit-chat. This is actually solved the issue for me when using tightvncserver and getting the could not open default font 'fixed' message
    – Anthon
    Commented Oct 9, 2015 at 11:38
1

I received the fontpath error when I copy and pasted bad text into the CLI. eg:

vncserver :1 -geometry 1264x684 -depth 24 [+ other crud here]

stripping it down to the correct command fixed it

vncserver :1 -geometry 1264x684 -depth 24
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