id	summary	reporter	owner	description	type	status	priority	milestone	component	version	resolution	keywords	cc	platform	cpu
499	fresh windows startup not very friendly	hamish	grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org	"Hi,

after a brand new OSGeo4W install on XP, the user gets a nice GRASS icon to double click on.

when they click it though they get a system error beep, and a DOS box error which says: 
{{{
access: Invalid arguement
ERROR: LOCATION << C:""/UNKNOWN >> not available
}}}

then the Tcl/Tk startup window opens and a Tk Error window box pops up saying
{{{
Warning: Invalid database. Finding first valid directory in parent tree
}}}

then another:
{{{
Warning: location <<UNKNOWN>> at GISDBASE <C:> is not a directory or does not exist
}}}

not a very warm welcome!

Even then there is no way to create a new GISDBASE dir from the startup GUI. you have to exit GRASS, go into the file manager, create C:\Docs&settings\Username\grassdata manually then restart (same beeps and errors again) and select it. +you have to know to do that!

Maybe add a link to Lorenzo's new-user getting started tutorial?
http://grass.bologna.enea.it/tutorial/01-tutorial/

I suggest if .grassrc6 is missing to pop up a GUI asking to browse for the data directory, or give an option to create a new one.
With a big blinking red [Help] button along side it.


thanks,
Hamish
"	enhancement	closed	minor	6.4.0	Default	6.4.0 RCs	fixed	wingrass startup		MSWindows XP	Unspecified